Carnegie Medal-winning author Ruta Sepetys and three-time National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor author Steve Sheinkin team up to construct a thrilling and often hilarious fictionalized depiction of activity at Bletchley Park, the real-life British center that succeeded in decrypting communications between the Axis nations during World War II.
On the brink of the German invasion of England, 19-year-old math whiz Jakob has been recruited to crack German codes at the Government Code and Cypher School at a renovated English country estate. When his 14-year-old sister, Lizzie, shows up after their mother's presumed death during a bombing raid at the American embassy in Warsaw, Poland, she becomes Jakob's responsibility. Bletchley Park officials require her to sign the Official Secrets Act, after which she is assigned to serve as a messenger between the secret intelligence departments. Meanwhile, Lizzie appoints herself lead investigator into the disappearance of their mother--is it possible, as some believe, that their mother is a spy for the Nazis?
Sepetys is known for her spellbinding historical fiction (I Must Betray You) and Sheinkin for historical nonfiction (Impossible Escape) that is utterly action-packed. In The Bletchley Riddle, the authors use alternating voices to capture the markedly different attitudes and personalities of the siblings. Lizzie's straightforward and precocious ways are not always welcomed by her elders, while Jakob's serious, anxious tone reflects the burden of responsibility he feels, both to his family and his country. This middle-grade novel is sure to transcend age ranges and is both mystery and historical fiction, with a healthy dose of adventure and the tiniest hint of young romance. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor