In this compelling historical adventure, siblings Lizzie (14) and Jakob (19) contribute to the war effort in 1940s England while also investigating what happened to their mother. Told in alternating points of view, reserved Jakob and precocious Lizzie share how they arrived at Bletchley Park, the epicenter of Allied codebreaking efforts to unlock the German Enigma machine (hint: one was recruited at school and the other evaded efforts to send her to America).
In The Bletchley Riddle (2024), co-authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin highlight a lesser known aspect of a famous war, shedding light on previous unsung heroes (a few historical figures make an appearance). With short chapters and a fast pace, this suspenseful story will grab readers from the start. And while this is a tense time in history, the book features plenty of heart and humor along with entertaining sibling antics.
Written for tweens and teens, The Bletchley Riddle holds broad appeal for all ages. Sepetys’ previous hidden histories for teens found a large crossover adult audience (Salt to the Sea, I Must Betray You).