Can You Crack the Code? by Ella Schwartz

Can You Crack the Code? by Ella Schwartz ISBN-13: 9781681195148 Hardcover: 128 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books Released: March 26, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Codes can carry big secrets! Throughout history, lots of good guys and lots of bad guys have used codes to keep their messages under wraps. This fun and flippable nonfiction features stories of hidden treasures, war-time maneuverings, and contemporary hacking as well as explaining the mechanics behind the codes in accessible and kid friendly forms. Sidebars call out activities that invite the reader to try their own hand at cracking and crafting their own secret messages. This is the launch of an exciting new series that invites readers into a STEM topic through compelling historical anecdotes, scientific backup, and DIY projects.


My Review:
Can You Crack the Code? is a children's nonfiction book about how codes have been created and cracked throughout history. The author talked about early ways people used to keep a message hidden and then delved into codes. She talked about ciphers, encryption, and decryption at a level that was easy to understand. She talked about the development of different encryption strategies intended to make it more difficult to break ciphers. There was also trivia about specific ciphers used in the past, especially unsolved cipher messages. She explained older, simpler methods (which the reader can use to create their own coded messages or to decode the messages she puts in the book) as well as modern, complex methods used in cybersecurity. This book is interesting enough for an adult to enjoy while simple enough that child can understand. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.