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Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code
Unbreakable is the true story of the codebreakers, spies, and navy men who cracked the Nazis’ infamous Enigma encryption machine and turned the tide of World War II.
As the Germans waged a brutal war across Europe, details of every Nazi plan, every attack, every troop movement were sent over radio. But to the Allied troops listening in—and they were always listening—the crucial messages sounded like gibberish. The communications were encoded with a powerful cipher, making all information utterly inaccessible . . . unless you could unlock the key to the secret code behind the German’s powerful Enigma machine.
Complete with more than sixty historical photos, Unbreakable tells the true story of one of the most dangerous war-time codebreaking efforts ever. While Hitler marched his troops across newly conquered lands and deadly “wolfpacks” of German U-Boats prowled the open seas, a team of codebreakers, spies, and navy men raced against the clock to uncover the secrets that hid German messages in plain sight. Victory—or defeat—in World War II would hinge on their desperate attempts to crack the code.
As the Germans waged a brutal war across Europe, details of every Nazi plan, every attack, every troop movement were sent over radio. But to the Allied troops listening in—and they were always listening—the crucial messages sounded like gibberish. The communications were encoded with a powerful cipher, making all information utterly inaccessible . . . unless you could unlock the key to the secret code behind the German’s powerful Enigma machine.
Complete with more than sixty historical photos, Unbreakable tells the true story of one of the most dangerous war-time codebreaking efforts ever. While Hitler marched his troops across newly conquered lands and deadly “wolfpacks” of German U-Boats prowled the open seas, a team of codebreakers, spies, and navy men raced against the clock to uncover the secrets that hid German messages in plain sight. Victory—or defeat—in World War II would hinge on their desperate attempts to crack the code.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2022
31 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca E.F. Barone
5 books19 followersAs an engineer, Rebecca E. F. Barone has worked on projects ranging from injury analysis for the NFL to engine calibration for hybrid cars. Realizing her love for books in addition to numbers, she now describes the world with words rather than equations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 18, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
When I told my brother I was reading this book he immediately responded about Turing's role in breaking the Enigma code. What I really appreciated about the book, and what I think readers will find interesting, is Barone's research that shed light on the large cast of characters that helped break the Enigma code. Typically World War 2 related fiction and nonfiction opens in 1939 or 1940, and I thought the well researched back story from the late 1920's through the 1930's gives readers a fuller picture of what all it took to break the code. Definitely a 4.5 star book to add to your nonfiction classroom library.
When I told my brother I was reading this book he immediately responded about Turing's role in breaking the Enigma code. What I really appreciated about the book, and what I think readers will find interesting, is Barone's research that shed light on the large cast of characters that helped break the Enigma code. Typically World War 2 related fiction and nonfiction opens in 1939 or 1940, and I thought the well researched back story from the late 1920's through the 1930's gives readers a fuller picture of what all it took to break the code. Definitely a 4.5 star book to add to your nonfiction classroom library.
October 10, 2022
Spies, codebreakers and the heroic struggle to defeat the Nazis animate this well researched account of the decade long struggle, across dozens of countries, to break the German Enigma code. Readers are made aware of the crucial importance of being able to intercept German communications. Nazi U-Boat wolfpacks were the greatest threat to British independence and the successful interception of German intelligence is estimated to have shortened the war by three years: saving countless lives. But the real story is in the fascinating details of the dozens of individuals who risked and/or devoted themself to subverting and decoding German military communication. Dramatic tales of brave sailors who risked, and lost, their lives retrieving documents from scuttled Nazi ships, the little known role of Polish cryptographers who were the first to make major breakthroughs, details about Alan Turing and the men and women of Bletchley Park and the hidden histories of the intelligence officers and traitors working inside France and Germany keep the pages turning and contribute to a deep appreciation for the complexity of the story. The level of detail makes Unbreakable best for those with intrinsic interest in espionage, World War 2 or codebreaking. An excellent epilogue summarizes the importance of the breaking of Enigma and lets readers know what happened to the Polish, British, French and Germans central to the story. The central role of ciphers in our online existence brings home the critical role math plays daily in keeping information safe. A substantial bibliography and extensive endnotes confirm Barone’s exemplary research.
Barone’s writing is strong and her knowledge of the subject matter is unimpeachable, but in the pre-publication ARC several spelling errors and under-explained asides momentarily derail the narrative. (Why did British Intelligence’s distrust of U.S. Intelligence result in Alan Turing being locked out of his office while on a cooperative mission in the U.S.? Leading a cheer for his scuttled u-boat is the last thing a German captain does, but we never learn how he died, making that detail feel distracting and extraneous. We are told sailors on a German ship about to invade Norway learn from other sailors the horror of rescuing survivors of a shipwreck. It is clear Barone means to imply this information influenced the German captain’s later decision to surrender rather than sink his ship and sacrifice his men, but that connection is never directly made, and with no context the reader is left wondering whether the influential shipwreck and rescue were of Germans, Allies or civilians. During the evacuation of Paris people “floo chaos”. German crewmen on the weathership Lauenberg “had been stayed behind”. Arriving in England the Polish cryptographers are described as “Thevery geniuses”. And the grammatically odd formulation of the “thousand little decisions sum to destiny” undercuts a grand sentiment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for and Advance Readers copy in return for an unbiased review.
Barone’s writing is strong and her knowledge of the subject matter is unimpeachable, but in the pre-publication ARC several spelling errors and under-explained asides momentarily derail the narrative. (Why did British Intelligence’s distrust of U.S. Intelligence result in Alan Turing being locked out of his office while on a cooperative mission in the U.S.? Leading a cheer for his scuttled u-boat is the last thing a German captain does, but we never learn how he died, making that detail feel distracting and extraneous. We are told sailors on a German ship about to invade Norway learn from other sailors the horror of rescuing survivors of a shipwreck. It is clear Barone means to imply this information influenced the German captain’s later decision to surrender rather than sink his ship and sacrifice his men, but that connection is never directly made, and with no context the reader is left wondering whether the influential shipwreck and rescue were of Germans, Allies or civilians. During the evacuation of Paris people “floo chaos”. German crewmen on the weathership Lauenberg “had been stayed behind”. Arriving in England the Polish cryptographers are described as “Thevery geniuses”. And the grammatically odd formulation of the “thousand little decisions sum to destiny” undercuts a grand sentiment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for and Advance Readers copy in return for an unbiased review.
August 10, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the advanced reader's copy of this incredible book. Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code is a work of narrative non-fiction that reads like a spy thriller. I can see many of my reluctant readers being quickly hooked by the details and tense moments in the text, especially since so many chapters end with a cliffhanger. Rebecca Barone is a talented writer who gives enough detail to drive to narrative but not so many details that the text becomes dense and boring. She also includes incredible primary source images and documents to help the reader better understand what they are reading. As a history teacher I was overjoyed to see Barone's extensive bibliography at the end of the book to provide additional resources for both students and educators. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in two sittings. I was hooked!
March 12, 2023
This book crossed my reading desk the same week I viewed a NetFlix movie, The Imagination Game (2014). Both were detailed explanations of the codebreaking activities during WW II. Brave great minds in four countries were exploring successful methods to decipher coded military messages in a timely manner so as to reduce casualties on the battlefield, especially at sea.
I found the book to be a page-turner with advanced mathematical equations being explained in a common man's language. As a math major in college, I appreciated those formulas and theories I had learned applied to meaningful use. I have developed an appreciation for those in occupied countries placing their lives on the line daily under enemy eyes to support the war effort while placing their entire family in jeopardy.
I found the book to be a page-turner with advanced mathematical equations being explained in a common man's language. As a math major in college, I appreciated those formulas and theories I had learned applied to meaningful use. I have developed an appreciation for those in occupied countries placing their lives on the line daily under enemy eyes to support the war effort while placing their entire family in jeopardy.
February 3, 2023
Great telling of the story of those who cracked the Enigma code machine in WWII.
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May 22, 2022Thank you to #NetGalley and #henryholtandcompany for an eARC of UNBREAKABLE: THE SPIES WHO CRACKED THE NAZIS’ SECRET CODE by Rebecca E.F. Barone (Release Date: October 25/22).
This author’s nonfiction debut, RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH: SURVIVING ANTARCTICA, has stuck with me since I read it at the beginning of last year, so I was thrilled to get an eARC of her upcoming book. I love reading middle-grade nonfiction, but finding a length and subject matter that will hook a young reader is tricky. This book does just that with a length of only 272 pages (including back matter and over 60 historical photos) and a fascinating look at the codebreakers who raced to figure out how to decode messages sent by the Enigma machine used by the Nazis in World War II. Individuals in many European Allied countries worked to piece together bits of stolen information to uncover the Nazis’ plans, some while escaping the violence in their home country. Still, it took many years and countless hours to figure out how the Enigma machine worked, and this book gives an in-depth look at some of the key players. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my library’s collection and recommend it to readers who like BOMB by Steve Sheinkin.
This author’s nonfiction debut, RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH: SURVIVING ANTARCTICA, has stuck with me since I read it at the beginning of last year, so I was thrilled to get an eARC of her upcoming book. I love reading middle-grade nonfiction, but finding a length and subject matter that will hook a young reader is tricky. This book does just that with a length of only 272 pages (including back matter and over 60 historical photos) and a fascinating look at the codebreakers who raced to figure out how to decode messages sent by the Enigma machine used by the Nazis in World War II. Individuals in many European Allied countries worked to piece together bits of stolen information to uncover the Nazis’ plans, some while escaping the violence in their home country. Still, it took many years and countless hours to figure out how the Enigma machine worked, and this book gives an in-depth look at some of the key players. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my library’s collection and recommend it to readers who like BOMB by Steve Sheinkin.
January 17, 2023
The race to crack the Enigma - the cipher developed by the Germans even before World War 2 started - is the focus of this book. I usually hear Enigma and Alan Turing paired together. And Turing's mind was, indeed, the one that was best able to wrap itself around the way to crack the code. But it took a team of thousands of people to make it all work. And Bletchley Park certainly was not the only place where decoding and deciphering were happening. Non-stop. Twenty four hours a day.
The Poles were the first to really crack the Enigma because they accidentally gained access to a machine before the war even started. Eventually they shared their information with the French. And escaped to France when Poland was invaded. The book follows their story along with the British code crackers. And a German spy who provided invaluable information. And the German UBoats that created such chaos - they had their own special Enigma machines.
It was frustrating to see how reluctant the different organizations were to work together. They did share some information but the French, for example, refused to send the three Polish decoders to Britain. And when America entered the war, the British were extremely reluctant to help them. One of the code breakers speculated that the war would have gone on an additional three years if they had not cracked Enigma when they did. Stopping the UBoats and launching a successful invasion on D-Day would have been extremely difficult without the ability to read the German's secret messages all while doing their best to make Germany believe they had not cracked the code. But -- if they had cooperated; if they had recognized how valuable women could be to the project from the beginning - could it have been cracked even faster?
I did enjoy how the author highlighted the way the decoders had small glimmers of an idea which would then turn out to be a really big break for them. A gentle nod to never dismiss those little nudges in your own head - they could be true problem solvers.
The book is extremely well researched and there is an extensive bibliography at the end for further research. There is also a time-line provided and short bios of the major players so the reader knows what happened to them. I learned a lot! And found the book compelling. You want to know what happens to the people. Ian Fleming and James Bond even appear briefly.
The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein is a YA Historical Fiction that also deals with cracking the code. Wein did her research also because there are certain overlaps in information.
The Poles were the first to really crack the Enigma because they accidentally gained access to a machine before the war even started. Eventually they shared their information with the French. And escaped to France when Poland was invaded. The book follows their story along with the British code crackers. And a German spy who provided invaluable information. And the German UBoats that created such chaos - they had their own special Enigma machines.
It was frustrating to see how reluctant the different organizations were to work together. They did share some information but the French, for example, refused to send the three Polish decoders to Britain. And when America entered the war, the British were extremely reluctant to help them. One of the code breakers speculated that the war would have gone on an additional three years if they had not cracked Enigma when they did. Stopping the UBoats and launching a successful invasion on D-Day would have been extremely difficult without the ability to read the German's secret messages all while doing their best to make Germany believe they had not cracked the code. But -- if they had cooperated; if they had recognized how valuable women could be to the project from the beginning - could it have been cracked even faster?
I did enjoy how the author highlighted the way the decoders had small glimmers of an idea which would then turn out to be a really big break for them. A gentle nod to never dismiss those little nudges in your own head - they could be true problem solvers.
The book is extremely well researched and there is an extensive bibliography at the end for further research. There is also a time-line provided and short bios of the major players so the reader knows what happened to them. I learned a lot! And found the book compelling. You want to know what happens to the people. Ian Fleming and James Bond even appear briefly.
The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein is a YA Historical Fiction that also deals with cracking the code. Wein did her research also because there are certain overlaps in information.
January 3, 2023
World War II had so many complex behind-the-scenes happenings that I am constantly surprised by the pure breadth of the war effort and the means employed to bring an end to it. Unbreakable: The Spies Who Broke the Nazi’s Secret Code by Rebecca E. F. Barone (Henry Holt, 2022) tells the story of the spies, mathematicians, scientists, and naval officers who contributed to breaking “The Enigma” cipher, which proved to be essential to reducing German U-boats in the Pacific.
This young adult nonfiction (also certainly appropriate for adults interested in the subject matter) follows various personalities through the tricks. The Engima was a machine that the German naval leaders and other military personnel used to create coded messages and decode messages. But, despite the best efforts from Polish, French, and British spies, it took many years to determine how codes were created and understood using the mechanical device. Spies in these nations needed confiscated code books to initially understand the messages, and when
Unbreakable roams from the lives of the spies on the continent to the secret British government facilities. There, the world’s top engineers and mathematicians were building the first computers. These computers became essential to the code-breaking efforts as they were run night and day, working to calculate possible solutions for the enigma messages.
So many different nations, specialists, and departments came together in this effort. Sometimes I got confused with the names of so many people. There is a brief guide to the people at the front matter of the book, so that helped. Young adults and adults with a strong interest in math, science, engineering, or WWII history will definitely be fascinated by this tale of intrigue and adventure. Younger children may struggle to keep up with the many people, details, and locations. Based on writing style and reading level, I’d say Unbreakable is for ages 14 and up, although nothing inappropriate (other than war topics, deaths, and difficulties) appears in the book, so interested and able young children shouldn’t hesitate to give a go as well.
I received a digital review copy of this book.
This young adult nonfiction (also certainly appropriate for adults interested in the subject matter) follows various personalities through the tricks. The Engima was a machine that the German naval leaders and other military personnel used to create coded messages and decode messages. But, despite the best efforts from Polish, French, and British spies, it took many years to determine how codes were created and understood using the mechanical device. Spies in these nations needed confiscated code books to initially understand the messages, and when
Unbreakable roams from the lives of the spies on the continent to the secret British government facilities. There, the world’s top engineers and mathematicians were building the first computers. These computers became essential to the code-breaking efforts as they were run night and day, working to calculate possible solutions for the enigma messages.
So many different nations, specialists, and departments came together in this effort. Sometimes I got confused with the names of so many people. There is a brief guide to the people at the front matter of the book, so that helped. Young adults and adults with a strong interest in math, science, engineering, or WWII history will definitely be fascinated by this tale of intrigue and adventure. Younger children may struggle to keep up with the many people, details, and locations. Based on writing style and reading level, I’d say Unbreakable is for ages 14 and up, although nothing inappropriate (other than war topics, deaths, and difficulties) appears in the book, so interested and able young children shouldn’t hesitate to give a go as well.
I received a digital review copy of this book.
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June 5, 2022Thank you to the author Rebecca E. F. Barone, and the publisher Henry Holt and Co. for a digital copy of Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code to read.
Rebecca E.F. Barone's debut Race to the Bottom of the Earth was the first book I read in 2021 and set the bar very high for titles that followed, so when I heard her second book was coming out, I was thrilled. Then I was over the moon when I learned that it would be about spies and breaking codes during world war II, which happens to be one of my interests.
Rebecca E.F. Barone meticulously researched Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code and could write a book simply on her research process. Unbreakable will undoubtedly surprise readers about the many countries and individuals that contributed to dismantling and breaking the Enigma code and the machine over a number of years. This nonfiction gem reads like a novel, fast-paced with loads of details and different individuals who contributed to cracking the code, and readers may be reminded (as I was) of Steve Shenkin's books. Readers discover how countries held bits of information back but still collaborated to unlock the mystery of the Enigma machine and shorten WWII.
The epilogue contains a list of the various individuals and their roles in deciphering the code, organized by country. I wished I had known about that from the beginning as there are a lot of names to keep straight. Younger readers may find this difficult to track, so this list was helpful to keep the names and roles in check. All kinds of readers will gravitate to this cover and discover a real-life thriller and gain another layer of understanding of this crucial focal point during WWII.
Rebecca E.F. Barone's debut Race to the Bottom of the Earth was the first book I read in 2021 and set the bar very high for titles that followed, so when I heard her second book was coming out, I was thrilled. Then I was over the moon when I learned that it would be about spies and breaking codes during world war II, which happens to be one of my interests.
Rebecca E.F. Barone meticulously researched Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code and could write a book simply on her research process. Unbreakable will undoubtedly surprise readers about the many countries and individuals that contributed to dismantling and breaking the Enigma code and the machine over a number of years. This nonfiction gem reads like a novel, fast-paced with loads of details and different individuals who contributed to cracking the code, and readers may be reminded (as I was) of Steve Shenkin's books. Readers discover how countries held bits of information back but still collaborated to unlock the mystery of the Enigma machine and shorten WWII.
The epilogue contains a list of the various individuals and their roles in deciphering the code, organized by country. I wished I had known about that from the beginning as there are a lot of names to keep straight. Younger readers may find this difficult to track, so this list was helpful to keep the names and roles in check. All kinds of readers will gravitate to this cover and discover a real-life thriller and gain another layer of understanding of this crucial focal point during WWII.
March 27, 2023
A look at the Polish, French, and British linguists, mathematicians, spies, and soldiers who were responsible for enabling the Allies to break the Enigma encoded messages the Nazis were sending to each other.
I've read before about code breakers during the war, but the ones I read focused much more on American & British code breakers and had a broader focus on all codes, not just the ones made difficult with Enigma machines. This was a very in-depth look at how the Allies broke Enigma multiple times as the Nazis changed it. I had never heard before about how instrumental the Polish were in this, nor how the British and French practically fought over the Poles after they evacuated from their homeland. I also don't remember hearing that the Nazi army used a different Enigma machine from the navy. I loved the stories of Jadwiga Palluth (the wife of one of the Polish code breakers) and how she talked the Nazis out of carrying away supplies or arresting her more than once! I'd love a full biography just on her. She sounded like an amazing, spunky, and very wise woman. This was a fascinating read. I learned a lot, but it was extremely readable. And though it is approachable enough for middle grade, it has enough historic details not talked about much elsewhere that even YA and adult readers interested in WWII will likely enjoy this.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Deaths and injuries in the war are mentioned, some a bit more described than others (all are sobering, some provide details, but not many gory details). Two suicides are mentioned (one in Nazi imprisonment, another after the war).
I've read before about code breakers during the war, but the ones I read focused much more on American & British code breakers and had a broader focus on all codes, not just the ones made difficult with Enigma machines. This was a very in-depth look at how the Allies broke Enigma multiple times as the Nazis changed it. I had never heard before about how instrumental the Polish were in this, nor how the British and French practically fought over the Poles after they evacuated from their homeland. I also don't remember hearing that the Nazi army used a different Enigma machine from the navy. I loved the stories of Jadwiga Palluth (the wife of one of the Polish code breakers) and how she talked the Nazis out of carrying away supplies or arresting her more than once! I'd love a full biography just on her. She sounded like an amazing, spunky, and very wise woman. This was a fascinating read. I learned a lot, but it was extremely readable. And though it is approachable enough for middle grade, it has enough historic details not talked about much elsewhere that even YA and adult readers interested in WWII will likely enjoy this.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Deaths and injuries in the war are mentioned, some a bit more described than others (all are sobering, some provide details, but not many gory details). Two suicides are mentioned (one in Nazi imprisonment, another after the war).
October 21, 2022
This true story of the WWII code breakers will bring history alive for your middle school and high schoolers. As Hitler terrorized Europe, a group of code breakers, spies, and navy men raced against time to crack the Enigma encryption machine. These brave men and women often found themselves fleeing in the middle of the night in war torn Europe, only to re-establish their work elsewhere and continue cracking the code. As Nazi forces directed their efforts over the radio, a group of highly skilled workers labored over the Enigma, eventually turning the tide on WWII.
Although nonfiction, this book often read like a novel, calling these real heroes to life. There's so much history here that I had no idea about. And the author keep the action going with introducing the reader to a variety of characters all working for the same cause. The book does cover a vast amount of information which can be overwhelming, but I was hooked by the action early on. Unbreakable goes beyond your typical WWII book, taking a look at some of the events in the 1920's & 30's that lead up to this point. Although marketed to middle schoolers, high schooler and adults could easily benefit from the information presented in the book. Author Rebecca E.F. Barone does an amazing job weaving together this great piece of history.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Although nonfiction, this book often read like a novel, calling these real heroes to life. There's so much history here that I had no idea about. And the author keep the action going with introducing the reader to a variety of characters all working for the same cause. The book does cover a vast amount of information which can be overwhelming, but I was hooked by the action early on. Unbreakable goes beyond your typical WWII book, taking a look at some of the events in the 1920's & 30's that lead up to this point. Although marketed to middle schoolers, high schooler and adults could easily benefit from the information presented in the book. Author Rebecca E.F. Barone does an amazing job weaving together this great piece of history.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 21, 2022
Rebecca Barone gives upper middle grade through adults a comprehensive and well-researched look at code-breaking during World War II, specifically the Enigma machine that stumped the best of the best from the United States, France, Britain, and Poland. The presence of British Alan Turing won’t surprise anyone who is knowledgeable about this aspect of wartime intelligence, but Barone has verified contributions from French Intelligence officer Rodolphe Lemoine, his spy and informant Hans-Thilo
Schmidt from Germany, and Jadwiga Pulluth, a Polish underground member and others. Historical photographs, well-sourced back matter, time line and epilogue giving post-war information on key players is also included. Truly a spectacular book for avid readers of the European theater during World War II. Librarians and care-givers need to think carefully when determining appropriateness for their readers. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and violence is very limited, despite being centered on a death-filled war. However, information on the construction, coding, sequencing, and intelligence aspects of Enigma is detailed and while the chapters are not lengthy, even some readers in grades 8 and up will find it more challenging than they want for recreational reading.
Thanks for sending me a finished copy for review, Henry Holt & Co.
Schmidt from Germany, and Jadwiga Pulluth, a Polish underground member and others. Historical photographs, well-sourced back matter, time line and epilogue giving post-war information on key players is also included. Truly a spectacular book for avid readers of the European theater during World War II. Librarians and care-givers need to think carefully when determining appropriateness for their readers. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and violence is very limited, despite being centered on a death-filled war. However, information on the construction, coding, sequencing, and intelligence aspects of Enigma is detailed and while the chapters are not lengthy, even some readers in grades 8 and up will find it more challenging than they want for recreational reading.
Thanks for sending me a finished copy for review, Henry Holt & Co.
July 29, 2023
Imagine a time where life and death depends on how fast the codebreakers can solve the everlasting and constantly changing riddle of Enigma. That is the task that was given to those who dedicated their life to solving the mystery. "UNBREAKABLE THE SPIES WHO CRACKED THE NAZIS' SECRET CODE' ' is a nonfiction book written by Rebecca E. F. Barone about Polish ,French ,and British codebreakers trying to unravel the mysteries of enigma ( the Nazis secret code) to help the Allies in their attacks. The setting was very effective to the events that happened if the setting took place in the US the codebreakers wouldn't have as much trouble as they did and they could've been liable to more resources for their operation. The conflict was very important to the events that happened if there was no war then there would be no code breaking or urgency to decipher the code. Point of view is very important to the story because if the narrative took place in 1st or 2nd person point of view the readers would be as much in the dark as the characters themselves. Also the story is not just about one person but how a group of people solved Enigma. This book was really enjoyable. It's easy to read for young readers yet still pulls you in for older readers. it even fits that mystery feeling for not knowing what's next. This book is for everybody to enjoy from all perspectives.
May 19, 2023
Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code By Rebecca E.F. Barone.
This story is in a first person point of view and you are a spy getting intel on the Germans and their unbreakable code. When the germans were at war they used a thing called an Enigma to send messages to their other troops and the enigma was impossible to crack even with their best interpreters on the job, But what they didn't know is that the allies also had one and they cracked the code allowing them to listen and know the germans planes. The allies knew the germans plans and were using that knowledge to their advantage. The allies planned multiple strikes against the germans using the germans commands/Intel.
This book is very interesting. The reader feels very sneaky and spy-like when reading because of the suspense and interest it puts in the reader. The setting makes the story suspenseful and interesting, they use multiple characters to make the environment feel more like an office instead of an underground spy operation.
I liked the book and it kept me interested and on my toes. I would give it 7.5/10 just because at times it kinda felt repetitive. I would read it again but it's not my favorite book ever. I would recommend it to others because it is an important piece of history.
This story is in a first person point of view and you are a spy getting intel on the Germans and their unbreakable code. When the germans were at war they used a thing called an Enigma to send messages to their other troops and the enigma was impossible to crack even with their best interpreters on the job, But what they didn't know is that the allies also had one and they cracked the code allowing them to listen and know the germans planes. The allies knew the germans plans and were using that knowledge to their advantage. The allies planned multiple strikes against the germans using the germans commands/Intel.
This book is very interesting. The reader feels very sneaky and spy-like when reading because of the suspense and interest it puts in the reader. The setting makes the story suspenseful and interesting, they use multiple characters to make the environment feel more like an office instead of an underground spy operation.
I liked the book and it kept me interested and on my toes. I would give it 7.5/10 just because at times it kinda felt repetitive. I would read it again but it's not my favorite book ever. I would recommend it to others because it is an important piece of history.
March 16, 2023
Cracking the German's Enigma Code likely shortened WWII by 3 years. It took a lot of time and effort plus lots of people power to do it. There were several different countries working on it. Unfortunately, they weren't sharing information. If they had, maybe they could have shortened it even more! Alan Turing is often mentioned and he did play an important role, but Ian Fleming of James Bond fame helped, as well as 3 extremely important Polish cryptographers who made the initial breakthroughs. The French were working on it as well as the English (and Americans) at Bletchley Park. There is a lot of information in this well-researched book. The mathematics are explained clearly enough for most lay-people to understand. There are lots of details about the people involved, what happened to them along the way and afterwards, and what effect their contributions had on the entire effort.
It was interesting to note how the German philosophy changed about saving sailors as well as their belief in how unbreakable the code was and how that influenced some of their decisions.
There is a mix of action and exposition. Niche audience?
Thorough endnotes and bibliography
It was interesting to note how the German philosophy changed about saving sailors as well as their belief in how unbreakable the code was and how that influenced some of their decisions.
There is a mix of action and exposition. Niche audience?
Thorough endnotes and bibliography
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Full disclosure: I don't really have any interest in World War II, which is unfortunate, because my students are HUGELY interested in it. I've read a lot, but struggle to keep things straight unless the book focuses on one historical figure, like Virginia Hall in Agent Most Wanted. Barone has done an exquisite and exhaustive job at tracking down a huge number of figures involved with the cracking of the Enigma machine's codes, and presents this information in vignettes that capture the suspense and danger these brave men and women would have felt. It's a page turner, but does cover such a vast amount of information that I just couldn't keep it all straight. This will not bother my readers, who seem to have the entire timeline of the war memorizes and don't have any trouble getting through Weintraub's No Better Friend: Young Readers Edition: A Man, a Dog, and Their Incredible True Story of Friendship and Survival in World War II or Farrell's Pure Grit. I will definitely purchase this, and it will circulate really well, given the fantastic cover.
Full disclosure: I don't really have any interest in World War II, which is unfortunate, because my students are HUGELY interested in it. I've read a lot, but struggle to keep things straight unless the book focuses on one historical figure, like Virginia Hall in Agent Most Wanted. Barone has done an exquisite and exhaustive job at tracking down a huge number of figures involved with the cracking of the Enigma machine's codes, and presents this information in vignettes that capture the suspense and danger these brave men and women would have felt. It's a page turner, but does cover such a vast amount of information that I just couldn't keep it all straight. This will not bother my readers, who seem to have the entire timeline of the war memorizes and don't have any trouble getting through Weintraub's No Better Friend: Young Readers Edition: A Man, a Dog, and Their Incredible True Story of Friendship and Survival in World War II or Farrell's Pure Grit. I will definitely purchase this, and it will circulate really well, given the fantastic cover.
February 5, 2023
I learned some new things about code breakers during WWII that I hadn't known before. Learning about Poland's code breakers was new as was how England tried to collaborate with the Polish and also French code breakers. It makes total sense but I hadn't thought of it.
I have read a few books about Bletchley Park, but another new bit of information was how they got their intel. Hearing about specific missions that got the code breakers extra information, as the war progressed, from specific U-boats was interesting.
There was a lot of facts and information to keep track of and I found myself lost and confused many times. I usually don't have trouble listening to audiobooks but I didn't catch everything that was happening. I am not sure if that was the book or me.
I have read a few books about Bletchley Park, but another new bit of information was how they got their intel. Hearing about specific missions that got the code breakers extra information, as the war progressed, from specific U-boats was interesting.
There was a lot of facts and information to keep track of and I found myself lost and confused many times. I usually don't have trouble listening to audiobooks but I didn't catch everything that was happening. I am not sure if that was the book or me.
January 7, 2023
For high school and up, with previous knowledge of World War II pretty much a requirement. The book could have used a glossary, but readers could make their own list of organizations, abbreviations, and people. Otherwise, the author presents a very well researched story of the efforts to crack the Enigma code, and tries to explain why the task was so difficult. Readers should add the description of the workings of the Enigma machine to their glossary. This additional work by the reader will make the story a lot easier to follow. Oh the plus side, the epilogue, timeline, and bibliography are well worth the price of the book.
April 1, 2023
"Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code" by Rebecca E. F. Barone is a great read for anyone who's interested in the details of breaking the famous Enigama Code before and during WWII. This nonfiction telling goes deeply into the events that made achievement possible. The story follows all the actual people involved, i.e. the cryptologists and mathematians who risked their lives and devoted themselves to winning the war.
Although the versa page says the book is designed for Middle school aged readers, it is surely not limited to them. Definitely, anyone who wants to learn about the secret world of WWII Enigma code breaking needs to read this book.
Although the versa page says the book is designed for Middle school aged readers, it is surely not limited to them. Definitely, anyone who wants to learn about the secret world of WWII Enigma code breaking needs to read this book.
August 11, 2025
There are two things about this book that really set it apart from the traditional Enigma narrative:
1. Giving credit to the French and Polish codebreakers just as much as Bletchley Park’s team
2. Talking about the British government’s treatment of Alan Turing’s sexuality. The man was a national hero, and the laws of the day drove him to an understandable suicide. His post-war life gets brushed aside far too often just because it’s not the happy ending people want to imagine.
P.S. As of 2025, if you Google “Bletchley Park,” the location name will appear with a cool decrypted animation. Go do it. It’s fun.
1. Giving credit to the French and Polish codebreakers just as much as Bletchley Park’s team
2. Talking about the British government’s treatment of Alan Turing’s sexuality. The man was a national hero, and the laws of the day drove him to an understandable suicide. His post-war life gets brushed aside far too often just because it’s not the happy ending people want to imagine.
P.S. As of 2025, if you Google “Bletchley Park,” the location name will appear with a cool decrypted animation. Go do it. It’s fun.
January 19, 2023
Filled with spies, intrigue, and the race to break the Nazi Enigma coded messages, this non-fiction read set before and during WW2 is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. I loved how the author illustrated the far-flung ways in which the codebreakers' efforts were of critical importance as she takes the reader from Europe to North Africa and Pearl Harbor to provide a complete but still impressively succinct history. And I particularly appreciated the epilogue in which we learn what happened to the main players after the war to complete their stories.
July 12, 2023
This book was absolutely fascinating! It was very well-researched although it covered different aspects of this story from so many places and perspectives that it was difficult to keep all the characters and events straight in my mind. I loved learning about this piece of history and marveled at the number of people who brought their talents and strengths to the table over many years to solve this code. And I just found out one of my relatives actually owns an original Enigma machine and has promised to show me how it works!
February 15, 2025
Unbreakable is the story of how the German Enigma code, the 'unbreakable code,' was cracked over a decade. It started with Polish code breakers figuring out the original version, but then the Germans started to update and change it. The Polish code breakers eventually teamed up with French and German code breakers. Bletchley Park was also formed in England, and the Allies started making machines to help with the decoding process. Multiple incidents resulted in the necessary parts and information falling into the Allies' hands, possibly reducing the war by up to 3 years!
August 19, 2022
As a fan of Barone’s debut “Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica” I was excited to see this WWII nonfiction novel. My middle school students are wild about anything and everything WWII and I’m sure this will be no exception. The writing presents background information, an explanation of the enigma machine, and clearly defined key players. The works cited at the end for further reading and awesome cover nicely compliment the compelling story.
March 17, 2023
We just finished this book as a read aloud in our homeschool. It kept everyone from my oldest (14) down to my 9 year old on the edge of their seats. Before reading this, I didn't really know anything about the Enigma. I have a history loving 12 year old that I checked this out for, and surprised the rest of us with how much we enjoyed it. Its narrative storytelling made this nonfiction book feel like an adventure novel. Definite 4.5 from me.
November 28, 2023
When the movie “Imitation Game” came out, it was critically acclaimed. And rightfully so. It told the story of WWII that not many people knew. “Unbreakable” tells the story but on a wider scale. It touches on Alan Turing however, it begins with the Polish men who started cracking the Enigma code back in the 30’s.
This one isn’t for everyone. If your reader doesn’t love history, they may find this one a little slow.
Found in L4M OT Volume 95.
This one isn’t for everyone. If your reader doesn’t love history, they may find this one a little slow.
Found in L4M OT Volume 95.
April 6, 2024
This book completely blew my mind.
Not an easy book to read, to me at least, because I'm still confused about how the rotors and bombe worked. The retelling of the collaborations between the espionages, intelligences, the cryptologists and plenty of war heroes, however, provided hours of excitement. This is a well-researched nonfiction, written in chronological order across different countries, on the allies' hard work in breaking the "unbreakable" German Enigma.
Not an easy book to read, to me at least, because I'm still confused about how the rotors and bombe worked. The retelling of the collaborations between the espionages, intelligences, the cryptologists and plenty of war heroes, however, provided hours of excitement. This is a well-researched nonfiction, written in chronological order across different countries, on the allies' hard work in breaking the "unbreakable" German Enigma.
October 14, 2025
Fascinating Story of WW2 Code Breaking
This is a fast-paced and thoroughly engrossing telling of how the German code machine “Enigma” was methodically decoded through a ten year period. Remarkably the story begins in Poland in 1929 (four years before Hitler came to power), and gradually works its way through France and Britain into the war years (1939-1945). This is a great background story for all WW2 enthusiasts.
This is a fast-paced and thoroughly engrossing telling of how the German code machine “Enigma” was methodically decoded through a ten year period. Remarkably the story begins in Poland in 1929 (four years before Hitler came to power), and gradually works its way through France and Britain into the war years (1939-1945). This is a great background story for all WW2 enthusiasts.
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October 31, 2022Wow, this book was really good. I found out about the author on Twitter and read her first book about a week before this one came out and knew I had to grab this one, too. I loved the pacing and how it was organized, short chapters, quick events to keep the action going. But I still feel like there was a lot of information packed in, too. And now I want to learn more!
March 14, 2023
Unbreakable was one of the best books that I read. I think that it should have been set up differently rather than just facts over more facts maybe a few feelings here and there but mostly facts. I think that being able to try and understand how the code breakers felt is a cool experience but also would never want to do.
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