The Horn Book Guide

TECHNOLOGY

James, Elizabeth , Barkin, Carol

How to Keep a Secret: Writing and Talking in Code

56 pp. | Lothrop | October, 1998 | Trade ISBN 0-688-16277-0 $$15.00

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Joel Schick. These secret methods of communication include spoken languages such as Pig Latin, written codes involving alphabet substitutions, and invisible writing techniques. The instructions for creating and deciphering the secret messages are often quite complicated, but an encoded short mystery that runs throughout the book will capture readers' interest and encourage proficiency. The accompanying comic illustrations are dark and poorly reproduced.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta