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I Spy
Twelve-year-old Robyn has grown up in Bletchley Park, where her father works as a driver. When she's not at school, there's nothing she likes more than helping her dad in the garages.
Then the war begins and everything at Bletchley changes.
Robyn is assigned to help with the carrier pigeons that take messages to the Allies. But first, she must sign the Official Secrets Act and is ordered not to leave the grounds of the park. While Bletchley is buzzing with people recruited for the war effort and all eyes are on the skies, Robyn becomes convinced that there's something sinister going on within Bletchley Park itself.
Together with her friends Mary and Ned, Robyn resolves to uncover the enemy in their midst . . .
Then the war begins and everything at Bletchley changes.
Robyn is assigned to help with the carrier pigeons that take messages to the Allies. But first, she must sign the Official Secrets Act and is ordered not to leave the grounds of the park. While Bletchley is buzzing with people recruited for the war effort and all eyes are on the skies, Robyn becomes convinced that there's something sinister going on within Bletchley Park itself.
Together with her friends Mary and Ned, Robyn resolves to uncover the enemy in their midst . . .
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About the author
Rhian Tracey
14 books5 followersTRUE COLOURS is Rhian Tracey's fourth book for Bloomsbury, and the first for a younger readership. Rhian has a BA in English Literature from Aberystwyth University and a PGCE in English and Drama Teaching from Cheltenham and Gloucester University. She works as an English and Drama teacher in Brackley. She has written stories since she was five years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 24, 2023
This was a great read for young and old alike. Set at the start of WW2 it deals with so,e of the starting up at Bletchley Park and how three young children set out to discovers spies. It’s an enjoyable book to read and I’m so pleased I’ve read it. I hope there is a follow up to this first book.
February 23, 2023
**Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio-ARC. This was in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I'll start by saying that clearly I'm not the target audience for this book, so I've rated it higher than I normally would, trying to take my own perspective out of it. (This is not one I would recommend to my adult followers or friends.) I think this is going to be a good book for a younger audience as it is full of thrills, mystery, and friendship.
Based at Bletchley Park during World War II, we follow a young girl and her friends as they try to unravel the secrets of Bletchley. They've been told partly what is happening on-site but they still feel like the adults are lying to them about something. This is all happening with the backdrop of the senseless actions during the war and the children trying to make sense of that too.
I think younger me would have liked this. And it's very cool to learn about Bletchley, Turing, code breaking, etc. through this story.
What I will say is that sometimes I found the plot fragmented and I felt at a loss as to why new chapters completely glossed over what was being set up in the previous chapter. The time jumps didn't help. That said, because so little time passed through this book (basically about a year), it would make me keen to pick up hopefully follow-up books about what happens to these kids later in and after the war.
I'll start by saying that clearly I'm not the target audience for this book, so I've rated it higher than I normally would, trying to take my own perspective out of it. (This is not one I would recommend to my adult followers or friends.) I think this is going to be a good book for a younger audience as it is full of thrills, mystery, and friendship.
Based at Bletchley Park during World War II, we follow a young girl and her friends as they try to unravel the secrets of Bletchley. They've been told partly what is happening on-site but they still feel like the adults are lying to them about something. This is all happening with the backdrop of the senseless actions during the war and the children trying to make sense of that too.
I think younger me would have liked this. And it's very cool to learn about Bletchley, Turing, code breaking, etc. through this story.
What I will say is that sometimes I found the plot fragmented and I felt at a loss as to why new chapters completely glossed over what was being set up in the previous chapter. The time jumps didn't help. That said, because so little time passed through this book (basically about a year), it would make me keen to pick up hopefully follow-up books about what happens to these kids later in and after the war.
April 24, 2023
As a lover of Historical Fiction and Middle Grade adventures, I knew I would enjoy this! Set at Bletchley Park we follow 12 year old Robyn and her friends as they try to uncover the secrets and mysteries of Bletchley at the start of the war.
This is a perfect children’s adventure that sheds some light on what it might have been like to live there, just as things were just starting up at Bletchley, and how it feels to be children in a very adult world. Not trusted with secrets so important to the adults around them, yet thrown into this highly dangerous world all the same.
I found this a delightful Middle Grade mystery and one I highly recommend, especially to the younger audience this is intended for, but adults as well. I enjoyed this and I think you will too.
Thanks so much to the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a perfect children’s adventure that sheds some light on what it might have been like to live there, just as things were just starting up at Bletchley, and how it feels to be children in a very adult world. Not trusted with secrets so important to the adults around them, yet thrown into this highly dangerous world all the same.
I found this a delightful Middle Grade mystery and one I highly recommend, especially to the younger audience this is intended for, but adults as well. I enjoyed this and I think you will too.
Thanks so much to the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2023
Not aimed at me as an adult but interesting to read anyway.
Set in Bletchley Park during World War Two, Robyn is living there because her parents are working there. She is a bit of a tearaway and after “borrowing“ a bicycle is sent to see a mysterious person she calls The Heron.
She becomes an apprentice looking after carrier pigeons but soon becomes suspicious of who could be a spy.
Along with two friends she sets out to get evidence and expose tthe traitor.
This book gives a fictional account interspersed with real life people who were at Bletchley. It also includes some historical facts about ways Bletchley helped Britain during the war.
I like the cover art on this book. Colourful but also old fashioned a bit like an Enid Blyton.
I think the pigeons are my favourite characters.
Could have been a bit more character development, as some characters appear but then disappear and we don’t get to know a lot about them.
Set in Bletchley Park during World War Two, Robyn is living there because her parents are working there. She is a bit of a tearaway and after “borrowing“ a bicycle is sent to see a mysterious person she calls The Heron.
She becomes an apprentice looking after carrier pigeons but soon becomes suspicious of who could be a spy.
Along with two friends she sets out to get evidence and expose tthe traitor.
This book gives a fictional account interspersed with real life people who were at Bletchley. It also includes some historical facts about ways Bletchley helped Britain during the war.
I like the cover art on this book. Colourful but also old fashioned a bit like an Enid Blyton.
I think the pigeons are my favourite characters.
Could have been a bit more character development, as some characters appear but then disappear and we don’t get to know a lot about them.
November 20, 2022
A wonderful adventure and a book that will take you into the very depths of Bletchley Park and wartime.
With Robyn, Mary and Ned, the trio are determined to get to the bottom of secrets and mysteries, although given the work at Bletchley, the official secrets act is a bind but what can be done when espionage may be at foot?
It was a really entertaining read and a great children’s book. Filled with friendship, strength through turbulent times and carving out fun during difficulties, I loved the main characters and the whole book really captured what it was like during these times. And it was great reading it from a child’s point of view, as they were out to work during their respective apprenticeships to help with the war.
I seemed to finish it in no time and it was effortless to read. Really enjoyed!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
With Robyn, Mary and Ned, the trio are determined to get to the bottom of secrets and mysteries, although given the work at Bletchley, the official secrets act is a bind but what can be done when espionage may be at foot?
It was a really entertaining read and a great children’s book. Filled with friendship, strength through turbulent times and carving out fun during difficulties, I loved the main characters and the whole book really captured what it was like during these times. And it was great reading it from a child’s point of view, as they were out to work during their respective apprenticeships to help with the war.
I seemed to finish it in no time and it was effortless to read. Really enjoyed!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
March 5, 2023
It's a clever move to name this book after a popular school playground game, which will appeal not only to its intended younger readership but also their (grand)parents and ties in with the story that unfolds. The front cover is evocative too, and owes a lot to the Famous Five books of Enid Blyton. It makes you think of children racing around to find clues and help people during the Second World War, and (along with the concise chapters) conveys the fact-paced events on the pages inside.
There's also some good character development in relation to Robyn, who retains an independent streak throughout the book but becomes less naive as the gravity of the war situation, although making adult characters like the Heron so unlikable means that it's hard to have sympathy even when we are invited to do so towards the end when it becomes possible that the Heron may not be the spy in the Bletchley Park camp after all...
There's also some good character development in relation to Robyn, who retains an independent streak throughout the book but becomes less naive as the gravity of the war situation, although making adult characters like the Heron so unlikable means that it's hard to have sympathy even when we are invited to do so towards the end when it becomes possible that the Heron may not be the spy in the Bletchley Park camp after all...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
July 5, 2023I'm just not feeling this one. I don't care for the characters and the writing seems a bit...stilted? I don't know, but it's not for me.
May 11, 2025
I, Spy (Unabridged) is a novel aimed at children, written by Rhian Tracey. I read the audiobook version, narrated by Sue Elliott-Nicholls. It focuses on World War II, at the location of Bletchley Park. The primary character is Robyn, who is 12 (almost 13). She has lived in Bletchley Park with her family, but now there is some stuff going on there. It’s World War II and all sorts of people have begun working there. Though she doesn’t know it, there’s government workers trying to break secret messages. Throughout the book, she and her friends begin to suspect that one of the staff (Robyn refers to him as “the Heron”) is up to no good, and they do their best to try and figure out what he’s up to.
(I listened to the audiobook version, so I apologise if I have misspelt any names or words from the book.) I initially saw the book on BorrowBox and I figured it looked and sounded interesting enough to give it a go. My first thought about the book is that it’s mediocre.
It’s a historical fiction and it relies on readers having a prior knowledge of the history of World War II and Bletchley Park in particular. So, those who aren’t particularly knowledgeable about those aspects of WWII might have a bit of a confusion early on. Mainly because I feel like the author doesn’t explain it well. Especially with the Bletchley Park stuff. While I do know a reasonable amount about WWII, I don’t know much of Bletchley Park, being that I don’t think I had learnt much about it before. And, I don’t know how to explain it, but the author didn’t explain it in a way that felt easy to understand. The author was particularly vague, in my opinion. I would have appreciated if the author had taken more time to build up information about the history of the place and what the staff were up to.
Apart from that… It’s one of those types of books where kids become suspicious and feel obligated to meddle in things. Robyn is suspicious of “the Heron”, believing him to be an enemy. Honestly, throughout the book, I’m definitely not surprised that the Heron is suspicious of them. The kids are creeping around where they oughtn’t be, trying to steal secret coded messages, etc. And it just seems weird that the kids are so suspicious of him in the first place. It felt like a really obvious misdirect with the way the kids focused on his behaviour so carefully. I mean, to be blunt, his behaviour didn’t even seem weird. Sure, the kids were curious as to what he’s doing, but he didn’t need to explain himself to them because he’s an adult and he’s doing his job. One which they know very little about but are, for some weird reason, deciding to be suspicious of it. I mean, I understand that he was a jerk, but it still felt really weird that the kids were focusing on him so carefully for so long.
I wasn’t fascinated by any of the characters. For me, I think they feel somewhat bland and I don’t think they’re developed enough throughout the book. Robyn is somewhat self-centred. She doesn’t quite grasp, or even try to understand, what’s going on with all of the adults and what they’re worried about. Though, at the same time, the adults don’t really give her a good explanation of any of the war stuff or why she needs to keep quiet about it. This is sort of what I meant by saying that the author was vague about the Bletchley Park thing. I feel like, as a historical fiction, the author ought to have taken the time to include more details about what was going on with the place and the war. The author could have easily used conversations between the adult characters and kid characters to better educate the audience on the matters at hand. Yet… The author didn’t do much of that at all. Where there were portions that needed to be explained, there was very little explanations. There just wasn’t enough communication between characters at all. So, for me, it felt kind of annoying because it falls into some fairly generic tropes of these types of books. The adults don’t communicate to the kids, so the kids decide to randomly think some adult is evil and meddle in the work the adults need to do. In that way, I didn’t like those aspects of the book. I did enjoy the information about the carrier pigeons and what they were up to. And I think the author gave a decent bit of information about them.
As for the narration, I thought that the actor did a fairly decent job. Especially at keeping a good pace and tone. However, I did sometimes think it was kind of difficult to figure out who is speaking. But that’s just my personal opinion.
Overall… Mmmmmm… I thought it was okay. Nothing brilliant. As a book for kids, I think it was fine and I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy it. For me, I personally thought there were a lot of times where there needed to be more information provided and there were characters that needed to be developed more. But that’s just me. Your own opinion of the book may vary.
(I listened to the audiobook version, so I apologise if I have misspelt any names or words from the book.) I initially saw the book on BorrowBox and I figured it looked and sounded interesting enough to give it a go. My first thought about the book is that it’s mediocre.
It’s a historical fiction and it relies on readers having a prior knowledge of the history of World War II and Bletchley Park in particular. So, those who aren’t particularly knowledgeable about those aspects of WWII might have a bit of a confusion early on. Mainly because I feel like the author doesn’t explain it well. Especially with the Bletchley Park stuff. While I do know a reasonable amount about WWII, I don’t know much of Bletchley Park, being that I don’t think I had learnt much about it before. And, I don’t know how to explain it, but the author didn’t explain it in a way that felt easy to understand. The author was particularly vague, in my opinion. I would have appreciated if the author had taken more time to build up information about the history of the place and what the staff were up to.
Apart from that… It’s one of those types of books where kids become suspicious and feel obligated to meddle in things. Robyn is suspicious of “the Heron”, believing him to be an enemy. Honestly, throughout the book, I’m definitely not surprised that the Heron is suspicious of them. The kids are creeping around where they oughtn’t be, trying to steal secret coded messages, etc. And it just seems weird that the kids are so suspicious of him in the first place. It felt like a really obvious misdirect with the way the kids focused on his behaviour so carefully. I mean, to be blunt, his behaviour didn’t even seem weird. Sure, the kids were curious as to what he’s doing, but he didn’t need to explain himself to them because he’s an adult and he’s doing his job. One which they know very little about but are, for some weird reason, deciding to be suspicious of it. I mean, I understand that he was a jerk, but it still felt really weird that the kids were focusing on him so carefully for so long.
I wasn’t fascinated by any of the characters. For me, I think they feel somewhat bland and I don’t think they’re developed enough throughout the book. Robyn is somewhat self-centred. She doesn’t quite grasp, or even try to understand, what’s going on with all of the adults and what they’re worried about. Though, at the same time, the adults don’t really give her a good explanation of any of the war stuff or why she needs to keep quiet about it. This is sort of what I meant by saying that the author was vague about the Bletchley Park thing. I feel like, as a historical fiction, the author ought to have taken the time to include more details about what was going on with the place and the war. The author could have easily used conversations between the adult characters and kid characters to better educate the audience on the matters at hand. Yet… The author didn’t do much of that at all. Where there were portions that needed to be explained, there was very little explanations. There just wasn’t enough communication between characters at all. So, for me, it felt kind of annoying because it falls into some fairly generic tropes of these types of books. The adults don’t communicate to the kids, so the kids decide to randomly think some adult is evil and meddle in the work the adults need to do. In that way, I didn’t like those aspects of the book. I did enjoy the information about the carrier pigeons and what they were up to. And I think the author gave a decent bit of information about them.
As for the narration, I thought that the actor did a fairly decent job. Especially at keeping a good pace and tone. However, I did sometimes think it was kind of difficult to figure out who is speaking. But that’s just my personal opinion.
Overall… Mmmmmm… I thought it was okay. Nothing brilliant. As a book for kids, I think it was fine and I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy it. For me, I personally thought there were a lot of times where there needed to be more information provided and there were characters that needed to be developed more. But that’s just me. Your own opinion of the book may vary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
I picked this up in England after visiting Bletchley Park with my older kids, and I had high hopes that this would be one of those lovely combinations of historical fiction and mystery to delight my kids. I will say that this is solidly middle grade in terms of totally PG content, thank goodness. Not even a piece of innuendo about Dilly's fillies or Alan Turing's extracurricular proclivities, despite all those folks interacting with the young protagonists. My sheltered 10 year old would be fine to read this.
I have seen diverse characters introduced into WWII British settings in quite unbelievable ways, but this book does it quite well. Mary, the young best friend, is biracial (at least her dad is Jamaican -- I glossed over her mom's ethnicity if it was mentioned), and while there are some unpleasant and doubtless historically accurate offensive comments about her "exotic" appearance, the racism is neither unrealistically ignored or overly exaggerated. I liked her family's back story and actually am intrigued to know more about Caribbean immigrants to Britain in that era.
The kids--Robyn, Ned, and Mary-- are a precocious bunch with potential to be interesting characters. But they never quite fill out their personalities. Robyn is supposedly so observant about birds and competent with machinery, yet she's stupid enough to pick up an unexploded bomb with her bare hands. She is turning 13 but immature enough not to understand that her dad is too busy doing important war work to teach her how to drive on her birthday. Mary is brilliant at languages and codes but doesn't have much emotional depth. The adults are frankly all cardboard characters. "The Heron," the presumptive villain who clearly doesn't deserve the kids' suspicion, has one tone--impatient anger. Winston Churchill shows up randomly near the end to randomly give Robyn a medal and promises to facilitate a penpal exchange with Princess Elizabeth (?!).
And sadly, the plot is fairly muddled and incoherent. I'm not sure that readers would come away knowing that Bletchley was the headquarters of code breaking for Britain and might be confused that it was actually just a carrier pigeon headquarters and way station for getting art snuggled out of London to keep it safe during the Blitz. I mean, I did see a funny pamphlet about pigeons at Bletchley, but it seems like a strange choice to focus on when there was so much fascinating history there. The pacing is strange and erratic, with more telling than showing, and the "mystery" aspect is underwhelming.
As for the setting, I do think the book captures the emphasis on secrecy, and the detail about the gun on the desk while Robyn signs the paperwork is accurate from the stories we heard during our tour. But at the same time, the kids talk to each other a lot about their various areas of work, and that doesn't seem accurate, from what we heard. (My favorite story on our tour was a family who visited ten or fifteen years ago, and the grandparents figured out that they had both worked in different departments of Bletchley Park during the war but had never told each other so in over 50 years of marriage!). There are throwaway comments on rationing, but where other kid's books manage to make this feel real, it's not memorable here.
So I am a little bummed that I took a chance and bought this for the kids. It wasn't what I had hoped for, and I don't think my kids will love it. Bumping up half a star for Mary, who is my favorite character, to two and a half stars.
I have seen diverse characters introduced into WWII British settings in quite unbelievable ways, but this book does it quite well. Mary, the young best friend, is biracial (at least her dad is Jamaican -- I glossed over her mom's ethnicity if it was mentioned), and while there are some unpleasant and doubtless historically accurate offensive comments about her "exotic" appearance, the racism is neither unrealistically ignored or overly exaggerated. I liked her family's back story and actually am intrigued to know more about Caribbean immigrants to Britain in that era.
The kids--Robyn, Ned, and Mary-- are a precocious bunch with potential to be interesting characters. But they never quite fill out their personalities. Robyn is supposedly so observant about birds and competent with machinery, yet she's stupid enough to pick up an unexploded bomb with her bare hands. She is turning 13 but immature enough not to understand that her dad is too busy doing important war work to teach her how to drive on her birthday. Mary is brilliant at languages and codes but doesn't have much emotional depth. The adults are frankly all cardboard characters. "The Heron," the presumptive villain who clearly doesn't deserve the kids' suspicion, has one tone--impatient anger. Winston Churchill shows up randomly near the end to randomly give Robyn a medal and promises to facilitate a penpal exchange with Princess Elizabeth (?!).
And sadly, the plot is fairly muddled and incoherent. I'm not sure that readers would come away knowing that Bletchley was the headquarters of code breaking for Britain and might be confused that it was actually just a carrier pigeon headquarters and way station for getting art snuggled out of London to keep it safe during the Blitz. I mean, I did see a funny pamphlet about pigeons at Bletchley, but it seems like a strange choice to focus on when there was so much fascinating history there. The pacing is strange and erratic, with more telling than showing, and the "mystery" aspect is underwhelming.
As for the setting, I do think the book captures the emphasis on secrecy, and the detail about the gun on the desk while Robyn signs the paperwork is accurate from the stories we heard during our tour. But at the same time, the kids talk to each other a lot about their various areas of work, and that doesn't seem accurate, from what we heard. (My favorite story on our tour was a family who visited ten or fifteen years ago, and the grandparents figured out that they had both worked in different departments of Bletchley Park during the war but had never told each other so in over 50 years of marriage!). There are throwaway comments on rationing, but where other kid's books manage to make this feel real, it's not memorable here.
So I am a little bummed that I took a chance and bought this for the kids. It wasn't what I had hoped for, and I don't think my kids will love it. Bumping up half a star for Mary, who is my favorite character, to two and a half stars.
February 23, 2023
This enjoyable, fast-moving story of the exploits of three thirteen-year-old friends, who join forces to uncover the reason for some rather strange, secretive ‘goings on’ at Bletchley Park during the first year of WWII, is reminiscent of the ‘Famous Five’ type of adventure stories enjoyed by generations of children and will, I’m sure, particularly appeal to 10/13-year-old children. Each of the main characters is well-drawn and, with Robyn being portrayed as a bit of a nature-loving tomboy whose long-held wish is to become an apprentice in her father’s garage; Mary, a mixed-race evacuee from Liverpool, being intellectually very bright and aspiring, and Ned, son of the local undertaker, being more self-effacing and anxious than either of the girls, the author not only avoided any traditional stereotyping, but has probably encouraged some aspirational thinking in her young readers! However, given the amount of freedom the three children enjoyed, with little or no adult supervision, I imagine that few children today will be able to identify with that aspect of the storytelling! Although some of the escapades the threesome got up to did stretch the credulity of this adult reader, the tension evoked by the various accounts certainly provided the story with an exciting momentum and may make some children wish that they too could enjoy such freedom!
I loved how effectively the author not only evoked a convincing sense of the mood of the country in those early days of the war, but also brought to life the secrecy and intrigue of what was going on at Bletchley Park, as well as the rather bizarre rumours which abounded in the local community! So, it feels very good to know that any child who reads this story will not only enjoy an exciting adventure story, but will also learn so much about some real events which took place during this particular time in their country’s history. Apart from highlighting the important work going on at Bletchley Park, the story also touched on things such as people’s fear of bombing raids, unexploded ordnance, evacuation of children from big cities, anxiety about family members away fighting in the armed forces, rationing, the use of carrier pigeons as part of intelligence-gathering efforts, and efforts to save significant works of art. As most of today’s young children will have little (maybe even no!) knowledge of these things, I think one of the important strengths of Rhian Tracey’s well-researched story is that it is educational in addition to being hugely enjoyable. I don’t know whether she plans to write a follow-up (even a series!) featuring this intrepid trio but if she hasn’t considered it, I would urge her to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) as soon as possible as I’m confident that her young readers will be keen to spend more time with their new fictional friends!
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved how effectively the author not only evoked a convincing sense of the mood of the country in those early days of the war, but also brought to life the secrecy and intrigue of what was going on at Bletchley Park, as well as the rather bizarre rumours which abounded in the local community! So, it feels very good to know that any child who reads this story will not only enjoy an exciting adventure story, but will also learn so much about some real events which took place during this particular time in their country’s history. Apart from highlighting the important work going on at Bletchley Park, the story also touched on things such as people’s fear of bombing raids, unexploded ordnance, evacuation of children from big cities, anxiety about family members away fighting in the armed forces, rationing, the use of carrier pigeons as part of intelligence-gathering efforts, and efforts to save significant works of art. As most of today’s young children will have little (maybe even no!) knowledge of these things, I think one of the important strengths of Rhian Tracey’s well-researched story is that it is educational in addition to being hugely enjoyable. I don’t know whether she plans to write a follow-up (even a series!) featuring this intrepid trio but if she hasn’t considered it, I would urge her to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) as soon as possible as I’m confident that her young readers will be keen to spend more time with their new fictional friends!
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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March 2, 2023I Spy, A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey is an exciting tale set at a key moment in British history. Hopefully as well as enjoying the book just for the adventure story it is, some readers may be encouraged to look further into Bletchley Park, opening up a whole world of interest for them.
Bird lover Robyn lives at Bletchley Park where her Dad works as a driver. When the war starts, school ends for Robyn as she is no longer allowed to leave the Park, much to her dismay. Instead Robyn is assigned to help with the carrier pigeons that play a vital role in helping the Allies receive and deliver secret messages. But as security at Bletchley Park ramps up, and more people come and go, Robyn becomes convinced that someone is not as they seem. Aided by her friends Mary and Ned, Robyn sets out to uncover the enemy within.
I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure story. Despite it being set at the beginning of WW2, there is an innocence to the tale which reminds me of the Enid Blyton books I used to read when I was a child. Rhian Tracey has given us a wonderful character in Robyn. She means well but as with many children, she sometimes doesn’t think things through, she acts hastily, and sometimes behaves just like the young child she is. All too often children’s books give us perfect, highly intelligent children, but Robyn is just an average 12 year old, albeit very courageous.
The plot is exciting and fast paced with red herrings galore to fool any reader who may think they have worked it all out. The relationship between Robyn and those around her, whether it be her best friends, her parents, her nemesis ‘the Heron’, or her beloved pigeons is cleverly written, moving and totally believable.
Based on the author’s note, the book is very well researched. As well as the thrilling storyline, there are lots of facts subtly interspersed so that children will learn as they read, without even realising they are having a history lesson!
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable book with plenty of action, and an endearing and brave young protagonist. I wonder if we will get to read of Robyn’s further adventures.
Bird lover Robyn lives at Bletchley Park where her Dad works as a driver. When the war starts, school ends for Robyn as she is no longer allowed to leave the Park, much to her dismay. Instead Robyn is assigned to help with the carrier pigeons that play a vital role in helping the Allies receive and deliver secret messages. But as security at Bletchley Park ramps up, and more people come and go, Robyn becomes convinced that someone is not as they seem. Aided by her friends Mary and Ned, Robyn sets out to uncover the enemy within.
I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure story. Despite it being set at the beginning of WW2, there is an innocence to the tale which reminds me of the Enid Blyton books I used to read when I was a child. Rhian Tracey has given us a wonderful character in Robyn. She means well but as with many children, she sometimes doesn’t think things through, she acts hastily, and sometimes behaves just like the young child she is. All too often children’s books give us perfect, highly intelligent children, but Robyn is just an average 12 year old, albeit very courageous.
The plot is exciting and fast paced with red herrings galore to fool any reader who may think they have worked it all out. The relationship between Robyn and those around her, whether it be her best friends, her parents, her nemesis ‘the Heron’, or her beloved pigeons is cleverly written, moving and totally believable.
Based on the author’s note, the book is very well researched. As well as the thrilling storyline, there are lots of facts subtly interspersed so that children will learn as they read, without even realising they are having a history lesson!
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable book with plenty of action, and an endearing and brave young protagonist. I wonder if we will get to read of Robyn’s further adventures.
August 4, 2023
This heartwarming tale introduces us to Robyn; an inquisitive twelve year old girl who, along with her parents, lives in Bletchley Park.
At the start of WW2, life in the park changes dramatically.
There is much secrecy and Robyn, who is so used to tinkering around in the garages whilst her father works there, finds herself shut out from her usual haunts.
She is then told she is to be removed from the local school, and finds herself constantly being reprimanded by 'The Heron' , as she and her friends have nicknamed the tall and gangly head of operations.
At first distraught at being made to sign The official secrets Act and becoming housebound after being withdrawn from school, Robyn quickly becomes busy in her new job as assistant in the aviary.
She strikes up a friendship with the carrier pigeons based there and is keen to do her best to help care for them.
As time passes, a friend from school; Mary, who has been evacuated to the countryside also finds employment as a message courier; and the two girls also befriend Ned, the son of a local tradesman employed to assist in the building of huts to house the new influx of staff to the secretive site.
Together the three friends set about trying to crack the codes they find in an attempt to solve the mysteries around them.
The book is incredibly well written and I really enjoyed reading this heartwarming tale. I found myself so invested in finding out what happened next and whether the three friends survived the perils of the war effort that I honestly forget that this is essentially a book aimed at children.
Such a good read, definitely recommend!
At the start of WW2, life in the park changes dramatically.
There is much secrecy and Robyn, who is so used to tinkering around in the garages whilst her father works there, finds herself shut out from her usual haunts.
She is then told she is to be removed from the local school, and finds herself constantly being reprimanded by 'The Heron' , as she and her friends have nicknamed the tall and gangly head of operations.
At first distraught at being made to sign The official secrets Act and becoming housebound after being withdrawn from school, Robyn quickly becomes busy in her new job as assistant in the aviary.
She strikes up a friendship with the carrier pigeons based there and is keen to do her best to help care for them.
As time passes, a friend from school; Mary, who has been evacuated to the countryside also finds employment as a message courier; and the two girls also befriend Ned, the son of a local tradesman employed to assist in the building of huts to house the new influx of staff to the secretive site.
Together the three friends set about trying to crack the codes they find in an attempt to solve the mysteries around them.
The book is incredibly well written and I really enjoyed reading this heartwarming tale. I found myself so invested in finding out what happened next and whether the three friends survived the perils of the war effort that I honestly forget that this is essentially a book aimed at children.
Such a good read, definitely recommend!
February 28, 2023
Firstly, I am not the target audience for this book. It's aimed at much younger readers but that didn't stop me enjoying it. It was very reminiscent of the adventure stories I loved to read when I was young, about children finding their path through an adult world. With a few differences, war was rarely mention in the books of my childhood, and at that time nobody had heard of Bletchley Park!
Robyn is a 13 year old girl who lives in a cottage on the Bletchley estate, pre-war her father was the chauffeur, now with the invasion of many hundreds of service personnel he is Head of Transport. With security being so tight it is decided that Robyn will be taken out a school and put to work in the pigeon loft. That doesn't take up much of her time and, being an inquisitive child, she starts nosing around in places that she shouldn't. This gets her into frequent trouble with the boss, a man she nicknames The Heron.
The only other children she gets to see are Mary, a former schoolfriend who is now a bike messenger, and Ned the son of the local undertaker who is providing wood to build the many huts in the grounds. Together this gang of three convince themselves something is amiss and that there is a spy at Bletchley, and take it upon themselves to 'out' him..... Robyn is sure it's the Heron, the other less certain.
Of course, being an adventure story there is someone up to no good and in their attempts to foil them almost bring a most top secret operation into the open. But, naturally, all come good in the end. Any child who loves reading will enjoy this book.
Robyn is a 13 year old girl who lives in a cottage on the Bletchley estate, pre-war her father was the chauffeur, now with the invasion of many hundreds of service personnel he is Head of Transport. With security being so tight it is decided that Robyn will be taken out a school and put to work in the pigeon loft. That doesn't take up much of her time and, being an inquisitive child, she starts nosing around in places that she shouldn't. This gets her into frequent trouble with the boss, a man she nicknames The Heron.
The only other children she gets to see are Mary, a former schoolfriend who is now a bike messenger, and Ned the son of the local undertaker who is providing wood to build the many huts in the grounds. Together this gang of three convince themselves something is amiss and that there is a spy at Bletchley, and take it upon themselves to 'out' him..... Robyn is sure it's the Heron, the other less certain.
Of course, being an adventure story there is someone up to no good and in their attempts to foil them almost bring a most top secret operation into the open. But, naturally, all come good in the end. Any child who loves reading will enjoy this book.
April 27, 2023
Robyn is 12 and lives near Bletchley Park. As war breaks out, strange things are happening on the site so she is excited to get the opportunity to work there. She quickly settles into caring for the carrier pigeons but begins to suspect that there are dangerous secrets at Bletchley Park...
Having recently read some books about Bletchley Park during WW2, I was interested to read a book from a child's perspective. I Spy begins in 1939 as war is declared and the park begins operations. This book is aimed at children aged 9-12.
Robyn is determined and feisty. She feels frustrated by her age and her gender so is keen to prove herself. However she is also naive and this makes her vulnerable as she takes risks to find out the truth at Bletchley Park. She is helped by her friends Ned and Mary and together they explore the site looking for clues. I enjoyed the premise of the book but I'm not convinced it is historically accurate as I don't think children were on site and forced to sign the official secrets act.
Robyn shows her gentler side as she cares for the carrier pigeons, yet she is also fiercely protective of them. There is plenty of drama as bombs fall, pigeons are injured, and the children's explorations lead them into danger. I liked the inclusion of real people that worked at Bletchley Park such as Alan Turing and hope the book inspires young people to do more research on WW2 and even visit the museum.
I Spy is an enjoyable children's book with a strong lead character.
Having recently read some books about Bletchley Park during WW2, I was interested to read a book from a child's perspective. I Spy begins in 1939 as war is declared and the park begins operations. This book is aimed at children aged 9-12.
Robyn is determined and feisty. She feels frustrated by her age and her gender so is keen to prove herself. However she is also naive and this makes her vulnerable as she takes risks to find out the truth at Bletchley Park. She is helped by her friends Ned and Mary and together they explore the site looking for clues. I enjoyed the premise of the book but I'm not convinced it is historically accurate as I don't think children were on site and forced to sign the official secrets act.
Robyn shows her gentler side as she cares for the carrier pigeons, yet she is also fiercely protective of them. There is plenty of drama as bombs fall, pigeons are injured, and the children's explorations lead them into danger. I liked the inclusion of real people that worked at Bletchley Park such as Alan Turing and hope the book inspires young people to do more research on WW2 and even visit the museum.
I Spy is an enjoyable children's book with a strong lead character.
March 6, 2023
I rate it 3.75-4. This is the first of Rhian Tracey’s work that I’ve come across. My follower would know I really do struggle with historical fiction, not enough to put me off that genre completely though. I love the illustration on the cover, love the map on the inside, and the pigeon at the start of each chapter. I also love reading about world wars, I used to enjoy it a lot back in Malaysia, reading it in my mother tongue which is mandarin. I guess although I’m interested in reading about the world war through another point of view, it is more difficult to relate personally therefore there are times where I struggled through this chapter. I found the mystery and the thrill didn’t disappoint, the friendship, the plots were good. However I do feel there were some disconnect between end of a chapter and beginning of the next, somehow it just make me feel like I am having flights of ideas. Perhaps it is the author’s way of describing a 14 year old’s thought process in those difficult times. I do not regret reading this book and when the next is up, I will still want to read it. Thank you for this advanced review copy.
February 23, 2023
We first encounter Robyn, a young girl, at Bletchley Park at the start of the novel. They have only begun to feel the effects of the second world war, which, as she points out, started a few months ago but has only recently been apparent to them. She feels as though her parents have clipped her wings because of the limitations they have set on her. We soon learn that she must sign the official secrets act in order to work at Bletchley Park. She befriends the undertaker's apprentice and soon learns that her schoolmate is also employed at the park. Together, they set out to learn the secrets of the park and the significance of the arrivals and departures.
This mystery's pacing varied at different points, but it ended quickly. Instead of tripping over the events, I would have preferred a more gradual unveiling of what was truly happening to the characters. I was hoping they could solve the problem! But I really liked it! I will definitely keep an eye out for other books by the same author because I enjoyed reading them and would like to see more of her writing.
This mystery's pacing varied at different points, but it ended quickly. Instead of tripping over the events, I would have preferred a more gradual unveiling of what was truly happening to the characters. I was hoping they could solve the problem! But I really liked it! I will definitely keep an eye out for other books by the same author because I enjoyed reading them and would like to see more of her writing.
March 10, 2023
This is a good old fashioned adventure story aimed at the middle Grade age group and is set at the beginning of the Second World War.
Robyn is a tomboy who loves the outdoors and all things in the natural world. She tends to be a bit impulsive. Mary and Ned accompany her in this adventure. Mary is an evacuee from Liverpool and excels at school. Ned is the son of a local undertaker and is a bit more cautious than the girls.
Nowadays we are well aware of the importance of Bletchley Park during the Second World War, but at the time and for a long time afterwards it was all very secret. It must have been a very confusing time for young Robyn!
Rhian Tracey has successfully written an engaging adventure story and at the same time introduced many historical details from the time. From birds pecking into milk bottle tops and the tedium of girls having to dry long hair in front of the fire, —— to the use of carrier pigeons in wartime and the inclusion of notable people in the story.
All in all an exciting adventure story with well rounded characters and just the right amount of intrigue.
Robyn is a tomboy who loves the outdoors and all things in the natural world. She tends to be a bit impulsive. Mary and Ned accompany her in this adventure. Mary is an evacuee from Liverpool and excels at school. Ned is the son of a local undertaker and is a bit more cautious than the girls.
Nowadays we are well aware of the importance of Bletchley Park during the Second World War, but at the time and for a long time afterwards it was all very secret. It must have been a very confusing time for young Robyn!
Rhian Tracey has successfully written an engaging adventure story and at the same time introduced many historical details from the time. From birds pecking into milk bottle tops and the tedium of girls having to dry long hair in front of the fire, —— to the use of carrier pigeons in wartime and the inclusion of notable people in the story.
All in all an exciting adventure story with well rounded characters and just the right amount of intrigue.
March 13, 2023
This is the first time I have read a YA book and I have to say it was great. I loved the fast pace and the detail was explained so well that I was really drawn into the story.
I loved the cover of the book as it drew you to it and helped build a picture of the main characters.
Robyn has lived at Bletchley Park all her life and knows ever area there is but suddenly with the start of the war it all changes.
There are a lot more people working on secret missions which Robyn wants to know about. Her friend Mary from school comes to work there delivering messages and they also met Ned who is helping to build huts with his dad on site. This trio decide its up to them to discover what is really happening at Bletchley Park and hold secret meeting on the island to keep each other up to date with all the activities.
There is also a beautiful relationship built between Mr Samuel and Robyn whilst she is working as his apprenticeship looking after the pigeons.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it.
I loved the cover of the book as it drew you to it and helped build a picture of the main characters.
Robyn has lived at Bletchley Park all her life and knows ever area there is but suddenly with the start of the war it all changes.
There are a lot more people working on secret missions which Robyn wants to know about. Her friend Mary from school comes to work there delivering messages and they also met Ned who is helping to build huts with his dad on site. This trio decide its up to them to discover what is really happening at Bletchley Park and hold secret meeting on the island to keep each other up to date with all the activities.
There is also a beautiful relationship built between Mr Samuel and Robyn whilst she is working as his apprenticeship looking after the pigeons.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it.
March 22, 2023
I found this book quite fascinating to read. It really brought home to me how difficult it must have been living in World War 2 Britain. The children in the story are made to sign the Official Secrets Act, but feel like they don't know what things are secrets and what aren't. They feel like no one is telliing them what is going on and that the adults don't trust them. On the other hand, it doesn't feel like anyone really trusts anyone else either. There is definitely something going on in the park, with secret coded messages being found and the Heron turning up in unexpected places. But is he the spy, or is there someone else?
I really enjoyed learning more about how messenger pigeons were used during the war and found it especially interesting that the Germans might have trained hawks to attack British pigeons (how would the hawks know???). There were points in the book where time jumped forwards and for some reason I found this a little jarring but I feel that this book would be a great addition to any primary classroom where they're learning about World War 2.
I really enjoyed learning more about how messenger pigeons were used during the war and found it especially interesting that the Germans might have trained hawks to attack British pigeons (how would the hawks know???). There were points in the book where time jumped forwards and for some reason I found this a little jarring but I feel that this book would be a great addition to any primary classroom where they're learning about World War 2.
April 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this historical middle grade book set during WW2 at Bletchley Park. I have a little bit of background knowledge about the code-breaking that happened here, but didn't know a lot of the details so I was excited to see what this book had to offer. The book doesn't go into a huge amount of information about the war effort as it's narrated by 12-year-old Robyn and many secrets are kept from her by the adults. However, it does have many interesting details and I enjoyed hearing a war story from the perspective of a child/teenager and learning about how young people contributed to the war effort. The carrier pigeon element was also interesting to read about. I think this book would be a great read for a child who is learning about WW2 in school! The mystery theme of the book was intriguing although could be a little confusing at times. The book is fast paced, with chapters skipping months at a time so it covers the span of a few years. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I rated it 4 stars. I would recommend it for children aged 8-13.
December 16, 2023
I was really looking forward to reading a period themed story and this adventure - I, Spy by Rhian Tracey - set in World War II was just perfect.
The beautiful cover also painted a picture of what to expect from the mystery.
Living with her parents on the Bletchley Park Estate, Robyn gets asked to take part in some important war work by helping in the pigeon loft. Here she helps prepare the pigeons for their special flying missions to take and bring back messages from enemy territory. All the work at Bletchley is top secret, but Robyn soon starts to notice some very strange goings on, on the Estate. Along with her friends Mary and Ned, they start a whole host of explorations and daring escapades, and discover nothing is as it seems.
This is such a great story which keeps you guessing right to the end. It is very informative about the period in this unique setting during the early years of World War II. I loved it and would definitely recommend it for its unusual location, great variety of characters, and its glimpse into history.
The beautiful cover also painted a picture of what to expect from the mystery.
Living with her parents on the Bletchley Park Estate, Robyn gets asked to take part in some important war work by helping in the pigeon loft. Here she helps prepare the pigeons for their special flying missions to take and bring back messages from enemy territory. All the work at Bletchley is top secret, but Robyn soon starts to notice some very strange goings on, on the Estate. Along with her friends Mary and Ned, they start a whole host of explorations and daring escapades, and discover nothing is as it seems.
This is such a great story which keeps you guessing right to the end. It is very informative about the period in this unique setting during the early years of World War II. I loved it and would definitely recommend it for its unusual location, great variety of characters, and its glimpse into history.
February 24, 2023
Wartime intrigue for young adults
Living in the grounds of Bletchley park at the start of the war, 12 year old Robyn is unaware how important her local hall is going to be in the oncoming war years. Unsure of exactly what is going on in the grounds, Robyn is taken out of school to work with the carrier pigeons. Along with two friends, her best school friend and a new friend, the trio come to all sorts of conclusions and ideas about what is going on in the grounds of Bletchley Park. This leads them into all sorts of exciting escapades and adventures along the way. This book is written from Robyn’s perspective and flows in a way that a similar age reader will read avidly, although I am not sure that the cover design would appeal particularly to this age group, as appropriate as it may be to the story. It has a lot of historical knowledge in the book about things that were going on at the time with a nod to both Alan Turing and a visit by Churchill, giving the book a slight educational quality too.
Living in the grounds of Bletchley park at the start of the war, 12 year old Robyn is unaware how important her local hall is going to be in the oncoming war years. Unsure of exactly what is going on in the grounds, Robyn is taken out of school to work with the carrier pigeons. Along with two friends, her best school friend and a new friend, the trio come to all sorts of conclusions and ideas about what is going on in the grounds of Bletchley Park. This leads them into all sorts of exciting escapades and adventures along the way. This book is written from Robyn’s perspective and flows in a way that a similar age reader will read avidly, although I am not sure that the cover design would appeal particularly to this age group, as appropriate as it may be to the story. It has a lot of historical knowledge in the book about things that were going on at the time with a nod to both Alan Turing and a visit by Churchill, giving the book a slight educational quality too.
February 28, 2023
This is an interesting mystery/adventure story aimed at young adults. It is set in World War 2. The location of the story is at Bletchley Park.
Three friends are suspicious about the secret things that are happening at Bletchley Park and a “Famous Five” type mystery evolves. The three friends try to solve the mystery and manage to get themselves in all sorts of trouble along the way but are always true to their friendship.
There are some nice historical references and it may stimulate the reader to what to research more about that part of history and the ways in which Bletchley Park helped Britain’s war effort. There are also so interesting facts about pigeons and pleasant references to nature.
At times I felt the flow of the story was a little strained but that may because I am not the target age of audience but the characters were interesting, the story had a good twist and I would recommend.
Three friends are suspicious about the secret things that are happening at Bletchley Park and a “Famous Five” type mystery evolves. The three friends try to solve the mystery and manage to get themselves in all sorts of trouble along the way but are always true to their friendship.
There are some nice historical references and it may stimulate the reader to what to research more about that part of history and the ways in which Bletchley Park helped Britain’s war effort. There are also so interesting facts about pigeons and pleasant references to nature.
At times I felt the flow of the story was a little strained but that may because I am not the target age of audience but the characters were interesting, the story had a good twist and I would recommend.
March 14, 2023
This is an absolutely brilliant middle grade book based on the second world war. I really love that it is a great way to teach children about the work that happened at Bletchley Park during the second world war. The main character is 12 years old and has to deal with the changes that's came with the war effort. Excellent level of historical accuracy which also allows room for exploring more about the period.
The child characters are really likable and I love how as they go on adventures they have famous five feel. The adult characters are also excellent and all add to the story.
The cover reminds me of the Enid Blyton books and really stands out. I think the title is really clever and reminiscent of childhood.
I will be recommending this book for children as it really is fun and I love the learning element which is integrated brilliantly with in the story.
The child characters are really likable and I love how as they go on adventures they have famous five feel. The adult characters are also excellent and all add to the story.
The cover reminds me of the Enid Blyton books and really stands out. I think the title is really clever and reminiscent of childhood.
I will be recommending this book for children as it really is fun and I love the learning element which is integrated brilliantly with in the story.
March 15, 2023
The setting of this book is great and perfect for a kid's adventure during world war II. I like the characters and the interactions within the group and picking up on the historical events and details that it was based upon as I am generally interested in history anyway. This reminded me a bit of the group in famous five. Robyn's character was particularly interesting, and she expressed a lot of bravery and the cover is nice and feels intriguing. I felt like I would enjoy this book but did however lose interest as I carried on reading and did not feel that I could read to the end. There should have been more excitement and action in this as it did not meet my expectations. My 11 year old sister also felt the same and lost interest unfortunately so I wouldn't really recommend this to the target audience either. The writer wrote well, but the story just needs a better flow.
April 1, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book, there was a sense of anticipation which made you want to keep reading to find out what happened. It was great to introduce kids to Bletchley Park, I'm sure a lot of people will be interested in finding out more about it after reading this book, but it struck me as unlikely that children would be allowed to work and sign the official secrets act (they may well have done, but I'm not sure!). I felt some of the storyline needed explaining a bit more than it was, especially at the end, as it left me a bit confused over who was a good guy and who was a bad guy. There were a lot of references to nature in it, and it was nice to have the 3 children having different interests, but (mostly) accepting each other and encouraging their passions. Not sure Robyn would have been in a good state after swimming in a lake in February, maybe that shouldn't be encouraged, but a good read all in all.
June 1, 2023
This middle grade mystery novel is set at Bletchley Park (the centre of the British codebreaking effort) during the second World War.
The main character is Robyn, who has grown up on the park as the chauffeur's daughter, and is bewildered by the changes going on at Bletchley - she is taken out of school and told that she is not allowed to leave the park. She is apprenticed to Mr Samuels who looks after the carrier pigeons, but she really wants to train to be a mechanic with her Dad in the garages.
Her best friend from school, Mary, is taken on as a messenger girl and so the two of them are able to meet up. Along with Ned, the undertaker's son, they start to notice some suspicious behaviour of some of the people working at the park. They decide to investigate!
Obviously, they make some quite big mistakes and find themselves in dangerous situations, but the mystery is solved at the end.
Just after finishing this book, we went to visit Bletchley Park, and what a fascinating place it is. it was so nice to have read the book so that we could spot some of the places mentioned - we didn't see any carrier pigeons though!
A good book and an interesting read, especially if you are interested in WWII or the codebreakers of Bletchley Park.
The main character is Robyn, who has grown up on the park as the chauffeur's daughter, and is bewildered by the changes going on at Bletchley - she is taken out of school and told that she is not allowed to leave the park. She is apprenticed to Mr Samuels who looks after the carrier pigeons, but she really wants to train to be a mechanic with her Dad in the garages.
Her best friend from school, Mary, is taken on as a messenger girl and so the two of them are able to meet up. Along with Ned, the undertaker's son, they start to notice some suspicious behaviour of some of the people working at the park. They decide to investigate!
Obviously, they make some quite big mistakes and find themselves in dangerous situations, but the mystery is solved at the end.
Just after finishing this book, we went to visit Bletchley Park, and what a fascinating place it is. it was so nice to have read the book so that we could spot some of the places mentioned - we didn't see any carrier pigeons though!
A good book and an interesting read, especially if you are interested in WWII or the codebreakers of Bletchley Park.
June 10, 2023
This book is written for children aged 10-12 though I really enjoyed it myself.
The book is based at Bletchley Park, with what happened there I wondered if the book would mention it or gloss over its history but I was pleased that it had been bought into the history.
The book straight away gets you hooked and I really like it, don’t like it when you have to read so far into a book before you get anywhere but this is just the complete opposite, also has some really good twists that you don’t see coming, loved that about it.
The characters are all so good, the children and the older characters, by the middle of the book I really thought I knew the characters.
When one of them is put in charge of the carrier pigeons I thought that maybe there would be something going on with them, that was pretty easy to guess but that was only the one part of it.
No matter your age, this was a really good book.
The book is based at Bletchley Park, with what happened there I wondered if the book would mention it or gloss over its history but I was pleased that it had been bought into the history.
The book straight away gets you hooked and I really like it, don’t like it when you have to read so far into a book before you get anywhere but this is just the complete opposite, also has some really good twists that you don’t see coming, loved that about it.
The characters are all so good, the children and the older characters, by the middle of the book I really thought I knew the characters.
When one of them is put in charge of the carrier pigeons I thought that maybe there would be something going on with them, that was pretty easy to guess but that was only the one part of it.
No matter your age, this was a really good book.
June 15, 2023
This is of course a children's book.
I decided I would like to read it as I was born nearby in Bletchley as my father was stationed there in 1943 /1944.
It is very interesting to find out more of how it worked and what went on. Sadly my father died some years ago so I can't ask him. He never talked about it all but did start to write a book about his life and that included what he was allowed to say.
As a children's book I am sure it would satisfy many young readers expectations.
Personally I quite enjoyed reading it and would do so again.
I am sure this would make a lovely present for many children especially those with active and inquisitive minds.
The cover was very good and certainly added to the enjoyment of holding and looking through the pages to see what it was all about.
I would buy this book for my grandchildren as they are avid readers and cannot get enough books really like me and their mum bookaholics!
I decided I would like to read it as I was born nearby in Bletchley as my father was stationed there in 1943 /1944.
It is very interesting to find out more of how it worked and what went on. Sadly my father died some years ago so I can't ask him. He never talked about it all but did start to write a book about his life and that included what he was allowed to say.
As a children's book I am sure it would satisfy many young readers expectations.
Personally I quite enjoyed reading it and would do so again.
I am sure this would make a lovely present for many children especially those with active and inquisitive minds.
The cover was very good and certainly added to the enjoyment of holding and looking through the pages to see what it was all about.
I would buy this book for my grandchildren as they are avid readers and cannot get enough books really like me and their mum bookaholics!
August 28, 2023
Accessible history
A wonderful mystery and historical fiction young adult novel written from the perspective of a young girl Woking during WW2 at Bletchley Park.
The front cover draws you in and accurately depicts the sense of adventure that the children in this story share.
Robyn is a curious, inquisitive 13 year old who is tasked with looking after carrier pigeons. She develops heartfelt relationships with two similar aged children and together they go on a mission to route out the bad guy. This book keeps you turning the pages and has excellent pace, the characters are likeable and you can imagine being like them if you were placed in a similar situation as a child.
This book will inspire people, old and young alike to visit Bletchley and learn about what happened there during the war, I for one look forward to visiting soon.
I was kindly provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion, all opinions are my own.
A wonderful mystery and historical fiction young adult novel written from the perspective of a young girl Woking during WW2 at Bletchley Park.
The front cover draws you in and accurately depicts the sense of adventure that the children in this story share.
Robyn is a curious, inquisitive 13 year old who is tasked with looking after carrier pigeons. She develops heartfelt relationships with two similar aged children and together they go on a mission to route out the bad guy. This book keeps you turning the pages and has excellent pace, the characters are likeable and you can imagine being like them if you were placed in a similar situation as a child.
This book will inspire people, old and young alike to visit Bletchley and learn about what happened there during the war, I for one look forward to visiting soon.
I was kindly provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion, all opinions are my own.
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