Review of The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

This middle-grade writing collaboration inserts a clever young protagonist into the behind-the-scenes World War II British codebreaking of Nazi messages, along with a rich back story and mysterious elements, adventure, and intrigue. I loved this.

I love a World War II story, and in this middle-grade collaborative work by Ruta Sepetys (Salt to the Sea) and Steve Sheinkin (Bomb), the young protagonist Lizzie Novis becomes an unlikely asset to the British wartime codebreaking center of Bletchley Park.

Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis is engaged in top-secret work alongside other bright minds, trying to crack the Nazi Enigma code. But after his younger sister Lizzie evades her grandmother's attempts to bring her from England to the United States to avoid the Nazis' nearing destruction, there's nowhere for Lizzie to stay but with her big brother.

Their father died long ago, and Lizzie just couldn't stand to leave the last country where they saw their mother a year prior. She's sure she'll turn up again, despite the fact that she disappeared into what quickly thereafter become Nazi territory, and her United States Embassy coworkers believe that she is dead.

When Lizzie finds a secret notebook of her mother's, she becomes more determined than ever to solve the mystery of her disappearance. But a suspicious, tenacious MI5 investigator arrives at the Novises' boarding house, demanding to know everything about their mother--and implying that she had been a double agent betraying England.

Lizzie's impetuous, clever, observant nature leads to somewhat of a collaboration between her and the Colonel, a high-ranking figure in Bletchley.

The Sepetys-Sheinkin writing venture felt seamless, with adventure, interesting detail, wonderful character dynamics, and intrigue. The authors included real-life figures like Alan Turing and shaped a fascinating scenario for the Novis kids' mother--as well as what felt like plausible, valuable roles in the Bletchley efforts for the children themselves.

This was enjoyable, interesting, well paced, and charming. I loved it.

I listened to The Bletchley Riddle as an audiobook.

I'd love to hear your Bossy thoughts!

You can find my reviews of other World War II-focused books here, and you can also check out my review of Kate Quinn's great codebreaking historical fiction for adults, The Rose Code.