The Escape Artist

About this book

The Escape Artist is the first book in the UBU Adventure series, an interactive fiction format from IF/THEN Books. The reader becomes Lester Honeycutt, a teenage magician in Delaware, Ohio, whose dream is to become the all-time greatest illusionist who ever lived. When two living legends, Oudini and Heinrich, come to town on the same day, every choice the reader makes shapes the kind of legend Lester becomes, or fails to become.Unlike most choose-your-own-adventure books, the success or failure of each path is measured over an entire lifespan. Of the 30 endings across 42 decision inflection points, only 4 are complete life cycles. The rest end earlier, some triumphantly, some quietly, some with a knife.Every ending asks the same question: what does it mean to escape? And is the life you want worth the cost of the life you're leaving behind?For young adult readers ages 14 to 17 ready for a coming-of-age story where every choice has weight. Illustrated throughout by Annabelle Tarter.About IF/THEN Books. IF/THEN Books publishes interactive fiction for young readers under three series: the Iris Blackwood Mystery Adventures for middle grade detectives (ages 10 to 13), the UBU Adventure series for young adult readers ready for higher stakes (ages 14 to 17), and the Classic Adventures line that revisits public-domain favorites in interactive form. Every IF/THEN book is built around the same idea: every choice is a real choice. No throwaway forks, no false branches, no screens required.Free reader extras. Visit chadprevost.com/the-escape-artist/ for two free downloads: the complete Decision Tree Matrix mapping all 30 endings and the discussion guide built for high school classrooms and book clubs. Both PDFs are printable, share-friendly, and yours for an email address.For teachers, librarians, and book clubs. Chad Prevost is available for author readings, classroom visits, library events, and book club drop-ins, in person around the southeastern United States and over Zoom anywhere else. Inquire through the contact page at chadprevost.com/if-thenThe UBU Adventure Series continues with Point Zenith.