Cover of Joe Strong, the boy wizard; or, The mysteries of magic exposed

Joe Strong, the boy wizard; or, The mysteries of magic exposed

  • Free to read
  • 3 hours to read
  • 25 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard; or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed" by Vance Barnum is a children's novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Joe Strong, a remarkable young boy with a background steeped in circus life, as he navigates thrilling adventures and uncovers the secrets of magic. The narrative introduces Joe and his friends as they discuss a mysterious magic show, showcasing Joe's natural talent for tricks and his daring personality. The opening of the book establishes Joe's strong character and sets up the premise for his adventures. It begins with Joe and his friends eagerly discussing a magic performance they attended, where Joe demonstrates his own ability to replicate a trick using sleight-of-hand. He recalls his heritage, noting that he is the son of a well-known magician and a daring circus rider. As the chapter progresses, the excitement intensifies with the introduction of a fire at a fireworks factory, prompting Joe to leap into action to rescue the trapped magician, Professor Rosello. This pivotal moment illustrates Joe's bravery and sets the stage for his future endeavors in magic and performance, highlighting the theme of courage amidst adversity.

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  • Circus performers
  • Magicians

Read the opening

Chapter I: Joe Solves a Puzzle

“How did he do it? That’s what I’d like to know.”

“So would I. It sure was a queer trick all right—and it looked so easy, too.”

“Well, I’ve tried to guess, but I can’t. The more I think of it the more I believe that the professor really is a magician, in a certain way.”

“Pooh! It couldn’t be anything like that! It was just a trick, like all the others he did. But I’d like to know how to do it.”

Four boys sat under the shade of a big willow tree in a grassy meadow on the bank of a stream. They were earnestly discussing something, the import of which may be gathered from their talk.

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Contents

Show all 25 chapters
  1. Chapter I: Joe Solves a Puzzle
  2. Chapter II: A Fireworks Fire
  3. Chapter III: To the Rescue
  4. Chapter IV: Joe’s Feat
  5. Chapter V: Joe’s Ambition
  6. Chapter VI: A Family Jar
  7. Chapter VII: Mr. Blackford’s Trouble
  8. Chapter VIII: The Runaway
  9. Chapter IX: The Overturned Lamp
  10. Chapter X: The Side-Door Pullman
  11. Chapter XI: A Surprised Deacon
  12. Chapter XII: The Professor’s Assistant
  13. Chapter XIII: Joe’s Help Needed
  14. Chapter XIV: Joe’s Disappearance
  15. Chapter XV: Invoking the Law
  16. Chapter XVI: The Smashed Watch
  17. Chapter XVII: Joe Learns Something
  18. Chapter XVIII: The Magic Egg
  19. Chapter XIX: The Circus
  20. Chapter XX: Some Trapeze Tricks
  21. Chapter XXI: Almost Caught
  22. Chapter XXII: Strange News
  23. Chapter XXIII: “I’ve Got You!”
  24. Chapter XXIV: Caught
  25. Chapter XXV: Joe’s Clever Trick

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About this edition

This free edition of Joe Strong, the boy wizard; or, The mysteries of magic exposed by Vance Barnum comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #69477, released 2022-12-04. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Children & Young Adult Reading, Adventure, Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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