The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin is a middle-grades book about the Bletchley Park code breakers in England in WWII. I've read several books on this fascinating pocket of history, and this book is just perfect for young readers who want to learn history while being entertained. Two teenage siblings are recruited to help crack codes, and the story is told alternately from each of their points of view. One of the mysteries they endeavor to solve is what happened to their mother. I enjoyed watching Lizzie and Jakob solve riddles and navigate complex family dynamics. After all, they may both be on the same side of the war, but they are still brother and sister!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the complimentary Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

This book had so much to it.
Lizzie lost her father young, she's convinced her mother is missing though they've been told she's presumed dead. Her brother has all but disappeared and her grandmother is forcing her to evacuate London to come to Cleveland of all places. Fortunately for her, she's not willing to give up easily. Instead, she takes her life into her own hands and the rest unravels all sorts of mysteries, secrets, and riddles as she tackles all that life throws at her with the help of her brother - who has his own secrets and riddles to keep.
This book was so much fun. I can't wait to share it with my middle grade reader. I loved the appearances and quirks of real people that are familiar and the characteristics of their fictional counterparts hold true to what we know about the real life historical figures. I love the way fiction and non fiction are so seamlessly woven together throughout. This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to share it with my middle reader as well.

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This duo did a fantastic job! I felt like both middle graders and adults can enjoy this book. Lizzie was a frustrating character at first but she brought some spunk into the story. Loved it

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin, Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin for the arc!!

This was a whole barrel full of adventure! An entertaining and informative read for sure!

I know this is categorized as a Middle Grade book … but not gonna lie, I learned a ton of stuff I didn’t know about the Enigma cipher machine used by the Nazi’s in WW2 and the codebreakers who worked day and night to bust through the enemy’s secret messages. I had never heard of Bletchley Park before this book and the part the smarty pants mathematicians played to help end the war! Fascinating stuff that makes my brain spin!

Oh and being a visual girly, I also LOVED the inclusion of some graphics! So cool!

Combine the talents of two of the best young adult writers -- one in historical fiction and one in twentieth-century nonfiction -- and what do you get? The historical mystery my middle school readers will be lining up to check out! Many of them have already read Sepetys' historical novels and many others read Sheinkin's nonfiction accounts, but The Bletchley Riddle will appeal to fans of both authors. Jakob's younger sister, Lizzie, gets herself out of impossible situations time and again with her cunning and sharp mind, but it's all for the sake of finding their mother, Willa, presumed dead when the Nazis invaded Poland. Her skills of deceit find her riding out the early years of WWII at Bletchley Park with her brother instead of shipped off to America to live with her wealthy grandmother, but she thrives in stressful situations. Her desire to always speak in a straightforward manner gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes, only deepening her appeal as a main character. She goes through rough patches in her relationships with her brother and her new friends, but she is true to herself and her cause. All told, Lizzie (and Jakob) will appeal to a wide variety of my students in grades 6 to 8.

If you love escape rooms or the game Codenames, you will love this new must-read Young Adult novel from Ruta Sepetys, this time with co-author Steve Sheinkin! The Bletchley Riddle has everything I could ask for in a World War 2 YA novel. Dual POVs from a brother and sister. Uncovering secrets through codebreaking. Friends who become family. And all surrounding a time and place in real history with real people and really amazing stories!

From the first page, I loved both character voices. Lizzie is basically Enola Holmes but in WW2 England (sometimes she gets a little too smart for her age though lol). Jacob is a clever young man wanting to prove himself. The side characters were great too (even a little young crush), and I loved getting an inside perspective into Bletchley Park!! I've always admired codebreakers and the cleverness that goes into such a crucial part of the war effort (The Codebreakers by Sara Ackerman for adults). But most of all, I loved the real history that went into the story. The authors explain the whom/what/where they were inspired from and a lot of the story comes from real people and real events. I love that fiction teaches us about real life too!

"Some say that explains why Americans are so straightforward, because I'm half American. They say the word 'American' as if it's scandalous."

"Besides, without a dash of ridiculous, a person is usually very boring."

"Patience is a virtue, but unfortunately I have none."

"Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we're born into."

This charming middle grade WWII historical fiction novel that will appeal to readers young and old. I felt that it ended on a bit of an abrupt note, so perhaps there will be another book. Or it may just be open to a fill-in-the-blank ending of your choice. "The Bletchley Riddle" is a must read for those who have Ruta Sepetys on auto buy or just like a good mystery.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Ahhh, this book. For being set in WWII during the Battle of Britain, this is such a fun book. I absolutely adore the sibling dynamics between Jacob and Lizzie. I love the ciphers and riddles throughout the story. I love how Lizzie’s search for her mother ties directly into what Jacob is working on in Bletchley Park with the codebreakers. And I love Colin.

Ruta Sepetys always does a phenomenal job with her books, and this book only proves that she has the skill to do wonders collaborating with another author. I’m not as familiar with Steve’s work, but together, they have crafted a daring story with adventure, an excellent depiction of a brother-sister relationship, interesting puzzles, and a host of memorable side characters.

This book is labeled as middle grade, but readers of all ages will certainly enjoy this historical fiction novel.

What a fun ride!! This was the perfect book for middle grade readers who like history or mystery. Both elements were done well - it was fast paced (with super short chapters that alternate POV) and twisty, but never confusing.

I loved getting to know Jakob and Lizzie and watching them become family again. My favorite part though were all the side characters! Sweet Colin the mechanic, Nigel the kid in the tree, Beryl the code woman, Mr. Tooth the newspaper guy. The authors made Bletchley come alive for me.

This was loads of fun! I have read several novels based on Bletchley, but this was still fresh and educational.

Plot summary: Lizzie and her brother Jakob are living in London at the outbreak of WW2. Their American mother is presumed dead after a diplomatic mission in Poland and their father passed away a long time ago. Jakob gets pulled out of Cambridge to help in the Bletchley effort, and Lizzie is supposed to go to her grandmother in Ohio. But Lizzie is sure her mother is still alive and decides to try to find her. Lots of fun ensues :)

The book is co-written and told from both Lizzie's and Jakob's perspectives. Each has a solid, developed voice. The story is fast-paced and exciting.

Lizzie is 14 and she sounds like her age, something that's hard to get right. She is spectacular! She is not to be messed with, but she is still vulnerable and growing. She finds some friends her age and they form a trio that helps each other out, and each friend plays a strong supporting role. Jakob is trying to keep Lizzie under control while doing his job.

The plot revolves around what happens as Lizzie searches for the real story about what happened to her mother, but it's woven through with the code-breaking going on at Bletchley..

I did find the ending to be anticlimactic, and there's a little too much unnecessary follow up after the resolution. Or maybe I would have liked a stronger follow up? something about it wasn't as much to my liking as the rest of the book.

Overall a great read and highly recommended. I only realized when writing this review that it's meant to be YA! It's great for both adults and younger readers. Some of the explanations of the code-breaking might be a bit advanced for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books, Ruta Sepetys, and Steve Sheinkin for an advanced copy for review.

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers, Ruta Sepetys, and Steve Sheinkin for this ARC.

Ruta Sepetys is an auto-buy author for me. She writes it, I read it. It’s that simple. For “The Bletchley Riddle,” Sepetys combined forces with Steve Sheinkin to shed light on the secret codebreaking efforts of English citizens during WWII.

“The Bletchley Riddle” had everything I wanted from a historical fiction novel: an intriguing subject matter, an intoxicating atmosphere, some drama, and a plot centered on relationships.

I also think having two teenagers as protagonists gives a whole different POV to this era. It is approachable for middle-grade readers, yet I never felt like I was reading an immature plotline. That being said, I did roll my eyes a lot at Lizzie’s hijinks, but I let it slide since she is 14.

The pace was steady throughout the entire novel. I enjoyed the short chapters and alternating POVs which kept the plot moving without feeling rushed.

If you like WWII historical fiction, add “The Bletchley Riddle” to your TBR. The sibling relationship is heartwarming, and the codebreaking is intriguing. Overall, this is an incredible book to get lost in this fall.

Two, very different, orphaned teen siblings are drawn into history's crucible as World War Two accelerates and Britain prepares for invasion. Fourteen-year-old Lizzie is straightforward, fiendishly observant, terrible at secrets, and determined to find her definitely, not-dead mother. Jakob, a diffident, nineteen, avoids his grief and his sister, burying himself in the thrilling war-work of cracking German codes. Told in alternating first person chapters, action and intrigue to keep the pages turning, while loads of historic details, and some period photographs, bring an exceptional chapter of history to life. Lively dialog adds to an admirably quick pace, but an occasional anachronistic phrase, or sentiment, seem not quite true to type. Fans of the authors, of history, cryptography or teen action-adventure will be admirably entertained. A historic note separates fact from fiction and encourages further exploration, though in the ARC no additional sources are included. All characters read as white. Thanks to Viking and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in return for an unbiased review.

I was only able to read 70% of this before it expired, but I’ll buy it for my classroom. It was one that kept my attention and will pair so well with Enigma Girls. I’d love to put it in my Women’s History Month display.

I started reading this one and wasn’t enjoying it too much -Lizzie was really getting on my nerves . But then I switched to audio and I loved the audio and definitely ended up enjoying the story much more


My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

A fan of Ruta’s other books, this one seemed a bit of a one off. 50-100 pages too long and too cheesy repetitive. The good stuff came at the end, and the characters were likeable, but this one was just okay for me.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Age-appropriate introduction for middle grade readers to the codebreaking that so significantly helped the Allies during WWII. A brother and sister end up working in Bletchley Park as they also try to solve the mystery of their mother's disappearance. Great secondary characters as well, including Alan Turing and Ambassador Kennedy.

I have read and adore ALL of Ruta Sepetys’ books, so when I saw she was co writing a book that has been compared to a World War II version of Enola Holmes, I had to get my hands on it. Between the sweet, relatable, adventurous characters and the mysterious and riveting plot, I would definitely recommend this book, which had me guessing until the very end. In my opinion, the best books are ones where you can see yourself in the characters, and that is exactly what happened with the MC, Lizzie. She is a perfect mix between being curious and resourceful.

I really appreciated the sweet sibling relationship between Jacob and Lizzie, as it was written in a way that it was still believable. My favorite character was Collin, the straightforward and lovable guy who matches Lizzie’s energy and personality quite well. Finally, my favorite part was the satisfying ending, which tied up all the loose ends and was not unrealistic or weird.

Going into this book, I had high hopes considering her other books are 5 stars for me, and though it didn’t quite live up to those, I still genuinely enjoyed it. The plot felt a little slow at first, but then speeds up almost too quickly and the flow just didn’t feel quite her normal which could be that it was co written with Sheinkin, whom I haven’t read before. It is still a fun and interesting book that I would recommend to any middle grade readers. Mystery, friendship, codes and more is why I give Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin’s book, The Bletchley Riddle, four stars!

With fabulously engaging characters, witty dialog, and a plot rooted in history and mystery, The Bletchley Riddle is a delight to read. The writing is brilliant and the pacing perfect in this middle-grade page-turner that kids—and grownups—will love. I myself couldn’t put it down!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

World War II is raging across Europe, and Lizzie and Jakob Novis have been left parentless when their mother, Willa, goes missing across the Polish border. Because Willa is presumed dead and their father died when they were young, Lizzie must travel to her American grandmother across the Atlantic. But Lizzie has other plans; after escaping from her steam ship, Lizzie finds her way to her brother in the English countryside, where nothing is as it seems. And as the mystery of Bletchley Park begins to unfold, Lizzie becomes more determined than ever to discover the truth about her mother’s disappearance amidst the intense secrecy of her newfound home.

This book introduces middle grade readers to Bletchley Park and the Enigma machine through the eyes of two young people who represent many of those who were conscripted to work at this secret base during World War II. While readers would benefit from having a foundational understanding of World War II and the Enigma machine before reading this book, the narrative is nonetheless engaging and easy to follow. Told in the first person from the alternating perspectives of Jakob and Lizzie, the plot unfolds from two different directions, which gives readers insight into each character’s behaviors and motivations.

Middle grade readers with an interest in World War II history will appreciate the fact that young people are the focal point of this very pivotal environment during World War II. Though fictionalized, the novel incorporates characters who were real, which lends some veracity to the narrative and makes it feel more plausible for the reader. Short chapters and a straightforward design give the book a highly accessible quality, and while American-born readers may not understand all the idioms used within the dialogue, there is enough context to assist with comprehension. Fast-paced, intriguing, and entertaining, this is a fun addition to historical fiction collections for middle grade readers.

An enjoyable MG historical novel set at Bletchley Park at the start of WWII, told in alternating viewpoints of two siblings, Lizzie and Jakob. Jakob is working at Bletchley Park after the death of his mother, Willa. Meanwhile, Lizzie is convinced that their mother is still alive, and makes her way to Bletchley Park to join Jakob and look into their mother's disappearance rather than be shipped off to America to stay with her grandmother. I love love loved the character of Lizzie and her friends, and I wanted to live in her viewpoint for the entire book. I had more trouble connecting with Jakob's chapters, and if I had to guess, I would assume that the two authors split up the characters and I just didn't enjoy the style of Jakob's author as much. Don't get me wrong, he was well written, but more inscrutable. It felt like the difference between biography and memoir, if that makes any sense. At any rate, I wouldn't hesitate to put this in any tween or teen's hands who enjoys historical fiction, as an adult I still really liked it. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for a digital review copy.