The Orphan of the Flames

Secret Breakers #2

by H.L. Dennis

The team of code-crackers face a new code that has never been solved. Brodie, Hunter and Tusia are back at Station X, the secret code-cracking station at Bletchley Park. And they are still wrestling with the great unanswered what secret lies behind the ancient, coded Voynich Manuscript? Their first adventure left them with a musical box that plays a tune by the composer, Elgar. Elgar loved codes.
At once they are off on a new search which takes them to the stories behind Elgar's famous music and a coded letter he wrote to a young friend, Dorabella. The 'Dorabella Cipher' has never, ever been solved. Now our team of code-breakers are on a twisting trail via medieval book burnings in Florence, a mysterious boy known as the Orphan of the Flames, and a one-time famous prisoner in London's Newgate Prison who wrote about King Arthur. Where is it all leading? And will they survive, when hot on their trail is a secret organisation that has always thwarted the search for Truth and is prepared to kill to stop them ... The second story in this highly original puzzle-solving series - a Da Vinci Code for kids. The reader races along with the Secret Breakers team to break the code ...

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Teachers' resources and full reading guide available

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Thriller, Action, Fantasy

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years later and I still love this story, even though I definitely think it’s too complex to be a middle-grade book. Or I’m just dumb lmao.

[Camilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a better development that the previous one but has two problems; first one is the characters love to try to use bad words so they use long expressions for that and it sound ridiculous and unnecesary and two I hate that all the things that happened are with the only purpose that Brodie looks good and smart, so the other kids are to make mistakes and Brodie fixed, to say things and Brodie realized the answers for everything. Why the author simply didin't create the characters and worked with only one main character.

[Diego Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6
Two books into the series, it's clear what you're in for. The codes are complicated, to the point that it's sometimes hard to believe these kids would crack them, but it is hard to be disappointed: the book (the series) delivers exactly what it promises.

[Mikiyas]

Great

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, I just can't wait to read the rest of the series...

[Sigrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd reread
5 stars

[Karen Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series, The Orphan of the Flames basically picks up shortly after book one finishes.

Brodie is struggling, but Hunter and Tusia are there to help her. In this book they meet up with Sheldon, who has his own special gift to contribute to their ongoing search. The group, which does include adults (just so you know) must work together and stay ahead of Level 5 (the organisation trying to stop them succeeding).

The adventure continues, as does the running and trying to solve the puzzles to unlock the next clue, which ultimately will help them read the code. There's a reason the code is so well hidden, but that's what they need to work out.

One of the things I really found fascinating was the secret postal line that the author claims is a real thing beneath the streets of London. It was used during the war years to deliver messages and has been closed for years now ... or has it?! Even Level 5 felt like a real thing, and possibly could be. These are a couple of reasons why I've been enjoying this series. The little intrigues behind the stories. I guess these things helped to bring the story alive.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this book was much better than the first one although a bit more of the same. It was little more fast-paced but had the same characters doing the same thing. Nearly giving up when they think it's over but then wait! Brodie has a plan and everything is back on again and the race kickstarts once more. I don't mind the characters but it just seems a little convenient sometimes that all of what they need is right near them every time and if the greatest code-breakers in the world have failed before how come they find stuff out so quickly? It is a good series for kids but even though I quite liked the story I have read better.
I will see what the 3rd book has to offer!

[Tamar Pretorius]

Frankly, I found this book really disappointing. For years I've read almost 200 books as read-alouds for the same group of kids who adore almost anything I read, but really. The writing is tedious, characters are flat (it's hard to remember who is who, no matter how far the story goes) and the codes themselves are boring! And as for Hunter's never-ending "What the peaches and cream...", How the egg on toast..." What the pickled onion..." every second page, I ended up editing all that out as I read so that the kids wouldn't sigh and want to give up. But they sighed and gave up anyway.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this as it didn't build upon Secret of Three. I didn't feel there was much character development and OotF followed exactly the same format with no definitive conclusion. There was an intriguing cliffhanger involving Brodie's mum.

However I still think this is a promising series that will hold the attention of young readers and serve as a bridge to young adult novels.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books have just the right amount of mystery, history, and excitement. I love the code-breaking element and the fact that you have the change to figure it out on your own along with the characters. I read a translated version and that has some flaws in the setting so that sometimes it is impossible to know that the paragraph is from the enemy's perspective, but all in all a fun and easy read.

[Sarah]

the suspense

[Nikki Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a great fan of this series, but my daughter loves it, so I guess it's hitting the right target! Totally unbelievable plot line with some characters I don't personally warm to.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book! You must read it if you like codes and puzzles!