Sibert Honor winner Gail Jarrow (Spooked!; The Poison Eaters) turns her astute attention to the phenomenon of spiritualism and the investigators who worked to disprove the con. Jarrow's remarkable ability to transform meticulous research into a gripping narrative once again results in a nonfiction work that will transfix readers of all ages.
Jarrow opens Spirit Sleuths in the mid-19th century with the story of the Fox sisters, two girls who claimed they had developed a communication system to talk with the spirit residing in their home. This supposed talent began to grab people's attention, proving especially tempting to vulnerable, grieving people. "During the 1840s--a time before vaccines, antibiotics, and other effective medicines--disease often tragically and prematurely ended lives.... What a comfort to... talk with those who had passed away!" Other spiritualists adopted tools such as spirit cabinets, ghost photos, slate writing, and the Ouija board to profit off the susceptible. Even Harry Houdini started his career with spiritualism. After Jarrow sets the stage with the background on spiritualism and Houdini's experiences with it, she takes readers into Houdini's fight to educate the masses.
Jarrow includes detailed insets throughout the book that explain how mediums performed their trickery and how the investigators uncovered the secrets. The book also includes reproductions of news headlines, photographs, and other ephemera from the corresponding time periods. For those craving more, extensive resources appear in the book's back matter. Jarrow continues to work magic in Spirit Sleuths, making certain that young readers can find history accessible, exciting, and surprising. --Jen Forbus, freelancer