(1) YA In 1918 Washington, DC, eighteen-year-old Edda St. James is working as a switchboard operator for the Bell telephone company while living in her aunt's boarding house. Though she is grateful for the job, she still suffers fear and anxiety from her recent stint as a Hello Girl operator on the WWI French front, where she patched through coded messages under extreme pressure. Now an anonymous caller has taken her right back with the mention of one word: Brightwood. The word she forgot in a crucial moment, the word she is convinced got the entire Forty-Eighth Regiment from Baltimore killed in battle. Edda is terrified. Who is the caller, and what do they want? With the help of her handsome neighbor, Theo, Edda sets out to discover the caller's identity and somehow atone for her devastating mistake. Hesse maintains steady suspense by alternating between Edda's recent past in France and her present. Red herrings abound as the chapters race toward a climax, and readers may believe that several different characters could be responsible for Edda's torment until the truth, shockingly personal and close to home (and involving a serial sexual abuser), is finally revealed. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this illuminating look at a little-known aspect of WWI.

Reviewer: Jennifer Hubert Swan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(1) YA Bletchley Park, a World War II cryptology center, operated in the English countryside where an extensive and complicated code-breaking operation allowed the Allies to decipher secret messages sent through German Enigma machines. Those transmissions included enemy plans for naval attacks, ship locations, ground positions, and bombing targets, and Fleming (Crash from Outer Space, rev. 11/22, among many others) reveals that the feat of decoding the thousands of pieces of information every day was largely executed by teenage girls and young women. Recruited with little or no knowledge of what their jobs would be, the code breakers were sworn to secrecy--an oath that would remain unbroken for over thirty years. Fleming's account focuses on ten such young women (one of whom is an offsite radio operator) but, in a masterful presentation of related subject matter, seamlessly intersperses segments on larger historical events, beginning with the Battle of Britain and concluding with V-J Day; clear and thorough explanations of codes and ciphers; and technical advances that led to the use of computers. The girls' personal experiences, from coping with housing shortages, to falling in love, to discovering their future life's work, adds another dimension. Amid the often-tedious work of breaking the ciphers, moments of humanity appear: the joy of pinpointing an enemy bombing target on British soil; the recognition that a freshly bloodstained Nazi cipher book meant "somewhere this German airman was still bleeding, dying maybe...That really did bring the war close." Appended with an author's note, a bibliography of both primary and secondary sources, source notes, and an (unseen) index.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) YA Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892–1980) and her husband, William Friedman, "are now recognized together as the two most influential code-breakers in American history." Elizebeth, however, remains largely underappreciated, so Moss shares a fine-spun account of her career and its many impressive contributions (some of which are still classified by the U.S. government). Moss follows the trajectory of this fascinating, singular woman's life (with details about William's work as it parallels Elizebeth's, but without shifting the focus from her) as she solves supposedly unbreakable codes containing enemy plans during both world wars. In between wars, Elizebeth's job at the Treasury Department requires her to risk her safety testifying at high-profile organized-crime trials, gaining unwelcome notoriety in the press. She faces sexism throughout her career, often not receiving proper pay or credit. But Moss emphasizes that Elizebeth -- who proudly leads her own code-breaking team -- doesn't let any of these challenges deter her from doing the work she loves. As in Moss's The Woman Who Split the Atom (rev. 7/22), chapters begin with brief comics by the author that provide visual context for the historical scenes. Hand this to fans of Fleming's recent The Enigma Girls (rev. 5/24). Archival photographs, a helpful "What Are Codes? What Are Ciphers?" section, a glossary, a timeline, notes, a bibliography, and an (unseen) index are appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 Perigee arrives for a visit at their grandmother's house with their father in the middle of a snowstorm. The visit has a serious purpose. Only-child Perigee feels responsible for their dad (we surmise from his behavior that he is depressed) and hopes that a reconciliation between father and grandmother will solve the problem. From this solemn, realistic opening, the tone of the story and its action quickly morph into a rambunctious fun fair as the house, the "Eklunds' Puzzle House," built by Perigee's grandmother and her late husband as a themed bed and breakfast, takes over as the antagonist. This house, which has consciousness, agency, and its own first-person voice in the text, orchestrates a wide variety of puzzles, games, and mischief, including rhyming riddles, pinball machines, combination locks, anagrams, Morse code, sliding tile puzzles, dominoes, and labyrinths. (In a detail of homage Reese references Ellen Raskin's iconic The Westing Game.) Perigee and their pal Lily use creativity, gumption, logic, and smarts to outwit the house, soften their grandmother's heart, and broker peace between the generations. This romp suggests a warm welcome to readers who like their mysteries cerebral but who also appreciate a collapsing staircase or two.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(1) YA It's the summer of 1940 in this collaboration between Sepetys (whose historical fiction for older readers includes, recently, I Must Betray You, rev. 5/22) and Sheinkin (primarily nonfiction, recently Impossible Escape, rev. 9/23). Hitler has taken over most of Europe and is about to attack England, as top minds at Bletchley Park, outside of London, race to break German codes that could alert the Allies of Nazi battle plans. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis works at Bletchley Park, while his fourteen-year-old sister, Lizzie, is consumed with finding their embassy-worker mother, Willa, presumed dead in the German invasion of Poland in 1939. But Lizzie doesn't believe it. She tracks down clues of her own as the codebreakers race to crack a cipher created by the Nazis' Enigma machine. Secrets build upon secrets, riddles upon riddles, and figuring them out might just save a family, or a world. The fifty riveting final pages are a master class in suspense, as Lizzie risks going to London just as the Luftwaffe readies for their attack on the city. Jakob steals a car to find Lizzie, and as they drive off back to Bletchley after learning shocking revelations about their family, the sky fills with airplanes, "a sinister swarm of evil black birds...Hitler's wrath is descending." With its expert pacing and characterization and its careful delineation of historical and family stories, this is historical fiction at its best. A note and photographs are appended.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(1) YA Barone (Race to the Bottom of the Earth, rev. 5/21) delivers another impressive feat of narrative nonfiction storytelling. In the years following World War I, Germany developed a virtually unbreakable code, called Enigma, with the help of a complicated machine. One such machine fortuitously fell into the hands of Poland, enabling their ­codebreakers to duplicate the machine and crack the code--until the Germans added layers of complexity. As Hitler rose to power, the threat of military aggression became obvious, increasing the stakes substantially; the code was central to military operations, particularly the German naval strategy. France, England, and Poland now had extra motivation to cooperate with one another to break the code; and break it they did, but not before an extensive game of ­cat-and-mouse with Germany. Accompanied by occasional ­black-and-white ­photos, Barone's suspenseful text introduces a sprawling cast of characters, with the epilogue updating readers on what happened afterward to the central ­players. A timeline, bibliography, and source notes are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Chester Keene is perfectly content to adhere to his regular routines, making sure he does't worry his mother with his daily struggles (including an increasingly aggressive bully) and making careful observations of others around him--without any personal interactions. He does so to impress his father, whom he hasn't seen in years because he's been away on "spy missions" (based on the latest birthday gifts Chester's received). Only accessible by intermittent emails, Chester's dad gives him advice about bullies, school, and life in general. When Chester receives a cryptic note at his front door, he's certain his father is in danger and needs help with a perilous assignment. He immediately jumps into action...only to discover that the mission requires a partner. Carefree, haphazard Skye is the complete opposite of Chester, but, as he has to admit, they work well together as they solve increasingly tricky riddles. When the mission turns dangerous and Dad goes incommunicado, Chester is forced to rely on his powers of observation even further--and what he discovers changes everything. Chester's attempts to make sense of the world around him are equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, since he is fully aware of his social awkwardness and rigid idiosyncrasies. Taking great care with issues related to blended families and bullying, Magoon (The Season of Styx Malone, rev. 9/18) gives readers another emotional and satisfying read.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 For this freewheeling detective story, Turnage chooses a particular and intriguing setting: Hatteras Island off the coast of North Carolina in 1942. In the early stages of the American involvement in WWII, German U-boats were stationed off this coast, a fact largely hidden from the public. These conditions of secrecy, threat, and espionage make a perfect backdrop for an elaborate tale in which twelve-year-old Stick and her sidekicks, Rain and Neb, tackle a cluster of mysteries involving--among other tropes--spies, double agents, strategic eavesdropping, code-breaking, clue-solving, secret messages in lemon juice, explosives, an attempted arsenic poisoning, and a fatal snake bite. The pace slows very briefly for more naturalistic plot points such as Stick's father being missing in action and the endemic racism directed toward Rain and her mother, but the narrative is mainly tried and true: plucky kids outwitting the adults. An added bonus is that our narrator, Stick, is a keen reader of the encyclopedia and of potboiler fiction and has mastered both a wide-ranging compendium of scientific facts and a quippy tough-guy argot, with its delicious metaphors, all appropriate to the period. Her sister's boyfriend has "dimples deep enough to back a Ford into." Funny, crisp, and clever.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(3) YA Lady Mina Tretheway receives a mysterious telegram at boarding school written in code and is summoned to her family home. There, with the help of a family friend and a handsome American, Lady Mina is drawn into an exciting and dangerous mission that could help win the war. Despite a slow start, this is an engaging, action-filled World War I spy thriller.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) YA In 1944 London, thirteen-year-old Bertie Bradshaw finds himself in the middle of espionage and intrigue, racing against the clock to unmask a Nazi double agent before WWII's top-secret D-Day operation commences. With red herrings, ciphers to decode, a subplot about a Jewish refugee, and cameos by real-life historical figures, there's never a dull moment. Back matter includes a "roster of terms, events, and historical figures" and solutions to the ciphers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by el primo Ramón. Morse's (1791–1872) failures are front and center in this spirited picture book, helping to humanize the famous inventor. While traveling in France, Morse first conceived of an electric telegraph machine and a code based on dots and dashes. Mishaps and delays frequently impeded success--a valuable lesson in grit and determination. Pencil drawings are digitally colored with earth-toned hues. Author's note and additional facts about Morse are appended. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lily Williams. This very readable overview of cryptography throughout world history explains how different codes and ciphers work, moving from more basic examples (Caesar substitution, keyword cipher, pigpen cipher) to complicated encryption techniques (Nazi Enigma machines). Schwartz neatly weaves in math content and historical context, and she gives readers the chance to practice their deciphering skills. Final sections address cyber-security and hackers. Black-and-white illustrations and photographs are included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sarah Watts. Emily Crane (Book Scavenger; The Unbreakable Code) is feeling the pressure of her outsized reputation as a puzzle-solver at publisher Garrison Griswold's elaborate mystery game night on Alcatraz Island. Then an actual mystery involving a reclusive author arises. Readers can work the puzzles alongside Emily and friends in this cheery celebration of San Francisco landmarks, ciphers and codes, and close friends working as a team.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes. Young Chester Nez was sent to a missionary boarding school that taught English, but he ignored his teachers by retaining his native Navajo language and culture. As a soldier in World War II, Chester became one of the original Navajo code talkers, helping to defeat the Japanese. Muted illustrations enhance the informative biography. A portion of the Navajo code is appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 The series concludes in this sixth entry with code-cracking super-agent Ruby in search of a traitor within Spectrum's ranks. The familiar supporting cast is here to help, but another child spy may play an integral part in the mystery. Ruby is in top form, solving ingenious puzzles, performing impossible physical feats, and amassing clues to discover the solution. An exciting and satisfying finale for fans.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. This engaging easy reader pairs accessible, level-appropriate prose with full-color kid-friendly illustrations to introduce exciting, lesser-known facts about World War I. Choctaw Indian code talkers, razzle dazzle painting on ships for camouflage, and the story of pilot Eugene Bullard are covered. Back matter includes further explanations, craft ideas, a section on animal heroes, and a quiz.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II series. This series provides readers with insights beyond the usual recounting of battles and politics commonly found in juvenile WWII resources, focusing instead on more personal aspects of the war and on anecdotes of heroism. Maps and archival images enrich the clear, informative texts; periodic "Hero Highlight" and "STEM Highlight" sidebars provide interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Heroes of World War II titles: D-Day Invasion, World War II Resistance Fighters, Navajo Code Talkers, World War II Spies and Secret Agents, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Japanese American Internment Camps.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 In alternating narratives, Larson relates the World War II tales of Billie, an eleven-year-old girl, and a Marine named Denny, a Navajo Code Talker. The story focuses on Billie's longing for friendship and Denny's desire to preserve his Navajo heritage. Bear, an abused dog rescued by Denny and given to Billie, brings the two together. Historical fiction lovers will be drawn to the heartwarming story.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Adapted by Laurie Calkhoven. This teen adaptation of Mundy's adult book reveals the largely untold story of thousands of talented young women recruited to work as code breakers during WWII. While it's difficult to follow the large cast of characters--and the highly technical explanations of the code-breaking process--the women's unique opportunity and subsequent achievements are fascinating, inspiring examples of unsung heroism. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) 4-6 Framed! series. Covert consultants for the FBI, twelve-year-old best friends Florian and Margaret (Framed!; Vanished!), return for a third caper. Here they must save their supervisor, Marcus, from taking the fall for a deep-cover Russian spy who has been using the Library of Congress to send secrets to the Russian embassy. This enthralling mystery about spies, libraries, and codes is cleverly spun with high stakes and amusing characters.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes