Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Please let me introduce you to this masterpiece of historical fiction, The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Septeys and Steve Sheinkin! This is a two perspective book that takes place in Britain during the Second World War (1940). The two main characters are Lizzie and Jakob, two orphaned siblings. Jakob is older and has already moved away from home and works in “Government Communications”, which really means he is a code breaker in Bletchley Park, deciphering messages from the Germans. On the other hand, Lizzie is still living in their old house in London, being taken care of by a Nanny. This all changes though when her Grandma in Ohio sends her butler to come fetch her and bring her to Cleveland, before the war escalates. Though when the butler takes Lizzie back on a ship to America, she escapes and goes to find her brother, who she hasn’t seen in forever. Once she arrives in Bletchley, she discovers the place is shrouded in mystery, and sets out to explore!

Goodreads Summary

This middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death. Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act… Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II-Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother. The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother’s disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

My Thoughts

Wow, I must say, The Bletchley Riddle is an amazing book! I found it really interesting to learn about top secret code breaking in England during the Second World War while also being entertained by Lizzie and Jakob’s shenanigans. Over the course of the story, you can see the two siblings growing together and caring about each other, even though Jakob’s protective nature always remains. While Jakob is working on the enigmas, Lizzie is trying to find their mother, who she believes is still alive even though she was proclaimed dead when the Nazis invaded Poland, where she was at the time. With both of the siblings making breakthroughs in their own right, this book is very fun!

On Amazon, this book is recommended for ages 11+ and I agree with that rating.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**