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THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE Indie-Exclusive Preorder Campaign

Preorder THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE through one of the participating independent bookstores below to receive custom spy pen*!

The Bletchley Riddle book cover and spy pen images
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys, Steve Sheinkin

The Bletchley Riddle

Ruta Sepetys, Steve Sheinkin

A stunning collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, 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 disappearance.

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?

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PRAISE FOR THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE:

 "Break out your Enigma machines! Sepetys and Sheinkin have written a thrilling World War II code-breaking adventure filled with ciphers, secrets, and spies."

—Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

"Brilliant! A seamless collaboration produces a genius tale with incredible historical twists! I loved reading this book."

—Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of The Night War

“I loved every single page of this book. The Bletchley Riddle is exquisite historical storytelling! I only wish I could read it again for the very first time.”

—Jennifer A. Nielsen, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“In The Bletchley Riddle, two of the absolute best writers in kid lit have come together to craft an amazing work of historical fiction. This book has adventure, excitement, humor, heroism, and heart set against a backdrop with the highest stakes imaginable.”

—James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of City Spies

“Such a unique and amazing book! Sheinkin and Sepetys have layered impeccable research into a very readable, engaging story. I'm so happy that we will have this amazing adventure historical available for young readers. They clamor for books like this!"

—Rae Ann Parker, Director of Books for Young Readers, Parnassus Books in Nashville

"A rich, enthralling historical mystery that engages and educates."
Kirkus Reviews

*"An impressive joint effort between Sepetys and Sheinkin . . . With broad appeal to both WWII and mystery enthusiasts, this highly recommended title is a first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens."
School Library Journal,  starred review

*“Swift, snappy, and suspenseful storytelling.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review

*“A master class in suspense...With its expert pacing and characterization and its careful delineation of historical and family stories, this is historical fiction at its best."
The Horn Book, starred review

"With genuine emotion and a richly developed historical setting, this has all the hallmarks of cowriters Sepetys and Sheinkin, so fans of either author will be pleased here."
BCCB

“In a gripping and surprisingly funny World War II historical novel, siblings at a top-secret cryptography center break codes and investigate their mother's purported death in a bombing raid…This middle-grade novel is sure to transcend age ranges and is both mystery and historical fiction, with a healthy dose of adventure and the tiniest hint of young romance.”
Shelf Awareness

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