L'énigme de Bletchley Park

by Ruta Sepetys, Steve Sheinkin

This middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death.

Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act…

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2024

About the author

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. The daughter of a refugee, Ruta is drawn to underrepresented stories of strength through struggle and hopes to give voice to those who weren't able to tell their story. Her award-winning historical novels are published in over sixty countries and have received over forty literary prizes.

For more information:
https://www.rutasepetys.com
https://www.facebook.com/rutasepetys
https://www.instagram.com/rutasepetys...
https://www.twitter.com/rutasepetys

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction sits on the shoulders of nonfiction. ~ from the Acknowledgments

What do you get when one of my favorite MG/YA authors (Ruta Sepetys) collaborates with a favorite nonfiction author for the same age groups (Steve Sheinkin)? This book!

Told from the perspectives of Lizzi (14) and brother Jakob (19), we get an inside look at Bletchley Hall on the cusp of WW II and the frantic efforts to unravel the secrets of Enigma. This book is fast-paced with exciting action and humor. Full of authentic historical moments from figures like Winston Churchill and Alan Turing, this is one to try if you are still looking to learn more about the many ways Great Britain "punched Hitler in the mouth."

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this with my 6th grader and we blew through it in 2 days - it was so good!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been more excited about a book with no description or title. These two are gold.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a pleasant surprise!! I am usually not one for historical fiction, especially surrounding the World Wars, but I got a review copy at an event from the publisher and decided to give it a try. I ended up flying through it and loving it!

The Bletchley Riddle is a fast-paced middle grade mystery set during WWII around Bletchley Park and secret code-breaking operations. We follow two siblings - an older brother employed in code-breaking, and his hilariously spunky younger sister Lizzie who escapes being sent to America and finds her brother. Their mother went missing in Poland and has been presumed dead, but Lizzie is convinced she's still alive and is determined to uncover the truth. The siblings are smart and dealing with serious circumstances, but ultimately this reads like a fun mystery adventure plot with lots of historical detail on codes and code-breaking. I LOVE Lizzie as a character- she won't let anyone get in the way of what she wants and she made me laugh. This reads very quickly and delivers a lot of interesting information in a way that manages not to be too heavy. Definitely recommend it! I received a copy for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything that's great in a historical fiction book. You learn things, the characters are relatable, there's a bit of intrigue (and adventure), and some sweet sibling relationships. The only thing I didn't love is that the romance its centered on the younger main character (I think she's 14?), instead of the one who's actually old enough to be in a relationship. However, it was done very well and there wasn't anything I was uncomfortable with.

I think I highlighted some good quotes that I'll post later.
Overall, I would highly recommend this middle grade book about codebreakers during WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel please? I loved this so much, and I don’t want to leave these characters behind! It was so fun to have a book that contrasted so completely with my Victober reading. 😂 Lizzie and Jakob are such endearing protagonists, and I love how present Willa is in the novel even though she’s not really present. (Or is she??)

I loved the codebreaking details and the insider look at Bletchley Park. There was also some fascinating history just pre-war and in the first year or so of the war that I hadn’t read as much about before. Like how seriously the British were prepared for a German invasion and how gracious the Poles were in helping the British with Enigma, etc. It reminded me of the fantastic nonfiction books by Lynne Olson, like ‘Last Hope Island’.

I loved the characters at the Park and at the Mutton where Jakob and Lizzie stay. Colin and Marion are such great companions for Lizzie, and I would happily read more about Beryl and John. The Colonel is great. Nigel is the best! Viola and Mr Berrycloth are amusing. Gran is something else. It’s fun to have some real historical figures appear, especially Dilly Knox. I love reading anything and everything about the Knox family.

There is so much to love about this middle grade novel. It’s gentle enough to be easily accessible to kids, even more sensitive ones like I was (and am). It’s got a compelling and quick-paced plot but doesn’t sacrifice on the details, which are delightful. It’s funny too. And who doesn’t like kids getting the better of pesky, mean adults?

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it because of Ruta, but middle grade for an adult was a mistake for me. It felt long and honestly the plot just wasn’t enough for me. The dual audio narration was fun though! Just felt like the plot circled around and around for the entirety of the book.

With that being said, I’m going to have my trusted children’s book reviewers (my 12 and 15 year old daughters) read it and I’ll report back.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read and really liked other books by Ruta Sepetys but had never read a book by Steve Sheinkin. The two together are genius.

I was not expecting the humor in this one. There was a lot of it and I enjoyed it immensely. I also enjoyed the parts that were poignant.

I was immediately hooked on this one because Lizzie is such a special, memorable character. I’m also interested in that time period (WWII) and place (England) and subject matter (young people on their own without parents, code breaking.)

A lot of lines cracked me up including “Willa is American. From a posh place called Cleveland.” I’m not sure that readers in England will get that this is amusing, and a little further into the book: “… in the cultural capital of Cleveland.“ Yes, the grandmother (not Willa) that lives there is wealthy, but even so.

It is everything about Lizzie though that had me smiling and still has me smiling. Lizzie is a hoot. I love her. She has joined my short list as one of my favorite literary characters.

I also like Lizzie’s brother Jacob and all of the other many characters.

I enjoyed how the various relationships were written because they seemed authentic and believable.

There is a mystery about their mother and it’s very well done. There are a lot of twists and turns with that storyline and also with the storyline of the ill-fated attempt to get Lizzie to Cleveland.

I almost put this on my 6 star books shelf because I couldn’t find many flaws in this story but I’ll have to see if this story and its characters stay with me as I think they might before I do that. Hilarious!

I listened to the audio as I read the book. I recommend doing the same. Even for readers who normally never read audiobooks, I recommend at least listening to at least a sample of this book. I think that the dual voice narration (Jacob and Lizzie) is brilliant and it added even more to showing Lizzie’s character in particular.

This was a fun read and it has left me with a bit of a book hangover. Highly recommended for 9-13 year old readers and for family reading and for teachers/classroom reading. Also recommended to almost all of my adult friends who can enjoy children’s books.

It’s the best kind of historical fiction. I like how real events are incorporated (Bletchley Park, the first day of the Blitz, London’s preparations at the eve of the war, etc.) I greatly appreciated how at the end of the book both authors revealed what parts of the story were true and which were fictionalized and also which characters were real people and how true to history they were portrayed.

ETA: The included vintage photos were a good addition to the book.

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 3.75 stars ✰

“There’s something so deeply satisfying about the hushed sharing of information. What good is a story that can never be told?”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 'Historical fiction sits on the shoulders of nonfiction.' This statement is included in the Acknowledgements was a beautiful and thoughtful sentiment that resonated with me. The ability for writers to create fictional characters and immerse their lives to be a part of an historical moment and have the reader believe that such stories could have taken place - really means something. 😔 It not only helps the reader learn a little bit about history, but in a way that can be both educational and enjoyable, too. And while I had heard of Bletchley before in another historical middle grade, The Bletchley Riddle was an engaging read that was well worth my time. 😌

“Goodness, codebreaking is positively exhausting.”

“You’ve got that right.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite how I gravitated towards nineteen-year-old humble, witty, and sometimes speaks in riddles Cambridge man Jakob's storyline more so than his very straightforward fourteen-year-old sister, Lizzie, their sibling dynamic was the catalyst for much of what transpired. 😟 'There’s a dark storm ahead, a very dark storm indeed. Things will be different, Lizzie.' From either of them having their own mission - their own riddles to solve, while also determining the true whereabouts of their mother, Willa Novis, suspected of being a spy, there was plenty amiss and going on to keep my attention. Aided by once again a very skilled and experienced hand of two estimable authors, it was a well-balanced shift between their two perspectives as well as their personalities, too. 🌼

“Of course, the more cunningly the secrets are hidden, the harder people like me will work to find them.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Jakob's levelheadedness was a sharp contrast to Lizzie's more straightforward and direct approach, albeit a slightly theatrical one, but when they teamed up or even traded their ideas or pieced the clues together to crack an unsolvable puzzle that spoke to their hearts, you could clearly see the close sibling bond they shared. 🫂 From frustrations to shielding truths, from sense to sensibility, from teasing to arguing, I never doubted that they were not brother and sister. Even when Lizzie got on my nerves, I could tell that Jakob really cared for her and only wanted to keep her safe. 🥺

“You’ll have a million questions,” the Colonel says. “Don’t ask any of them. But do know this:”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Being a part of Bletchley Park on both sides delivered on humor and honesty. It captured how vital and critical it was for Britain's top-secret World War II code breaking center to be at the top of their game to crack German codes and ciphers while the impending war inched closer. With an ensemble of a mix of realistic and fictional well crafted characters that enriched the setting and adventure, I felt the palpable tension as well as the lingering emotions of each character as they tried to cope with their own family crisis and the intrigue and mystery surrounding their mother's whereabouts, as well as the insinuations regarding her loyalty. 😟 I liked how there were two parallel stories running alongside one another - one on a personal and heartfelt level and the other on the professional and more dangerous side.Who to trust? Who to believe? How to figure out the next step that could determine life or death? How to not lose your cool when your world and heart is crumbling down? Something was always happening that made it - not fun - but believable. 👌🏻👌🏻

“Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we’re born into.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ My heart ached for Jakob when he feared not only for his life, but also his career - how he took his job as a mathematician very seriously. It was hard seeing how torn he was over his mother's disappearance and accusation, but even when he doubted, I never doubted him. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 Lizzie definitely tested my patience at times, but her friendship with Colin was sweet. She was focused and a determined young lady and she took great leaps of courage and faith to get her point across and the job done - crafty and resourceful, a bit self-centered at times, but always with a valiant effort. At times I do think she was a bit too sharp in her retorts that could have landed her in a lot more hot water if not for the family name that made them both valuable assets - but, it was still fun. The short chapters also helped because it kept the pacing swift and the tension heightened at how time really is their greatest enemy. 😥

“The whole country’s depending on us, Novis, even if they don’t know who we are. We need new ideas, and we need them now.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I felt that there was still more to the Novis' family's story that I would love to see more of, and how their lives would change from these events. I would not quite say it's on a middle grade level, because the characters are slightly older and the explanations for code-breaking and the involvement of British espionage and treason may be a little bit too advanced for some, but for a lower Young Adult level, this definitely was an entertaining and informative read. 👏🏻👏🏻 Especially for those who are interested in getting a more intimate look on the side of those who may not have their names remembered, which perhaps was the right move on their part of keeping their involvement a secret, but to also never forget the tireless efforts of those who may not have been on the battlefield or front-lines, but were still doing their best to keep the Allies one step ahead of the enemies, so much so that their hard work may have aided in shortening the war in Europe by as much as two years. 🙂‍↕️🙏🏻

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book read more like a young adult than a middle great, but overall I feel like it was well written historical fiction. I really liked the dual perspectives and felt like the authors came together to write a good story each with well developed characters. I’ve read a lot of fiction set during World War II, but this one took a new perspective/new part of the war and I love that. This book focuses on Park, a secret code breaking outpost in Bletchley with such people as Turing. It was very cool to see a bit of this part of history. Lizzie is determined not to be evacuated to America, despite her gran’s instance she will be. England is becoming more and more unsafe and with Lizzie’s mother missing and presumed dead and her father dying several years before she has no one except a brother who has been ignoring her letters. After planning and enacting her escape she tracks her brother down and while the Secrecy Act she ends up signing prevents her from getting all the answers from him she is determined to find out what happened to their mother whether he supports her or not.

[Jennifer (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“All interesting people are strange, don’t you think?”

“Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those were born into.”

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few.”

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel banger.
C'était addictif, émouvant, original... tout à fait ce que je recherchais et j'ai été happée jusqu'à la toute dernière. Vu le thème et la manière dont c'est traité, ça m'a envoyé de très grosses vibes du film Imitation Games (que j'ai envie de revoir du coup haha). C'est intéressant, je me répète mais c'est aussi addictif et c'est un excellent roman historique, qui peut facilement se lire à partir de 11 ans mais que j'ai tout simplement adoré !!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming middle grade book coauthored by Ruta Sepeteys, one of my favorite authors.

It is full of mystery and clever plans. Lizzy is a spunky no nonsense teen who wants to know the answer to her mother’s sudden disappearance. Her older brother Jakob is determined to keep her safe while working to solve his own riddles.

Both of them try to do this while involved in the highly secret government program at Bletchley Park.

I have read a few books about Bletchley Park and find it amazing. While this one is geared toward the younger readers, I found it addictive and fast paced while introducing the subject in an easy engaging way.

Some of the happenings are highly questionable but it was a fun read all the same!

[Sandra Koka (pielasit_sirdi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rūta Šepetis kārtējo reizi pierāda, ka spēj pārvērst mazāk zināmu vēsturisku notikumu par kaut ko aizraujošu, piešķirot dzirkstošu piedzīvojuma sajūtu.

Šajā reizē, sadarbībā ar godalgoto rakstnieku Stīvu Šeinkinsu radot šifrētu noslēpumu mīklu, kuru lasītājs mēģina atminēt visā grāmatas laikā kopā ar 19gadīgo Džeikobu un viņa stūrgalvīgo un enerģisko 14gadīgo māsu Liziju.

🗝️Svarīgi saprast, ka šis ir romāns jauniešu auditorijai, kas pilns ar naivismu, kas raksturīgs tam posmam, kad jūra līdz ceļiem un viss ir iespējams. Kā arī amerikāniskais pozitīvisms un dramatisms caurvij visu sižetu. Bet tieši tas ir sader kopā ar žanra auditoriju, radot filmas cienīgu sižetu (es esmu 100% pārliecinata, ka sekos filma), kurā ir gan nezināmais, gan dimamiskums un milzu aizrautība, kurā varoņi risina savus personiskos un pasaules glābšanas (lasit- kara mīklas un uzvaras un zaudējuma) epopeju.

Kara fons, reāla šifrēšanas mašīna “Enigma”, mīklas, spiegu ziņas, izmeklēšana, pēdu slēpšana un maskēšanās, slepeni ziņojumi, aizsegs.

Manam iekšējam jaunietim bija ļoti aizraujoši sekot šiem mīklas pavedieniem. Stāsts kā filma uz lielajiem ekrāniem, kurā galvenais varonis ir drosmīga, varonīga un dumpinieciska pusaugu meitene.

4⭐️

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

“... sometimes there are things we do in life without being able to fully explain them."

Yeah, like refusing to dnf a book by a favorite author when I should have because yikes! This book was a bitter disappointment.

Until now, Ruta Sepetys's Out of the Easy was my lowest rated book of hers, which received 2 stars from me. I much prefer her stories that take place in World War II, so when this book was announced, along with it being coauthored, I was thrilled. Curious, even! I couldn't wait to see what was in store.

Now, my lowest rated book of hers goes to The Bletchley Riddle and, honestly, 1 star is being quite gracious.

The story is about a pair of siblings, who's world is turned upside down. Their mother is dead, or so it appears, and time is of the essence as the Battle of Britain draws closer.

At first, Jakob Novis, the older brother, had quite the intriguing story.

In the beginning, he was the better written character; however, the intrigue did not last long because of how little actual codebreaking was present. Sure, there's the whole mystery of their mother's disappearance, but it wasn't her case I was interested about.

In fact, as the story shifted to her ominous role, my attention waned. The more Jakob focused on his sister, about the strange circumstances revolving around their mother, the less interest I had in his part of the story.

And then there's bratty, selfish Lizzie.

She is one of the worst characters I have ever had the misfortune to come across. For someone who woes about how it hurts being lied to, she has no remorse over spreading lies when it suits her. She acts like she's the victim when she's really the perpetrator.

There was one incident in particular that was so incredibly farfetched that it really took me out of the story.

I hope the next one by her will be to my personal tastes.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking MG story of code breaking, war secrets, and the search for a missing mother in England during WWII. Captures the era beautifully while giving us a smart inquisitive brother-sister team as protagonists. Loved it!

[Caitlin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we’re born into.” // 4.5/5 ⭐️

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel about Bletchley Park during WWII from the perspective of teenagers. Sepetys and Sheinkin drop all the names, which was fun--Alan Turing, Dilly Knox, Gordon Welchman, and others. They also shine a light on Polish mathematicians Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski, and Jerzy Różycki, whose pre-war work on the bomba became essential for Turing's work on the bombe, the machine capable of breaking enigma code.

I've been to Bletchley twice--and, my dear husband would want me to say, the National Museum of Computing next door (according to him it's even better to Bletchley, but let the record state that it is smaller, with lower ceilings, and no delicious food). I think Sepetys and Sheinkin missed the opportunity to have a little fun with one of the weirdest-looking manor houses in England. It's really something.



This would be a great choice for the young readers who love spies and codes--I would have loved this as a teenager (my 16th birthday party was spy themed). It would even be appropriate for middle schoolers who read above their grade level, and the most intimate thing that happened was holding hands. The characters were good, the mystery was fun, and the code-breaking was more substantial than I expected. I was prepared for the emotional gutting I've learned to expect from Sepetys, but the cover made me think it would be a little less dramatic. This novel was positively light! Nobody dies or gets tortured, and the worst thing that happens is the characters waiting out a bombing of London in an air-raid shelter. I liked the twists and turns and the code-breaking. It did bother me that a character mentions that Winston Churchill was born in the USA, and it's never corrected in the book or author's note. His mother was American, but his real birth story is so much better: he was born prematurely during a ball, in a tiny room off the ballroom of Blenheim Palace.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The sky is blue, but the city is the color of war."

The history behind Bletchley Park as a WWII codebreaking center and Jakob and Lizzie's involvement within it were so gripping, but I couldn't get into this book for the life of me. I can't really describe how the narrative put me off, but the storyline with Jakob and Lizzie trying to figure out what happened to their mother, Willa, didn't appeal to me at all.

I vastly preferred chapters from Jakob's perspective where the codebreakers and mathematicians cracked codes and ciphers using logic and behavioral patterns. It was more fascinating to me to see how they managed to stay one step ahead of Germany and contributed to the war effort. While I enjoyed getting a glimpse into real-life figures such as Alan Turing and the three heroic Polish codebreakers, I wish there had been more.

Ruta Sepetys is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, but I just don't think I'm the right audience for this book. I could see a younger version of myself potentially enjoying this book more, but this didn't hit the mark for me. Even so, I'm glad it introduced me to Bletchley Park and I can definitely see myself seeking out more literature about it.

[Tripp · Rating 3 out of 5]

the Bletchley riddle
{⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars}
{platform: physical 📚}
{age rating 10+}
So I’ve got mixed feelings for this book beacuse I did love it and it is a great story I feel like it missed the ending and it didn’t really leave me thinking which is what makes me normally LOVE both of their books

~heres what I liked~

👍 - the story was a fun and easy read it made me want to keep flipping the pages which she always does
👍 - I really enjoyed the mystery that the book laced through the entire thing it was really well done and fit nicely it wasn’t shoved in last minute but it also wasn’t the entire story so it was a perfect mix

~here’s what I didn’t like~

👎 - the ending like I said I the beginning i feel like the ending missed the mark for me (I can’t say to much because I want to avoid spoilers) but I feel like most of them time when I finish a Sepetys book I am thinking I am stuck on something but this time didn’t really have that

~📚the writing📖~

This was great I alway love dual pov books because they give such an interesting introspection into each of the mcs thoughts which can bring a new layer of emotion and energy into each part

~👥the charecters👤~

Lizzie - she is my fav character of the book but one of my least fav Ruta mcs because she was always so energetic and so hopeful and one of the best part of her books is when they have these deep introspective moments and learn where they were wrong
Jakob - I don’t know how I feel about him beacuse sometimes he seemed very dry I feel like I don’t know a lot about him yet
Collin - I thought he was great I mean yea also kinda dry

~Iffy content~

- Cussing 0/5 (nothing)
- S*xuall content 0/5
- Violence 🔫🔫/5 ( mentions of war and violence )


pre-review 12/1/24 - trying to decide how I fell about it because idk something felt missing 3.5 rounded to 3

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and enthralling adventure! Although it's marketed as middle-grade, it felt too long and too complex, and I'm not sure it would hold up to the attention span of a middle-grade child. I am a ripened lover of the young adult genre but it didn't quite feel like YA either. Maybe it's late-middle-grade? Lol.

As expected of the phenomenal Ruta Sepetys, the writing style was captivating, and the history seemed well researched. I'm not familiar with the works of Steve Sheinkin, and I don't know which elements were composed by which author, but it's a well-oiled machine overall. The plot was pieced together nicely, and world building and character development were on par. The story moved quickly.

Thank you to Bookish First for featuring this title in their catalog and granting me an ARC copy for review. This review and the opinions expressed therein are entirely my own.

If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, pen pals, traveling books, and a lot more!

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collaboration between Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin! Lots of history between the covers of this tale. Lizzie refuses to accept that her mother Willa is dead. Killed at the invasion of Poland. When Lizzie’s Gran tries to have her shipped out to the US, she abandons her escort on the ship and decides to track down her brother Jakob instead.
Soon she finds herself with a new friend at Bletchley Park. Both sign secrecy oaths and soon are working as messengers. But good is sharing an adventure if you can’t share it?

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. #PRHInternationalPartner

The Bletchley Riddle was a very informative and well-written novel which wasn’t surprising since Ruta Sepetys has never let me down before. I’ve always really enjoyed her books and she once again didn’t disappoint but her writing also worked very well with that of her co-author Steve Sheinkin. The characters in this book were lovely, it was a very quick read and I learned about an interesting topic that I hadn’t known much about prior to reading this book so overall, this was a very good read.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging tale of WWII told in dual narratives from siblings Lizzie and Jakob.

The war is in its inception when Jakob is pulled from university to work at Bletchley Park - a sort of compound created by thinkers of the time (what they are doing is all coded in mystery - pun intended).

Lizzie is being sent to Cleveland to be with her grandmother after the disappearance of her mother, but Lizzie has other plans for herself and sneaks off the ship to find her brother.

The story is a fast-paced thriller that has the two siblings trying to solve two mysteries: is their mother really dead? Can the Germans create unsolvable code?

I loved the pace and I loved the intrepid Lizzie.

[BooksAsDreams (Tiffany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all of Ruta’s books, this is detailed, researched, and oh, so interesting! The author is a genius at using fictional characters to bring history to life. The surprises, the hope, the story! The characters are rich and the history…accurate and a story not very well-known.

If you love spies and adventure, this book is a story of hope emerging from history.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

[Hailey McGuire]

please PLEASE be a spin-off book about nikolai kretzsky that’s all i’ve wanted for years

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Codes and secrets abound in this WWII novel full of historical intrigue.

✏️ Review ✏️

Overall, The Bletchley Riddle is a fairly intriguing historical novel. I do have to say that I was expecting a lot more out of this story, as it's a collaboration between two of the biggest authors in historical lit. But the amount of historical info presented gives The Bletchley Riddle it's punch, I suppose. This novel definitely has more of an MG flavor than the typical YA feel associated with Ruta Sepetys.

The plot did keep me involved in the story, although it isn't anything overly dramatic or suspenseful. I normally enjoy dual POVs; but something about the dual POVs in this story came across as somewhat confusing. I wasn't a fan of the changing perspective in the middle of scenes, especially when I had just gotten used to the feelings and thoughts of the other character. So as a result the plot feels kinda jumpy and at times confusing. Otherwise, though, the plot is averagely enjoyable.

The historical information presented on the Enigma machine is fascinating! I had no idea the interior workings of the machine were that complicated. Or that Bletchley Park even existed (me a history buff, huh? 🤭). So the history was like by far the best part of the book.

.sega lla ot eliddR yelchelB ehT dnemmocer I ,stcaf lacirotsih gintanicsaf eht dna ,laeppa egnar ega eht ,seussi tnetnoc on yltsom htiW
⏩(No, that's not gibberish. [I'm not that crazy! 😁] It's a code. Read it backwards to uncover the message. Enjoy!)

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The historical facts the story is based on.
• The intrigue of so many codes.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The confusion and disconnect that the dual POV creates.

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 1/5

•A few uses of God's name in vain and one use of "d*mn."

— ⚔️ Violence:

— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5

• One vaguely suggestive remark.

• Mentions men and women kissing a few times.

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📣 Random Comments 📣

• (None)

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we're born into. (p. 376)

[Elijah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for the Bletchley Riddle!

First of all, this is an absolute MASTERPIECE! I was so thrilled to read this. “The Bletchley Riddle” is simply a MUST-READ!! This was an easy five stars, the only thing, is I wish I wasn’t done reading it. 😁

My thoughts….💭I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!❤️❤️❤️ I have no words, All I can say, is I loved ever single page of this book! Please read this, and you’ll get the book of your life!!

Character time!!! Again, I simply cannot place a favorite character. THEY ARE ALL SO GOOD!! ❤️ First, Lizzie Novis, also known as Elizabeth Novis, Oh man. What a great character, one thing I can give her, is she never gave up! Even when Jakob thought Willa was dead, and of course, she wasn’t. Her relationship with Colin was awesome!! The pair was an amazing team!!

Secondly, we have Jakob. Which was an outstanding character!! Working secretly for the British Code-Breaking center, specifically at Bletchley Park. He was recruited from Cambridge to be a code breaker, contributing to the efforts to decipher the Nazi Enigma cipher.

Third, we have Colin. And he was my second favorite character!! Colin is portrayed as a character who is both compassionate and intelligent. He uses his wit and understanding to assist his friends in solving mysteries. He is portrayed as a character who is both compassionate and intelligent. In the book, he uses his understanding to assist his friends in solving things, like helping Lizzie solving the disappearance of her mother.

This book definitely gets this. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5|5

Ruta Sepetys, and Steve Sheinkin, have worked together, and made a brilliant masterpiece!!

REMBER, YOU ARE BOUND BY THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT!!….Summer 1940. Nineteen-year old Jakob Novis and his (quirky) younger sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The siblings find themselves amid one of the greatest secrets of World War 2.-Britain’s eccentric code-breaking factory at Bletchley Park.

Read this, and go on heck of an adventure!!

[Miriam Simut · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was quite a disappointing read for me. I struggled to connect to either Lizzie or Jakob. Lizzie I found to be abrasive and a little annoying, and Jakob felt very flat to me. I love books exploring sibling relationships but didn’t find anything about the sibling pair particularly heartwarming or inspiring. I didn’t care much for the plot and struggled as I often do with the first person present tense narration. None of the side characters interested me and I wasn’t at all invested in the plot. I thought I’d enjoy the codebreaking and mental puzzle aspects, but overall nothing really captured my interest and I pushed through mainly because I want to read everything by Sepetys. I’m not sure how much of my enjoyment was affected by the fact that it was co-authored... I’m just so sad this was not a hit.

[Susy C. *MotherLambReads* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great clean MG books about Bletchley Park. Perfect for early readers interested in learning about spies, code breakers, investigators, and cryptographers! Bletchley Park is the center for such important work of code breaking!

I really love this author for HF! This book reminded me a lot of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

History is so important, especially for younger generations to learn. This fictional story has some real life tidbits from characters in history. The story is a bittersweet story of a pair of siblings looking for their Mom right at the start of the War. Loved the idea of kids actually working at Bletchley Park.

As always be sure to listen to the author’s note. Research for this book was done with help by research Historians and other Bletchley Park figures.


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