   | Spying on spies : how Elizebeth Smith Friedman broke the Nazis' secret codes Author: Moss, Marissa | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
One of the founders of U.S. cryptology who would eventually become one of the world's greatest code breakers, Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892-1980) was a brilliant mind behind many important battles throughout the 20th century, saving many lives through her intelligence and heroism. The gripping story of America's first female cryptanalyst who busted Nazi spy rings.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 7.20 Points: 5.0 Quiz: 554034 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (02/01/24)
School Library Journal (10/11/24)
Booklist (02/01/24)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A) (00/03/24)
The Hornbook (00/07/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/11/2024 Gr 5 Up—British codebreaker Alan Turing has deservedly received much posthumous praise for his groundbreaking work during World War II; this book focuses on all-but-forgotten history-maker Elizebeth Smith Friedman, his female, American counterpart doing the same work, yet without the technology and a fraction of the staff. Moss introduces readers to Friedman, who, armed with an exceedingly clever mind and a strong sense of justice, helped bust alcohol and arms-selling rings during Prohibition by deciphering their secret messages. With the United States embroiled in WWII, Friedman's skills were called upon again to decipher messages sent by the Axis powers and those sympathetic to their cause. Her story is told through text and short, paneled illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Although the mix of formats is clever, the illustrated segments rarely add to the visual appeal or the storytelling. Photographs of Friedman and other important players in her story, woefully saved for the back matter, provide a richer view into her life. The remainder of the back matter contains useful supplemental material, including a time line, glossary, and an author's note on types of codes and ciphers. VERDICT For all collections, this is a worthwhile biography about a WWII hero for history buffs and puzzle masters alike.—Alexandra Quay - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/01/2024 Elizebeth Friedman was successful at breaking some of the most complicated codes used by enemy powers during both world wars. She's practically unknown today, due to a combination of misogyny and the top-secret nature of her work. When contemporary media outlets released dismissive articles about the little lady tackling such important jobs, they put Friedmanin actual danger. Friedman (she was the youngest of 10, and her mother purposely misspelled her name) was raised to be a dutiful wife and mother, but she always wanted to be intellectually challenged. She overcame numerous obstacles and rose to the top of her profession, married another cryptologist, and had a family, all while posing as a typical stay-at-home mom. This unique biography fills in ample background information to underline the crucial importance and daunting time constraints of her work, while also explaining how codes and ciphers work. Graphic-novel inserts introduce every chapter, and the generous back matter includes famous historical codes and their keys along with challenging puzzles. This intriguing offering covers fresh information and spans curricular areas. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
