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The Cryptic Case of the Coded Fair
With time travel and mysteries that need solving, the Galactic Academy of Science (G.A.S.) series instructs readers on how to think like scientists. Under the guidance of a Dude or Dudette from the future, the middle school characters are faced with treacherous, present-day crimes that require a historical knowledge of science in order to be solved. From investigating problems to analyzing data and constructing explanations and solutions, this series blends elements of sci-fi with educational methods that distill the key thinking habits of scientists and engineers. Learn to create and crack codes in this latest G.A.S. installment Dr. G and his companions are using coded messages in a plot to corrupt the International Science Fair. Quarkum Phonon, a Dude from the future, calls on four middle school students for help. Benson and Anita work on their computers while two new G.A.S. recruits, Ella and Shomari, travel through time, facing kidnappers, thieves, and spies in their scramble to learn about codes and ciphers. Across two millennia and five countries, they meet Julius Caesar, Thomas Jefferson, Alan Turing, and others, while learning about substitution ciphers, frequency analysis, wheels, cylinders, book codes, the Verginère Table, the Enigma, and public and private keys. But will they break Dr. G’s code in time to save the science fair? A computer-based online extension that allows readers to create and decode their own secret messages is also included.
- GenresChildrens
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
264 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2018
I was looking for a book with math content that might interest middle or high school students. This was a fun book to read on cryptology. It did have a lot of complicated concepts that may be difficult for some to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and enjoyed learning about some of the history of cryptology.
It seems to be written for a middle school audience, with pictures and a short length, but the reader would need to be able to grasp the concept of cryptology. Perfect for the middle schooler (or even upper elementary) who loves brain games.
It seems to be written for a middle school audience, with pictures and a short length, but the reader would need to be able to grasp the concept of cryptology. Perfect for the middle schooler (or even upper elementary) who loves brain games.
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March 10, 2017Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/03...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/03...
October 15, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.
Once again the Galactic Academy of Science must reach out to kids from the 21st Century to preserve the timeline. This time Dr. G is sabotaging the International Science Fair to crush the spirits of budding scientists and create a public impression that junk science is just as valid as real science. Future teen Quarkum reaches out to two new field agents, Ella and Shomari.
Shomari and Ella must travel through time to learn about cryptography and cryptoanalysis, codes and ciphers, so they can crack the coded messages Dr. G is sending his minions while protecting their own communications. From Julius Caesar’s shift cipher to Whitfield Diffie and the public key, the experts of the past inform the children of the present to save the future.
This is the latest in a series of children’s books about science, with the framework of ethnically diverse youngsters traveling through time to learn about subjects firsthand. The language is suitable for fourth graders on up, with more difficult words defined in the text. It helps that Ella and Shomari are very literate for their age and bright enough to bring up examples when they’re appropriate.
Important or notable words are emphasized with colored text, and the illustrations are good. There’s information on how to find more codes and ciphers on the publisher’s website if the reader wants to play along.
There is some mild peril–Dr. G’s minions aren’t very threatening. And the story acknowledges that there are difficult topics that come up in the past, such as slavery, religious discrimination and sexism, which hinder or offend the children from time to time. However, they are treated as problems of the past, with no mention of such topics in the present.
Like many kids, I went through a codes and ciphers phase, and this book would have been fascinating to me then. Check out your school or public library.
Once again the Galactic Academy of Science must reach out to kids from the 21st Century to preserve the timeline. This time Dr. G is sabotaging the International Science Fair to crush the spirits of budding scientists and create a public impression that junk science is just as valid as real science. Future teen Quarkum reaches out to two new field agents, Ella and Shomari.
Shomari and Ella must travel through time to learn about cryptography and cryptoanalysis, codes and ciphers, so they can crack the coded messages Dr. G is sending his minions while protecting their own communications. From Julius Caesar’s shift cipher to Whitfield Diffie and the public key, the experts of the past inform the children of the present to save the future.
This is the latest in a series of children’s books about science, with the framework of ethnically diverse youngsters traveling through time to learn about subjects firsthand. The language is suitable for fourth graders on up, with more difficult words defined in the text. It helps that Ella and Shomari are very literate for their age and bright enough to bring up examples when they’re appropriate.
Important or notable words are emphasized with colored text, and the illustrations are good. There’s information on how to find more codes and ciphers on the publisher’s website if the reader wants to play along.
There is some mild peril–Dr. G’s minions aren’t very threatening. And the story acknowledges that there are difficult topics that come up in the past, such as slavery, religious discrimination and sexism, which hinder or offend the children from time to time. However, they are treated as problems of the past, with no mention of such topics in the present.
Like many kids, I went through a codes and ciphers phase, and this book would have been fascinating to me then. Check out your school or public library.
October 25, 2014
Disclaimer: I received the book from Goodreads First Reads.
The book is part of a series called the "Galactic Academy of Science". The book I received came with a small brochure of the other books in the series, where each book aims to teach readers about a specific topic. This book had a focus on cryptography.
The book focuses on Shomari and Ella, two bright kids who are suddenly called in by Quarkum, a boy from the future, to help prevent Dr. G, the antagonist, from sabotaging an International High School Science Fair. To do so they take a time travelling device and visit famous cryptographers in history, from Ancient Rome 54BCE to 1975 Palto Alto.
I had a rudimentary knowledge of cryptography and I was quite impressed by the number of encryption methods that were introduced in the 181-page novel. The methods become harder to understand the more you read, but I find that they are all well-explained. The authors have added examples to the more tricky methods. They also added links to the publisher's website with more examples, which could be a potentially helpful resource to interested kids.
The storyline falls flat. There is some suspense and passable dialogue, but don't think this as a novel for reading, but more of an engaging textbook.
The book is part of a series called the "Galactic Academy of Science". The book I received came with a small brochure of the other books in the series, where each book aims to teach readers about a specific topic. This book had a focus on cryptography.
The book focuses on Shomari and Ella, two bright kids who are suddenly called in by Quarkum, a boy from the future, to help prevent Dr. G, the antagonist, from sabotaging an International High School Science Fair. To do so they take a time travelling device and visit famous cryptographers in history, from Ancient Rome 54BCE to 1975 Palto Alto.
I had a rudimentary knowledge of cryptography and I was quite impressed by the number of encryption methods that were introduced in the 181-page novel. The methods become harder to understand the more you read, but I find that they are all well-explained. The authors have added examples to the more tricky methods. They also added links to the publisher's website with more examples, which could be a potentially helpful resource to interested kids.
The storyline falls flat. There is some suspense and passable dialogue, but don't think this as a novel for reading, but more of an engaging textbook.
January 21, 2016
Benson and Anita need help solving a mystery. So they recruit two of their friends, Ella and Shomari. Some new computer codes might destroy their science fair. So they head back to the past to learn more about coding in hopes of saving their fair.
If you want your children to learn math and science while falling in love with reading, then check out this book. The entire series is filled with adventure, mystery, and suspense while teaching children about different aspects of science. My 3rd grader loved the book and talked about several of the new science facts he learned while reading. I read the story myself and was very impressed with the presentation and flow. It was fun for me to read as an adult, so I know that kids will love it.
I received this book free of charge from Tumblehome and JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
If you want your children to learn math and science while falling in love with reading, then check out this book. The entire series is filled with adventure, mystery, and suspense while teaching children about different aspects of science. My 3rd grader loved the book and talked about several of the new science facts he learned while reading. I read the story myself and was very impressed with the presentation and flow. It was fun for me to read as an adult, so I know that kids will love it.
I received this book free of charge from Tumblehome and JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2015
This book has a well developed story filled with mystery, continuing challenges, history and laced with danger. The science of coding messages as it developed throughout history was interesting and complicated. Each level of cryptic messaging added was also overlapped and used in different ways. This is a book to be purchased, kept, and utilized along with the www.tumblehomelearning.com website for younger children, this book would be best read with an adult and the different codes practiced with support. For older students, I can see this book as a step to delving deeper into code languages. The ATOS reading level of this book is upper 5th grade, as determined by submitting a reading sample to the Renaissance Learning website. A comprehension reading test for this book available from the publishing company but not yet available through Renaissance Learning.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews