The Bletchley Riddle
For those interested in purchasing a copy of the text, linked here is my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4aKmkH0
The Bletchley Riddle is a historical fiction middle grade novel with a wonderful co-authorship between two great middle grade and young adult authors Sepetys and Sheinkin. I have really enjoyed other books by these authors and when I came across this new novel, I just had to read it.
The story is set in World War II, primarily at Bletchley Park, and narrated in first person with two main characters - Jakob and Lizzie - siblings whose mother has been missing since August 1939. The chapters primarily alternate between Jakob and Lizzie, but there are times where back to back chapters have the same narrator. The premise of the story is that their mother is missing, Jakob has come to the conclusion that she has died, but Lizzie is insistent that she is alive and is determined to find the clues to her whereabouts. London is on the edge of war as Germany gets closer, breaking codes to save lives is imperative, but Gran from Cleveland, Ohio is trying her best to get Lizzie, Elizabeth, safe in America.
The story opens with Lizzie escaping Mr. Fleetwood and making her way to her brother to find out what really is going on and where he is. With little option, Jakob takes Lizzie with him to Bletchley Park where she is made to sign the Secrets Act, but that is not going to stop her from sleuthing. Jakob’s work requires him to work at night trying to break through on Germany's Enigma Machine. Fortunately, Lizzie has made friends - Colin and Marion. Colin is the son of the owner of the tavern in which she and Jakob are staying. Marion is a friend she makes from inside Bletchley Park where she is a messenger.
There is too much in the novel to discuss in detail, but one of the best aspects of his novel is the characters - historical and fictional, as well as the dynamic between the brother and sister relationship within the story. Readers will find these characters engaging and out right fun. Lizzie is precocious and often doesn’t know when to stop when her straightforward talking leads to trouble. Jakob and Lizzie are both hiding secrets, things they know about their mom, and must learn to work together to solve the mystery of her disappearance. There are lots of riddles and twists along the way for readers to figure out along with the characters.
A few noteworthy quotes and elements:
Aspects that might concern some parents depending on the age of your reader:
The story opens with how a spy hid a message in a silver bullet they had swallowed that came out the other end (1).
Jakob and Lizzie are partly Jewish. Their mother is American and their father, deceased, was Jewish. There are a few mentions of hate towards Jews within the novel (17).
“Willa is the only parent Jakob and I have left. I made a pledge to uncover the truth of her disappearance” (5).
“Well, she’s the only gran I’ve got. Besides, without a dash of ridiculous, a person is usually very boring” (66).
There is a budding crush between Lizzie and Colin throughout the novel. There are mentions on page 101 of him being attractive. When Lizzie is speaking to Colin’s parents after she has evaded another trip to Cleveland she says, “I assure you both that there was nothing untoward. I take full responsibility for any tarnish to your son’s purity” (271). Lizzie also mentions having odd feelings after hiding in London with him (304). Colin admits he is liking Lizzie on page 325. She doesn’t respond right away and struggles a bit with the thoughts about him and his words on page 330-331. She reciprocates her feelings at the end of the novel (382-383).
There are also mentions of Beryl liking Jakob - found on page 233,
Readers will find mentions of “couples kissing behind trees” (236), as well as snogging (kissing) in the ladies’ loo (279).
The saying “all hell broke loose” is used twice within in the novel on page 141 and 241
Jakob shares his struggle with his fathers death on page 169 which opens up his character more. “He died later that summer. Heart attack, very sudden, I couldn’t talk for a week. [...] I didn’t realize it at the time, but I can see it now: I made up my mind never to be that shocked by anything ever again. And I mean to keep that promise” (169).
“I know you’re angry, Lizzie, but I do wish you’d mend fences with your brother.”
“I’m sorry, Marion. Some fences are simply beyond mending” (174).
“What sort of brother am I? What sort of brother do I want to be” (183).
“Put yourself in a position to make your own decisions, Lizzie.” At the time, her advice seemed silly, as I couldn’t imagine anything that might keep me from acting on my own discretion. But the past months have shown that circumstance can be the thief of choice (287).
“And what does this feel like for the older men who experienced the first war, followed by the Depression? Is there no reprieve? The magnitude of it presses in on me, overwhelming. I’m so grateful to be with my brother” (360).
“Friends are like family. And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we’re born into” (376).
I really enjoyed this novel and could not wait to finish it. The characters and the intrigue compels the reader to keep reading to uncover what will happen next. If you have readers who like WWII stories, historical fiction, and/or riddles and mysteries to uncover, then I would add this to the “to-read” pile. While this story is clean without anything unsavory, readers may want to wait until an older age, 13+, for the romantic elements and crushes - if that is a concern.
