Can You Crack the Code?

A Fascinating History of Ciphers and Cryptography

By: Ella Schwartz, Lily Williams (Illustrator)

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Hardcover | 2 June 2026

At a Glance

Hardcover
128 Pages

Age
8 - 12

Grade
P - 2

Dimensions(cm)
21.3 x 26.2 x 2.0

Hardcover

$40.75

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2020 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books: winner in the category of Hands-On Science Book
2021 NCTE Mathical Book Prize Honor Book for Grades 6-8

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.

Industry Reviews

Hands-on history for budding spies, hackers, or anyone with a secret message to send . . . Offer[s] a broad and lucid survey of cryptographic strategies. * Kirkus Reviews *
This perennially popular topic leads kids into tales of war and espionage, and to better ways of passing messages in class... Cartoon illustrations keep things cheery, as does Schwartz's overall optimism concerning cybersecurity and the white hat hacking. For middle-graders interested in the interplay of encryption and their personal security. * BCCB *

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