The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II (Scholastic Focus)

Hitler’s armies are marching through Europe, taking countries one after another. England’s cities are being bombed and her ships are being sunk. Germany has an encryption that keeps England from reading most of the communications they intercept. But they don’t accept that it has to be that way. They set up a secret operation at a country estate, Bletchley Park, and bring together an interesting collection of mathematicians and bright young women, many still in their teens, with some language and clerical skills to work on the problem.

All are required to sign an agreement to keep their work secret forever. The work is daunting, with long hours and tedious tasks, but they are determined, and they make good progress, saving many lives with their good work. It is thought their success may have shortened the war by as much as two years.

Candace Fleming focuses on a handful of these young women looking at where they came from, why they were chosen, and what their daily lives were like at Bletchley Park. Her excellent research shines through on every page, and her writing shows her great storytelling technique. This book will satisfy young readers’ curiosity about this aspect of World War Two.