   | 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.
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.
