A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Bletchley Riddle brings together two powerhouse authors, Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, to explore the world of wartime codebreaking, espionage, and historical intrigue, based at the middle grade level. The premise is undeniably compelling—set against the backdrop of Bletchley Park, the novel follows a young protagonist drawn into the high-stakes world of cryptography during World War II.

Sepetys and Sheinkin excel at historical detail, immersing the reader in the tense, secretive atmosphere of Bletchley Park. The real-life figures and historical accuracy shine, making this a must-read for fans of WWII history. However, the novel struggles at times with pacing- it felt long at times and seemed to end quite abruptly, and the dual-author approach occasionally results in a narrative that feels uneven—some sections are rich with character depth and emotion, while others read more like a history lesson than a novel.

While The Bletchley Riddle is an engaging read with strong research and an intriguing premise, it doesn’t quite reach the emotional depth or narrative cohesion that fans of both authors might expect, and though it was written for middle graders, reads much older. A solid read for history buffs, but those looking for a more immersive, character-driven story may find it a bit lacking. I don't suggest this for middle grade students.

I enjoyed this one! I found it to be fast and interesting, and I liked the mystery of what happened to Willa.

I liked the dual POVs, and I thought both characters were really good. Lizzie was so determined to discover the truth, and I admired her fearlessness as she went about looking for clues and trying to decipher them. Jakob was more cautious, but I liked how he helped to balance Lizzie out. I also liked learning about Enigma and the code breaking.

The side characters were really good in this one. Colin, Marion, and Nigel were fun, and I liked how they helped the investigation. Marion and Colin were good friends to Lizzie, and I adored the hint of romance between Lizzie and Colin.

The chapters were pretty short, and switching between the characters kept me hooked. Every time I picked up the book I was fully immersed in the story. I liked the references to real people, and I really liked seeing the code breaking process play out for the characters.


Thank you to the publisher for providing me an eARC copy to read via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My 15 year old son and I both really enjoyed this historical fiction tale from one of our favorites in this space - Steve Sheinkin, along with Ruta Sepetys. Wonderful characters and an exciting setting! Great for your spy story loving teens.

Set on the cusp of World War II in Bletchley Park, Jakob and his younger sister Lizzie become part of a code-breaking operation. Their mother went missing in Poland and is presumed dead, but Lizzie is convinced she is alive and will not stop until she uncovers the truth.

I should have known I wouldn't love this. I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction, especially those set during the War. I don't know how to explain it, but I was just expecting more from this. This is told in dual POV between the siblings. I really did like Lizzie, but I didn't care too much about Jakob or what he was up to. I liked their sibling dynamic though. I liked how the mystery of where their mother was was woven in. I do think it did a great job with sprinkling in the history aspect of the story in a fun way. The codebreaking was fun, but it felt a bit repetitive by the end.

The Bletchley Riddle is my first middle grade book but it was such an intelligent and witty book that any age would enjoy. I loved the characters, the mystery aspect and the setting. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre when it delivers on storyline/plot and the historical/informational aspect and this one hit both. The book kept moving and it was a fresh story I haven't read before.

Ruta and Steve can do no wrong. This was such a an amazing middle grade story based on so much research. I loved it from beginning to end!

The Bletchely Riddle is a late middle grade, early young adult story set in Bletchley Park during WW2. Teh book is told from the perspectives of Lizzi (14) and brother Jakob (19). Jakob is working on the Enigma Machine, and Lizzie is trying to figure out what happened to her mother after she disappeared in Poland. They were told that their mother was killed, but Lizzie is sure she is still alive. Both of the siblings love puzzles and riddles and are great at solving them, so it seems natural that Jakob's teacher would recommend him for the job at Bletchley. The problem is that they are battling others. Their grandmother is trying to force Lizzi to come to the United States and she finds herself having to outsmart the men she sends. There is also an inspector who is sure that their mother and maybe even them are spies and is watching them closely. Can they unravel the secrets around their mother's disappearance and solve the puzzle of the Enigma Machine?

I enjoyed this historical fiction told from dual POVs. Lizzi was my favourite character. She was spunky, stubborn, smart, inquisitive, impulsive and of her own mind. This helps to solve riddles and puzzles, but also gets her into trouble. Jakob is also extremely smart and loves his sister, but gets frustrated by her and her behaviour. I liked the focus on the Enigma Machine, with real people, like Alan Turing in the book. Both siblings sign the Secrecy Act, so what they are doing is kept quiet and others are not sure what is going on. I have read many books that deal with Bletchley Park and the codebreaking, but young readers may not know about the codebreakers or the Enigma machine. I did find that the book was well-written with enough information sprinkled throughout the story to give them the information they needed to understand what Jakob and others were doing and why. This is a book that I think would pique the interest of young readers to do more research themselves. The one part of this book that I wasn't enamored of was the romance that involved Lilli. It was handled fine, but at 14, I would rather have seen it involve Jakob.

This was such a great book! Although I was initially a bit hesitant because it is listed as middle grade, this book went so far beyond my expectations and I don’t know why I ever doubted these authors. The greatest strength of this book was definitely its great secondary characters—they all felt fully developed without taking away from the story with long descriptions. The story itself was also great, with Sepetys’s usual general amazingness in all of that.

This was such a great book by two great MG/YA authors. It's World War II and two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, try to figure out the mysterious death of their mother. This was a quick read with lots of action and humor. Winston Churchill and Alan Turing make appearances in this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking for an ARC of this book. I have purchased a copy for both my middle school and high school library.

What a great way to end my 2024 year of reading! I think Lizzie is one of my favorite characters! I have to admit that I did not know a lot about Bletchley Park, Alan Turing, etc, but was impressed that just about every time I looked something up in conjunction with this book, I discovered it was based on fact. This included Turing burying the silver.
Although a few things seemed a bit improbable, like correctly interpreting the recipe clues to an exact room in a hotel, the story had just enough twist and room for speculation to make it very enjoyable. I also appreciated that not everything was wrapped up.
The story in the acknowledgement section of the book explaining how Sepetys and Sheinkin came to write the book is a great one! I hope they collaborate again.

I enjoyed this story of the code breakers at Bletchely during WWII, but it lacked the depth of character development and heart that Sepety's I Must Betray You had. In the end, it was mostly another WWII story tabout the chat wasn't fully fleshed out. We don't get a complete story about the code breakers, nor do we get a complete story about the main character's missing mother. In the end, I was left wanting more despite the way this was tied up with a bow.

If you're looking for a good book set at Bletchley Park during WWII, I recommend The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Sure! Here’s a draft for your review of The Bletchley Riddle:

Book Review of The Bletchley Riddle
Author: [Author’s Name]

The Bletchley Riddle is a thrilling historical fiction novel set during World War II, blending mystery, suspense, and intrigue with the fascinating world of code-breaking at Bletchley Park. The story follows two siblings, [Character 1] and [Character 2], who are part of the British code-breaking effort. Amidst the war, they are faced with an urgent personal mission: to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of their mother, whose death has been reported, but whose body was never found. As the siblings unravel a series of cryptic riddles, they must navigate dangerous secrets that may have been hidden for years.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for several reasons. The author does an excellent job of balancing historical detail with a gripping, fast-paced plot. The mystery is captivating, filled with twists and turns, as the siblings decode hidden messages and confront the possibility that their mother’s death may not have been what they were led to believe. The riddles add an extra layer of intrigue and kept me engaged, as I found myself trying to solve them alongside the characters.

What really stood out to me, however, was how the book seamlessly integrates historical fiction into the mystery genre. The depiction of Bletchley Park and the code-breaking efforts during WWII felt authentic, giving readers a real sense of the stakes and the intelligence work that took place during the war. The suspense builds beautifully throughout the story, with moments of high tension balanced by quieter, emotional scenes that highlight the siblings’ personal journey.

Overall, The Bletchley Riddle is an enjoyable read for anyone who loves historical fiction with a strong mystery component. It’s a perfect blend of intrigue, history, and family drama, and I highly recommend it for readers looking for a book that keeps them on the edge of their seat.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nineteen year old Jakob Novis is a cryptologist working at Bletchley Park. He receives an unexpected message from his sister Lizzie, who is supposed to be on her way to her grandmother in America, given that their mother, who worked for the US Embassy in Poland, has recently been presumed dead. But Lizzie is certain she is still alive, and through a series of events, ends up at Bletchley Park, working as a messenger. As she begins to track down a series of clues that she believes might provide a lead to her mother’s whereabouts, the war continues to rage, and with Hitler’s invasion seemingly imminent, Jakob’s work is more important than ever. When more cryptic messages arrive at their doorstep, the siblings must work together to decipher the clues and figure out the truth.

I saw Ruta Sepetys on the cover of this book and added it to my TBR instantly. I didn’t realize until later that this was a collaboration between two authors, something I’ve never been too sure about as some of my favorite authors have worked on collabs that I personally didn’t like at all as I’m very used to their narrative style. Still, the subject matter was too interesting to pass up, so I was extremely excited to get an ARC of this book.

Codebreaking during WWII, particularly the efforts at Bletchley Park related to breaking the Enigma Machine codes, is a topic I’ve come across quite a few times in this genre, and it’s one of my favorites. I loved that in this book, the concept of the machine, and its level of complexity, was so well explained, a first time reader could easily follow it.

This was definitely a lot simpler than other books of Ruta Sepetys’ I’ve read, but very age appropriate in my opinion. I think the authors did a marvellous job of taking such heavy topics like codebreaking and the effects of wartime and portraying them in a way that got the message across without making the narrative overly serious or sad.

Jakob’s storyline was more interesting to me, given the subject matter, but I also liked that the siblings had their own little code to crack and mystery to solve in the search for their mother. It was also nice to see real historical figures such as Alan Turing make an appearance.

This was a pretty fast paced read and the short chapters meant this story had flown by before I realized it. The writing and narrative style was easy to follow, though unlike anything of Ruta Sepetys’ I’ve ever read before. I’m not familiar with Steve Sheinkin’s works, so maybe it’s closer to that.

The book occasionally had real life images from that time period, such as wartime posters, newspaper headlines and photographs, which I felt was an excellent touch.

The main reason I stopped reading middle grade novels a long time ago is because the characters tend to annoy me. There are rarely any deep character arcs to be found – understandable for the target age group – but as a result of that, I end up completely skimming over this aspect of the book and focusing on the plot. And with this book, that turned out to be the case – Lizzie was so immature – though I was kind of prepared for it. Outside of that, however, both Jakob and Lizzie were likeable and intelligent characters.

I was completely invested in the plot until the very end of the book, and the resolution to the siblings’ search for their mother was well handled. I did wish however, that the book hadn’t ended where it did and had perhaps included an epilogue set after the war to tie things up properly.

The Bletchley Riddle was an entertaining and thrilling read. I would highly recommend this book for middle grade readers!

Set during the early days of World War II, two siblings with a lifelong love of riddles and puzzles become involved with code-breaking efforts at Bletchley Park. When 14-year-old Lizzie, determined to search for her missing, presumed dead mother, escapes the boat that was supposed to take her to the safety of their overbearing American grandmother in Ohio, older brother Jakob has to collect her and convince her to keep the secret of Bletchley, to mixed success while mysterious messages show up at their door, a government agent suspects their mother of being a German spy, and the code breakers work to solve the Enigma machine. Sepetys and Sheinkin prove a highly successful writing team in this fast-paced, immersive and suspenseful story. Terrific for younger teens and up (including adults).

A fun and funky ride of a book, following two siblings intent on helping England in WWII and also finding their mom, who was last seen in Poland and is presumed dead. Lots of info on Bletchley Park and great characters/relationships.

A fantastic action adventure historical fiction from two of my favorite authors. This is two stories in one. At the family level the main characters are trying to figure out what exactly happened to their mother during the evacuation of Poland. Did she die? Captured? On a larger level this book takes the reader to Bletchley where men and women are working hard to decode messages from the Nazis. Alan Turing is a secondary character! Overall, this shows the reader that the war was not only fought on the battle field, but also through hidden messages and codes. Highly recommend as a purchase to school libraries.

I am a fan of Ruta Sepetys books so was excited when this one came across my email. WWII is one of my favorite genres and this seemed like a perfect book for me. Unfortunately, I could not get into the story despite it being about one of the more interesting aspects of the war efforts. The story follows siblings Lizzi and Jakob as they try to navigate early wartime England and the work at Bletchley Hall. I found Lizzi to be an annoying character which may have been the point as she is only 14 in the story. It is early in the war so she doesn't seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation or the work going on. I didn't even get far enough in the book to learn the answer to the mystery of their mother's disappearance. I may give this a try again as an audiobook and see if it is better that way. I think it will probably be better enjoyed by the YA audience as intended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bletchley Riddle is about two siblings during World War II that have lost their mother. Lizzie is convinced her mother is still alive and will not rest until she finds out what has happened to her. Her older brother, Jacob, is in charge of Lizzie while trying to work on breaking codes sent by the Nazis at Bletchley Park. A mystery set during Britain's invasion of the Nazis is sure to interest historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This middle grade book follows two siblings, Jakob and Lizzie, to the halls of Bletchley park in the middle of WWII. The siblings live riddles and solving problems. When Lizzie sneaks off the cruise liner that is taking her to America, all she knows is the address her brother is at. But when she shows up there and he’s nowhere to be found, she’s in a bit of a pickle. Until he shows up and she discovers he’s holding secrets from her. As Jakob races against the time to crack the Nazi’s enigma codes, Lizzie is bound and determined to crack the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance. Will the two solve their challenges or will they end up at a dead end?

I love Ruta as. Writer and love all of her books. But as I was not the main group this was written for and I thought that this drug in places. I had a hard time finishing it as it was slow and had a hard time pushing through to the end. But I did love reading Jakob’s storyline and learning more about Bletchley Park.