Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

Author Anna Hays
Illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt
Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale Sep 09, 2025 | 240 Pages | 9780593712559

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Discover the amazing illustrated stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, achieved global fame, and then simply...disappeared.

During the Golden Age of Magic from 1860 to 1930, seven women magicians in America defied Victorian conventions and created a unique place in history for themselves and future performers to come. There was Anna, the mindreader; Adelaide, who could float in midair; Talma, who could magically shower the stage with gold coins...and many more!

During a time when women were typically confined to the home, these trailblazers crossed oceans on steamships and traveled the globe bringing their imaginative brand of magic to audiences around the world. They followed their hearts and pursued their dreams of performing magic in the spotlight when women had neither a vote nor a voice in America.

They made history. Yet once their career ended, so did their legacy.

For decades their stories were hidden, or overshadowed by male counterparts, but now they've come to life in this vibrant and captivating book.
© Benjamin Hays
Anna Hays is a writer and producer. She is the author of Vanished, a nonfiction portrait of the forgotten lives of famed women magicians who disappeared from history. She is also the author of Stealing Starlight for Disney Press’s Star Darlings fantasy series; Spark Squad, an original series developed for Scholastic Book Clubs; and Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life and Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship, a middle grade series for Simon and Schuster. Anna lives with her family in the woodlands near Los Angeles. View titles by Anna Hays

Discussion Guide for Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

Discover the amazing illustrated stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, achieved global fame, and then simply...disappeared.

During the Golden Age of Magic from 1860 to 1930, seven women magicians in America defied Victorian conventions and created a unique place in history for themselves and future performers to come. There was Anna, the mindreader; Adelaide, who could float in midair; Talma, who could magically shower the stage with gold coins...and many more!

During a time when women were typically confined to the home, these trailblazers crossed oceans on steamships and traveled the globe bringing their imaginative brand of magic to audiences around the world. They followed their hearts and pursued their dreams of performing magic in the spotlight when women had neither a vote nor a voice in America.

They made history. Yet once their career ended, so did their legacy.

For decades their stories were hidden, or overshadowed by male counterparts, but now they've come to life in this vibrant and captivating book.

Author

© Benjamin Hays
Anna Hays is a writer and producer. She is the author of Vanished, a nonfiction portrait of the forgotten lives of famed women magicians who disappeared from history. She is also the author of Stealing Starlight for Disney Press’s Star Darlings fantasy series; Spark Squad, an original series developed for Scholastic Book Clubs; and Portia's Ultra Mysterious Double Life and Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship, a middle grade series for Simon and Schuster. Anna lives with her family in the woodlands near Los Angeles. View titles by Anna Hays

Guides

Discussion Guide for Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

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