The Wish Ring Cipher

Codebreakers #1

by Alexandra Ott

A group of code–busting friends races to find a powerful ring before their rivals can use it for dark magic.


Emma Avery has always loved solving puzzles and codes, and now that she’s processing a recent autism diagnosis and facing down seventh grade at a new school, they’re even more important to her.


Then Emma meets Nate Lin. He’s popular and funny and . . . loves codes, too. He introduces Emma to the Codebreakers, a group of his friends dedicated to cracking codes that have been discovered in the ruins of a nearby ghost town, which are believed to lead to magical objects. But they’re not the only ones on the hunt, and when their sinister rivals close in on an object that grants unlimited wishes, the Codebreakers must race to beat them to it before they use it for dark magic.


The Wish Ring Cipher is a fast-paced adventure brimming with magic and warmth that introduces a tenacious and endearing heroine on a quest to save the world—and to make some friends along the way.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Adventure, Childrens, Audiobook

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Alexandra Ott writes fiction for young readers, including the Rules for Thieves series and the Seekers of the Wild Realm series. She graduated from the University of Tulsa and is now a freelance editor. In her spare time, she eats a lot of chocolate and reads just about everything. She currently lives in Oklahoma with her tiny canine overlord.

Visit her online at www.alexandraott.com.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

​✰ 3 stars ✰

“I can never leave a code unsolved.”

​A predictable but promising start of a middle-grade puzzle-solving series. ​Think ​National ​Treasure ​Jr​. adventurers with a tint of magic. It may have been a touch on the longish side, with how it delved pretty deep into the explanations of the various codes and ciphers explored, but it was ​still an enjoyable ​and cute read, all the same.​ 👍🏻​

Emma may have been autistic, but her behavior and reactions felt very valid​. Second guessing everything might seem annoying and aggravating​, even unnecessary but to an autistic person​ it feels like the weight of the world​. 💭​ So despite how much of the narrative ​is spent explaining her thoughts for her certain reactions, she still was an engaging and​ at times, relatable twelve-year-old, who displayed a great deal of sense and maturity at the right moments​.

“The fun of codes is simply solving them.”

​The other members of the codebreakers were not as fleshed out as much as they could have been, but as it is a start, ​I hope we'll delve deeper into their own personalities and backgrounds to make the codebreakers a stronger unit of cracking the secrets and mysteries Nate is keen on ​uncovering.​ 🪏

I may have felt it unfair that one of the reasons why he was more receptive to her was because of his own experience with autism, but, I'll let it slide in the spirit of friendship and how he ​happily welcomed her into their club, trusted and believed in her skills. As impressive as they were, because my expertise with puzzles begins and ends with Sudoku.

“If I wish away my autism, every single part of me would change.”

There were not many significant twists or reveals that I didn't catch on already, but solving ​The ​Wish ​Ring ​Cipher was a cathartic and sincere moment for Emma, which I liked. 🥺​ Her dedication and focus to solving puzzles was a helpful way of analyzing and accept​ing herself as she was with a positive energy​ and self-assured confidence that helped her also offer her own advice to Nate before he made a decision he would later regret.

The trick about cracking ciphers is like fill in the blanks; and because I seem to have too much time on my hands, here is the answer to the cipher on the cover (a cute touch, btw), with the provided key, cuz I'm always up for a challenge to solve. 🧩

If you are reading this, welcome to the codebreakers​. 🤝😊

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Wish Ring Cipher, by Alexandra Ott, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in the Codebreakers series. Emma Avery is in seventh grade, she loves solving puzzles, she was recently diagnosed with Autism. Emma is starting at a new school. Emma has a wish ring cipher to solve, can she solve it? This was a really good read. I really like Emma.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story about Emma, newly diagnosed with autism, who finds her tribe among students who love codingbreaking. Poignant and inspiring!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because, while the plot was unimpressive and even a bit cliche, the main character was so well-drawn and incredibly sympathetic that I want to see her have more adventures and build friendships. A solid start for a series!

Thanks to Norton Young Readers for the ARC.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older children and middle grade readers will thrill to another puzzle-themed book, this one with some magic and mystery blended in as well.

Emma Avery is changing schools for 7th grade since her previous and very comfortable school is too small to offer much in the way of support and accommodations for her newly diagnosed autism. Although she is not happy about the switch, Avery has set a few goals for herself for this new year, one being to make a friend, and, after a rough start, her love of decoding cyphers and creating her own seems to have connected her with a group of like-minded puzzle-solvers, including the popular Nate. But the Codebreakers group is involved in some very special ciphering and these puzzles lead to magical objects placed generations ago in the mysteriously deserted town of Sablewood and there is another, more nefarious group also focused on finding these enchanted objects. When Nate goes missing and one in their group identified as untrustworthy, Emma is rightfully concerned that she is in over her head.

Alexandra Ott’s characters are clearly defined and come from varied backgrounds, including diversity in race and family configuration and displaying distinctly different personalities. Emma and Nate are firmly established as the main figures with Diya, Owen and Eli, the remaining 3 in the group, the school counselor Mr. B, and Owen’s Aunt Leonora acting as supporting characters. Who the villain(s) is/are is left unclear, even at the end, giving hints to possible outcomes in the coming installment in this new series. Emma’s autism is presented in ways that reflect the author’s personal experiences and in her forward, acknowledgement of how very different being on the spectrum can look for others is stated. Nate’s younger brother is another peek at the ways autism can manifest itself and both feel authentic although those with limited experience may be surprised at how successful someone with autism can be. This fact is becoming much more known with greater representation in fiction such as Good Different and Girl in the Walls both by Meg Eden Kuyatt, All the Noise at Once (Davis). The specific act of using ciphers is much more prominent in this book than in other readalikes and the steps of using a Playfair cipher are quite detailed and the first one used in the text is shown step by step and easily allows for readers to solve it step by step with Emma. While the other types of cipher are described thoroughly, only the first shows the steps in such detail but may pique the interest of many readers. An easy coded message is included on the book’s cover and the key included at the end.

Recommended for libraries serving grades 4-7, especially if puzzle-solving and escape room themed books are widely circulated. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and no physical violence is present although there is a kidnapping. Representation: autism in two characters, Diya presents as having a Middle Eastern background and it is mentioned once (maybe twice?) that she has two moms; Eli is pictured on the cover as Black and his braids and dark skin are noted in his physical description; One character’s father died recently leaving a one-parent home.

Readalikes (some puzzle-focused, others are more escape room & some a blend): Mr Lemoncello’s Library series (Grabenstein), Ms Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest (standalone as of 2025 but expected to be a series), The Mysterious Benedict Society (Stewart), The Westing Game (Raskin), Chasing Vermeer (Balliett), The Inheritance Games series (Barnes), The Blackthorn Key series (Sands), The Delta Games (Currie), Liar’s Society series (Gerber), and the more YA The Escape Game (Meyer).

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Alexandra Ott’s The Wish Ring Cipher (Codebreakers #1). It follows Emma, a newly diagnosed autistic girl, as she navigates a new school and the puzzles that unfold when popular classmate Nate draws her into the Codebreakers group.

Emma is intelligent, thoughtful, caring, and her love of codebreaking helps her reach out and connect to others which is one of my favourite aspects of the story. I believe readers will find her voice feels very relatable and genuine.

I think the puzzle elements are clear and well sequenced, making them feel very understandable even if the reader has never tackled a cipher before. I loved learning about the many different codes and ciphers, which the novel described and presented in an engaging, detailed, and vivid way throughout.

I read through the story quickly, feeling both Emma’s anxiety during awkward social moments and happiness as she finds her place among friends. I do feel that some of the friends could have had a little extra personal quirks or details shared that would have made them feel more relatable and authentic, but I still enjoyed their group a lot.

The entire novel is very well written and flows nicely. The plot unravels in multiple layers, packed with engaging mysteries and unanticipated aspects that had me always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
The ending comes a little suddenly, but it’s satisfying and leaves room for further adventures.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and intelligent novel for middle grade fans of mysteries, friendships, magic, and codebreaking. I can’t wait for the next one in this series!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about an autistic girl who changes schools because they provide more services. She loves codes and ciphers and finds a group of kids who are codebreakers as well. They involve her in a secret society in order to look for hidden objects, of which they can only find if they break the codes/ciphers. Strong female character that displays the strengths and struggles of autistic people.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Emma switches middle schools from Sterling to Afton Academy after her dad and stepmother decide that Afton has more programs tailored to her needs. Emma's recent autism diagnosis makes sense; she is often overwhelmed by noise and people, and is hyperfocused on puzzles and codes, which she loves. Learning coping strategies and being able to visit the school counselor, Mr. B., helps. Switching schools is hard at first, but she meets Nate Lin, who seems to be everywhere at school and is popular. He is also interested in codes, and since his brother Davey is also on the autism spectrum, he deals well with some of Emma's habits, like talking softly and not looking at people when she talks to them. He tells her that it is really important that he solves a local code, although he won't tell her why. Near their town of Riverside, there is the Sablewood National Park, where the ruins of the town of Sablewood lie. There is a legend that dark magic destroyed the town, and Nate tells Emma about an organization of Code Breakers, but students and adults, who are trying to solve codes and find secret artifacts. With Emma's help, the group (which includes Eli, Owen, and Diya) find a box that has a crystal in it. The crystal causes Eli to become invisible! Of the 11 artifacts, six have now been found, but the Code Breakers are at odds with the Division, who split from the group. When Nate disappears, Emma finds out information about the Division that makes her unsure about whom to trust, but meeting Leonora, who is part of the Division, makes Emma not want to trust them, since Leonora locks Nate up! Nate has his reasons for wanting to know the code to find the wish Ring, but Emma thinks the reasons aren't very sound. There are plenty of loose ends for the Code Breakers to investigate in another book.
Strengths: An author's note explains how Ms. Ott could not find many books with autistic characters who were girls or somewhat older, especially in fantasy books. This is definitely the case, although there are a few more with girl characters on the autism spectrum now than there were even a few years ago. Emma is very thoughtful about her reactions to things, and has some good strategies in place. The historic code is interesting, and there are some twists and subterfuge involving the Division that make the book exciting. Nate's reasons for finding the magical objects (and no mistake; this is a fantasy book) make sense, as do his friends objections to them. I loved that Mr. B. was also a Code Breaker.
Weaknesses: This is a fairly slow paced mystery and includes a lot of puzzles, so this might not appeal to middle grade readers who want slap dash murder-and-mayhem type mysteries.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want mysteries with a bit of danger and a LOT of code solving, like Beckett-King's The House of Found Objects, Grabenstein's Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Currie's The Mystery of the Locked Rooms, or Guterson's The World Famous Nine.

[OpenedBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wish Ring Cipher by Alexandra Ott is a charming and thoughtful middle-grade fantasy that blends codes, magic, and friendship with an especially refreshing and heartfelt perspective. Centred on Emma Avery, a seventh grader who loves puzzles and cryptic ciphers, the novel offers both an exciting adventure and a meaningful exploration of self-acceptance.

Emma is navigating a lot at once: a recent autism diagnosis, the challenge of starting over at a new school, and the uncertainties that come with making new friends. Codes and puzzles are her comfort and her strength, and that passion quickly becomes the heart of the story. When she meets Nate Lin—popular, funny, and just as enthusiastic about codes—Emma is introduced to the Codebreakers, a group of kids dedicated to solving mysterious ciphers found in the ruins of a nearby ghost town. These clues are rumoured to lead to powerful magical objects, including one particularly dangerous artifact: a ring that grants wishes.

What makes this book stand out right away is its autistic protagonist. Emma is a genuinely lovable character whose curiosity and excitement are easy to connect with. Her enthusiasm for codes is infectious; as readers, we found ourselves completely understanding—and sharing—her joy when she cracked a cipher. In fact, the interactive nature of the book made the experience even more fun. We eagerly decoded the secret message on the front cover after finishing the story, which immediately made us feel part of Emma’s world.

While the pacing of the novel is on the slower side, it never felt dull or disengaging. Instead, the story takes its time building atmosphere, relationships, and mystery, allowing readers to settle into Emma’s perspective. The book doesn’t rush through its plot or emotional beats, which ultimately makes the adventure more satisfying. The balance between magic, mystery, and character development is handled with care, and the quieter moments are just as meaningful as the more suspenseful ones.

Emma’s journey with her autism diagnosis is portrayed in a way that feels respectful and hopeful. Her struggles are present but not overwhelming, and her gradual acceptance of herself is both realistic and uplifting. Rather than defining her by her diagnosis, the story emphasizes her intelligence, determination, and unique way of seeing the world.

The plot also delivers on surprises. There were several twists that we didn’t see coming, and at times, we found ourselves questioning characters’ motives right alongside Emma. This uncertainty added depth to the story and kept us guessing about who could truly be trusted.

Overall, The Wish Ring Cipher is an enjoyable and engaging read, especially for kids who love puzzles, codes, and mysteries. It offers a warm, inclusive story that doesn’t sacrifice adventure for meaning—or vice versa. With its thoughtful representation, clever ciphers, and inviting world, this book feels like a strong start to a series, and we’re already excited to see where Emma and the Codebreakers go next.

[Elena Santangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did have 2 problems with this novel which I'll mention later, but overall, good mystery, good pacing, and great characters, making an enjoyable story. I've read so many novels lately--juvenile through adult--where at least one character is overly-dramatic for no reason, and where the characters don't grow at all in the story. Yes, I know there are too many people like that in real life, but that's why I read, to spend time with characters who don't live for conflict. Emma has every reason to be overly-dramatic, yet she begins to learn to work through social problems. She shows real growth.

One problem I had was with setting. A National Park in the US means something very specific (I worked for the NPS for a summer and I've been a lifelong visitor and fan.) It isn't simply a bunch of hiking trails to some kind of ruin. It needs to be a completely unique and somewhat large piece of real estate, with something on it worth saving from pollution and development. A National Park doesn't have security guards, but NPS rangers. The kids always seemed to be alone--it's summer, but no other hikers or tourists are ever there. The park in this novel was a community park, or maybe a county park. I hope if there are later editions of this book, the author will consider simply removing the word "National." And honestly, her editor should have caught that mistake.

The other problem I had and that other readers not into code-breaking might have is that the descriptions of the types of codes and how they worked I found really hard to follow. There were a lot of technical terms that meant nothing to me. Knowing them wasn't necessary to following the story, fortunately. I just trusted that Emma knew what she was doing and she did. It did make me feel kind of stupid, though.

So, I highly recommend this book, but don't think you need to know code-breaking to enjoy it. Emma is a character worth reading about.

[Marja Coons-Torn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I’m not a seventh grader, this middle school novel caught me emotionally right away. I was in second grade when my family moved and I was the new student in a class. I don’t remember any of the specifics, but I can feel the emotional pull of what Emma is experiencing. I think even kids who haven’t move will relate to this, because we’ve all been new somewhere, sometime.

The hook is that Emma is a coder, and though I’ve never been drawn to explore that, I can see where it would be fascinating. Emma has just been diagnosed with autism and coding is her lifeline, the one thing she loves to do. I have to say that I hate the word autism because there are so many points along the scale of neurodivergence at which one might find oneself. To lump them under one term seems unfair. But the point that Ott is making, I believe, is that it’s hard to be different—for any reason.

It seems to me that there are four themes in this novel: neurodivergence, friendship, coding and magic. The story itself is what drew me in, and I expect middle school age readers can handle four themes at once. The one that seems most important to me is friendship (inclusion, kindness, acceptance). Friendship in this novel is the polar opposite of mean girls. It may be offered tentatively at first, but it is unconditional. That’s unusual, and that’s why it’s important.

I won’t reveal the secrets or the magic that Emma, and her new friend Nate are searching for. But I highly recommend this novel for anyone from about age 10 or 11 up, who is a good reader. And I think, with a little help, even poor readers can enjoy it. Good job, Alexandra Ott.

[Klaudia Janek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This story follows Emma Avery, a newly diagnosed autistic girl, as she transitions from her comfortable and small school, Sterling, to Afton Academy, a new environment with more tailored support programs and a lot more students. At Afton, Emma meets Nate, a popular classmate who shares her love for codes. Together, they join the Codebreakers, a group focused on deciphering mysterious codes in a nearby ghost town that lead to magical objects. As they race against rivals to find a wish-granting artifact, Emma faces challenges of trust and friendship. This captivating middle-grade novel blends mystery, magic, and the journey of self-discovery.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is rich story that intertwines themes of friendship, autism, and code-breaking. Emma's transition from Sterling to Afton Academy highlights the importance of supportive educational environments for neurodiverse students. It is a good book to discuss neurodiversity, encouraging empathy and understanding among students. The detailed exploration of ciphers can also be an engaging way to introduce problem-solving and critical thinking exercises in the classroom. While some may find the pace slow, the depth of character development and the intriguing plot make it a worthwhile read. The author is neurodivergent and she wrote it in a way that would have appealed to her in middle school. A lot of reviewers are not liking the detailed explanations of the code breaking strategies, but I think will appeal to those students who are really into it. I like that Emma found some friends that did not judge her because she was expecting to be judged and labeled as soon as she got to her new school.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma loves nothing more than codes and codebreaking, but because her stepmother thought she needed to figure out how to make friends, she's had to switch to a new school against her will. With her autism, everything is more complicated, especially people. She struggles at school, but runs into Nate, who loves codes as much as she does, and who is impressed with her abilities. He introduces her to his group of codebreaking friends, and tells her they are working on a secret project. Apparently there's a nearby ghost town, and it's full of codes that lead to magical objects. Though Emma doesn't believe that, of course, she does like codes, so she goes along with it. When she finds out Nate was right, she still can't believe it, but worries that the other thing he told her might also be true--that there's a group out to find the artifacts for themselves, to put them to nefarious uses. Then Nate disappears.

I liked this one, though parts of it didn't work so well as an audiobook--hearing the numbers or letters of a code/cipher being read out one by one is just boring, as well as the repeated email addresses when they email each other. But it does give a good representation of what Emma goes through with her autism (though every autistic person's experience will be different, of course), and how difficult it makes her life. It's very hard to figure out who to trust when you basically can't figure out people at all anyway. Emma has a good heart, though, and readers will root for her to succeed. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Erika Thorsen]

Thank you to Libro.FM for an ALC of this book.

For starters, I was expecting a realistic fiction, so I was a tad jarred by the fantasy elements -- which is fine, it's just not what I thought I was reading. (Admittedly, I didn't read any summaries before starting the book -- just looked at the cover and dove right in.) The story is intriguing and had enough suspense and adventure to hold a young reader's attention. The cipher parts are fun; it feels a bit like doing an escape room (but with a smart friend who does all the heavy lifting). But like nearly all the middle-grade books I've read lately, these kids act and talk like people 20-years older, and find themselves in situations that don't seem entirely plausible, so that always take me out of the story a bit. But then again, I'm a middle-aged adult, so I'm probably going to be looking at the story a bit more critically than its target audience. Having a main character who's autistic is great and needed representation in children's lit. I personally found her constant worrying inner-monologue tiresome after awhile, but it also likely represents the real experience of so many people, autistic or not. Partially, it may be the fact that I remember my own crushing insecurities and second-guessing of my every word and action as a tween and teen that it was unwelcome to experience that mind-frame again. While this relatable experience felt exhausting/annoying to me, I'm sure to many readers it feels like being seen.

[Julie Suzanne]

I'm not rating this because I really didn't like it, but it's because I'm an adult. It may be a good read for a Middle Grade audience. Readers will see what's going on inside the head of a person with autism that may lead them to not speak so much. I hated that experience, but it's probably really helpful for building empathy and understanding (and the novel was written by someone who knows what it's like--#ownvoices). As an adult, it was not enjoyable to read a plot in which a kid is kidnapped from school and the proper procedure for handling that is not taken. A guidance counselor realizes the kid has been kidnapped, so he writes excuses for the missing kid's whole team of buddies and drives them to the woods to look for him without notifying anyone. This is criminal behavior and the most unrealistic plot ever. If MG kids think this is possible, they'd enjoy the story much more. I thought the book was ridiculous, but again, I haven't tested it on kids.

The good: I did love that there is autism representation in such a positive way, and I loved that the girl hates her autism but when given a chance to change it (magically), she realizes that it's her autism that gives her her best traits and she doesn't want to wish it away. Love that self=acceptance!

This book may appeal to kids who like codebreaking/escape room-type things, but it's not one an adult educator would enjoy.

[Heloísa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great novel! Our main character, Emma, has a very strong characterisation and, even though I’ve been out of middle school for more than a decade, her thought process is very relatable. The writing encompasses her inner world with palpable clarity and emotion: I could feel Emma’s anxiety in social situations, her frustration at being held back by her own self, and her triumphs at making new friends.

The plot is very much slow paced, but I think it was to the benefit of this novel. You’re able to build a relationship with Emma, caring for her through her struggles and hobbies, and that makes the latter parts of the book hard-hitting and poignant, especially in regards to how she perceives her new friends and her nervousness regarding who to trust.

The deciphering of cyphers is also very interesting, and I can see a lot of children and young teens picking up an interest for it while reading this one! I imagine it’s easier to visualise it while reading a physical copy, but still, the author does an amazing job at integrating the methods of codebreaking into the text, as well.

The narration for this audiobook was also very satisfying, giving our characters strong voices and a compelling drive to the narrative!

Overall, this was a great experience and I am really interested to read more from this universe and from this author!

[Mauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher of this book.

I generally enjoyed reading the newest book from Alexandra Ott, especially knowing that the MFC was struggling with not only a new diagnosis (Autism), new school/routines, but also knowing that she was leaning into her hyper-fixation of all things secret code related to help solve some of the mysteries surrounding her town. As an adult reading this book, which is marketed as Middle Grade, I will say that I had some issues with how often the author felt the need to reiterate Emma's social struggles and how they related to her autism but I can also understand why that might be something that might need the regular reflection based on the targeted age demographic. This was a fairly quick read, the pacing kept up really well, and the suspense built in the second half of the story right up until the end, at which point the reader was left with the indication that there will be more to the story yet to come.

I will also say I love how interactive the book and the promotional materials for the book were. The book has a cipher in the back that depicts the cipher found in the story, and keeping the theme throughout the promotional materials, the author used that cipher to encode a message along the right hand side of the front cover, the page headers (author/book title), as well as a bookmark with a coded message to "decipher".

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided to me as an ARC. My thoughts are my own.

First, I am not the targeted audience for this book but I read (and have read) many middle-grade fiction, especially fantasy, sci fi and books like this that melds realistic fiction with any of those.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am genuinely interested in the ongoing series. The author made an incredible effort to illustrate the challenges of her protagonist from a personal point of view without ascribing stereotypes to her. She, very vividly, has her own specific challenges which she has learned to address, even if not perfectly. It made me cheer from the sidelines when she succeeded and encourage her forward when things didn't work quite like she thought or planned. Hurrah for this success within a success!

The storyline itself was an easy read and perfect for a late elementary age student who is engaging with peers in new ways but not yet quite completely independently like a middle schooler. I was a little surprised at the "field trip" (no spoilers, you'll know when you get there) as this struck me as not possible in today's strict world, but it worked with the story.

I'm also pleased with the way the author portrayed all of the characters - flawed, each in their own way. I look forward to future installments!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is starting 7th grade at a new school with a new autism diagnosis and she's not happy about any of it. Breaking codes and ciphers is her one escape, the thing that calms her nerves. Suddenly, she meets Nate who is everything Emma is not, yet he likes codes and ciphers and wants to be her friend. She soon finds herself working with a group of Nate's friends in the Codebreakers Club and although it isn't easy, she feels like maybe she might fit in. Can she break the ultimate code, find the treasure and save the day, all while surviving mean girls and dealing with all the overwhelming aspects of school?

Whether you like codes, ciphers or solving treasure hunts and mysteries or not, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Alexandra Ott has created a story that has all the action and intrigue that kids will love right along with a realistic version of what middle school can be like. She has depicted Emma's diagnosis with care, allowing people a glimpse into what it's like to have autism. Even though there is no way to describe all the many variations of autism, she does an excellent job with Emma.

So, does Emma solve the cipher and save the day? You'll have to read the book to find out! Enjoy! I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company publishers for an advance reading copy. This is my honest review.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Wish Ring Cipher is a mysterious and fast paced middle grade novel about Emma, who has recently started a new school after being diagnosed with autism. Emma obsessed with decoding ciphers, puzzles, and codes, gains the confidants of Nate and his entourage, the code- breakers. With Emma now assisting, the code-breakers are determined to decipher their towns biggest secret!
Alexandra Ott creates a story and a character that is often overlooked, silenced, or misrepresented. Emma is a breath of fresh air for a literary character discovering, understanding, and becoming empowered by their autism. However, I found that this attribute of the character overbearing in that the personality traits of Emma were solely that she had autism. Surely it is important to express to young people that they are more than their autism. In addition, I found that despite the enjoyment I had from the ciphers being a major part of this novel, I myself struggled to understand the description and explanation of these cyphers and felt that it at times got in the way of the story. However I do think many young readers can relate to Emma, Nate and other characters in what I assume is to be a multi-parted series and will enjoy their discoveries!

[Cathy Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. This was a fun mystery story told from the perspective of an autistic girl, which is a unique angle for me and I think adds educational value to this book beyond what the simple plot can offer.

There are sort of 2 main threads in this book:
1. Emma's experience at a new school and how she interacts with others, focusing on her struggles as a kid with autism.
2. The cipher mystery and larger story of the Codebreakers.

I felt that for a short book, I still got to know Emma pretty well and see her develop more confidence in interacting with others over the course of the book. We didn't really get much info about the other characters, though. The ending suggests there may be more books to come in the future, so hopefully we will get to know other characters more later. I appreciate that there is more to come, but the ending still felt a bit abrupt.

The cipher on the book cover is a nice touch!

Middle-grades readers (ages ~8-12) who love a good mystery story -- and especially solving codes/ciphers -- should enjoy this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Brianna M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wish Ring Cipher by Alexandra Ott ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a great book for middle grade readers! I thought it was entertaining, informative, and adventurous. As a parent, I would love this series for my children. As a former middle school English teacher, I would recommend this book to young readers.

I want to add I was happy that the random “magic” in the book was brief, lighthearted, and not dark at all. Thank you for that.

In summary, The Wish Ring Cipher is a book about a girl with autism who enrolls in a new school to take advantage of its advanced resources. I appreciated that the main characters made autism relatable to readers, and even educated us on how people with autism perceive their surroundings and relationships with others. We should embrace who we are and do the same for others. The book had a great message laced throughout middle school kids going on an adventure to break a code to find lost/hidden artifacts in their town.

Thank you to Alexandra Ott, Norton Young Readers, and Netgalley for providing me an Advanced Readers Copy of this audiobook/book in exchange for my honest review. The Wish Ring Cipher is available for purchase now.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book! I
I love that we're taken through Emma's thought processes in such detail. It never drags the pacing, just gives insights into the mind of an autistic middle schooler in a fresh and engaging way. I think it's great that the narrative includes information about how her autism got overlooked, what led to her diagnosis, and so on. No spoiler, but the decision she makes at the end about who she *could* be felt so empowering and important!
The characters are well fleshed out and the group dynamics believable.
The codes don't translate too well into the audio format, but that's to be expected and not an issue. The narrator does her best and her best is excellent throughout the whole audiobook!! She really nails everyone's voices. It's a treat from start to finish.
Now, the mystery and the Division aspect felt a little contrived. I balked at the behaviour from the adults--particularly Mr. B.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Yamini · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a recent autism diagnosis, Emma has to shift schools. Though she is skeptical about being the weird one, she ends up landing in a group of kids who are equally passionate about puzzles, encryption, and especially ciphers. Together, they are secretly on a hunt to decipher strange codes found on the edge of a ghost town. Each discovery leads to a magical object, and the one her friend is most excited about might just change everything.

Once the plot settles in, the story is constantly on the move. Following the kids through forests, decoding clues, and solving puzzles is definitely entertaining. This book also taught me the difference between codes and ciphers, and at some level even made me curious to read more about different ciphering techniques.

It is a great middle-grade adventure, and the narrator carries the energy and excitement of multiple children effortlessly. The thrill of discovering something new, the depth of friendships, and the internal monologues of a child’s mind, especially the things they do not say out loud, are portrayed really well.

[CONSTANCE]

Another good adventure read about a group of kids trying to solve some serious codes, this time to help them find a hidden ring with magical properties.
Emma’s parents move her to a school that they feel will be better with her recent autism diagnosis, but she had trouble making friends before and now it seems impossible. But when a popular kid named Nate sees how amazingly good she is at solving puzzles, he invites her to join his Codebreakers club consisting of several other kids who are as crazy about solving things as she is.
The author wrote this book because she is autistic and felt books didn’t talk about people like her. And while not over the top on the subject, it does reveal what she and perhaps other autistic children feel around other kids. Whether you’re good at codes/puzzles or even if you aren’t (I’m not), this is still a really good read! I am also thinking there may be another code for this group to solve in the future 🤞

[N.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amusing from the start. Emma protests in the book what most of us dislike, group projects, being called out for things we know etc. The only thing is Emma struggles with autism. Though this hinders her only slightly as she has the emotional will to overcome it. Through the story we see how she teachers herself how to cope with it. Along the way we follow a treasure hunt that involves riddles and cyphers. Emma must help her new group of friends find the town secrets.
The book was a very quick read and really did not go to in depth with the treasure or characters. Its main focus was on Emma and her daily struggles. I did like the book. I feel it could have had a little more adventure.
***Spoiler!***

I can’t say I agree with the principal taking kids out of school for a dangerous mission. I know it’s a book… probably comes from a teachers view. I can recommend this to my students.

4 stars for needing more adventure and twists and turns.

[Rina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mystery story told from the perspective of a girl newly diagnosed with autism as she starts a new school and ends up with new friends who spend their time trying to decipher codes and chasing a mystery. The author's way of telling this story through a character with autism felt genuine and authentic. The ciphers were fun but the magical aspect of the story didn't work for me. I also didn't like how the majority of adults were portrayed in this book. Also the throw away comment the one character made about her "moms" seemed like the author was trying to check the box for inclusivity that publishers seem to be pressuring authors to do for middle grade books these days. This book had promise but it fell short. My kids don't need to waste their time reading this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dali (23SleeplessHours) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was cute and quick to to get through, I was entertained the whole time.
I really liked Emma and Nathan, but I would have loved the side characters to be developed more.
I was hopping for more details on the magic system, but that will probably be developed in the sequels.
I really liked how the narrator told this story, she really brought out Emma's emotions, unfortunately with the ciphers those were really unpleasant to listen to. I imagine those would have been fun to follow along in the physical copy of the book and try to solve along the characters after getting the explanations of the various encrypting and decrypting methods.

Thank you RBmedia | Recorded Books for the eALC, via Netgalley, for an honest review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for a review. I listened to the audiobook, which was a tad confusing at times. The main character narrates a lot of her inner monologue and it isn’t always clear whether she ends up saying some of the things out loud or not. With that and the amount of cipher decryption, I’d recommend this book in book form.

But I enjoyed the idea of a bunch of kids breaking cipher codes and the way the autistic main character is able to be herself and still manage to find a group of people to belong to, even if it doesn’t always go smoothly.

I think it’s a win for Level 1 ASD kiddos for sure!