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    Can You Crack the Code?, by Ella Schwartz | Book Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Brain Twisters Interactive Science
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    The Children’s Book Review | April 29, 2019

    Can You Crack the CodeCan You Crack the Code?: A Fascinating History of Ciphers and Cryptography

    Written by Ella Schwartz

    Illustrated by Lily Williams

    Age Range: 7-10

    Publisher: Bloomsbury (2019)

    ISBN: 978-1-68119-514-8

    What to Expect: History, STEM, Interactive

    Did you know that Elgar, the composer of “Pomp and Circumstance”, also penned a cryptic cypher that has yet to be decoded? Or that recruiters searching for female cryptographers before the attack on Pearl Harbor advertised in female colleges, asking for women who liked crossword puzzles and were not engaged to be married? These fascinating facts and many like them are explored in Can You Crack the Code?, a new volume on the history and science of cryptography published by Bloomsbury and written by a professional government cryptographer.

    Secret codes and private languages are irresistibly tempting for most kids, but they have also been an important tool for governments, organizations, and other communities throughout history and in an age when information equals power, the ability to code and decode data remains an important and valuable skill. Can You Crack the Code? not only provides fascinating insight into the myriad ways that codes have been used and abused throughout history, but also provides a wealth of in-depth detail on how codes work, how they are cracked, and how they are used in the modern world. The volume is filled with activities which encourage readers to practice making and breaking their own codes, and ends with the revelation that the volume itself contains a code – and a challenge to the reader to crack it. Filled with fun as well as STEM-building interactivity, this book is sure to keep readers fascinated and stimulated.

    Available Here: 

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    About the Author

    Ella writes fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. She is always asking questions and trying to learn new things. The books she writes are for kids who are just as curious as she is.

    In addition to writing books, Ella is a cybersecurity warrior interfacing with the U.S. federal government on strategic technology initiatives. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering from Columbia University.

    When she’s not working, writing, or training to run a marathon, she volunteers on outreach initiatives to promote women in science and improve science literacy.

    Ella lives on Long Island, New York with her husband and three sons. Her favorite color is pink, but there is rarely anything pink in her house.

    Visit Ella on her website, ellasbooks.com. Follow her on Twitter @ellaschwartz and Facebook facebook.com/EllaSchwartzAuthor/

    About the Illustrator

    Lily Williams grew up in Northern California, where she graduated with high distinction from California College of the Arts with a BFA in animation. Her books for children include If Sharks Disappeared and If Polar Bears Disappeared.

    Williams seeks to inspire change in the world, engage audiences, and educate all ages in her practice of visual development, illustration, and animation. Her work can be seen in film, print, and classrooms around the world, and has been used to get legislation passed in the United States Senate.

    Can You Crack the Code?, written by Ella Schwartz and illustrated by Lily Williams, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Can You Crack the Code? by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Code, History, Non-Fiction, and STEM.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Ocean: A Visual Miscellany, by Ricardo Henriques | Book Review
    2. Robotpedia, by Brenna Maloney | Book Review
    3. Bridges!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids, by Jennifer Swanson | Book Review
    4. The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Biology for Kids | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Bloomsbury Code Cryptography Ella Schwartz History Lily Williams Non-Fiction STEM
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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