Code Breaker, Spy Hunter

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars
Written by Laurie Wallmark & Illustrated by Brooke Smart
Age Level: 6-8 Years
Published March 2, 2021

Coolest. Job. Ever.

The work of cryptographer Elizebeth Friedman was so critically important that the US government classified her files as Top Secret Ultra, placed them under lock and key in the National Archives, and threatened jail time if she ever spoke of her accomplishments. Only in 2015, thirty-five years after her death, were the documents declassified, revealing the enormous impact Elizebeth’s work had on the field of cryptanalysis and national security.

Young readers will be fascinated by Friedman’s many feats, which include catching rumrunners during Prohibition, founding the cryptography department of the CIA, and cracking Germany’s famous Enigma codes to help win World War II.

“So little was known in this country of codes and ciphers when the United States entered World War I, that we ourselves had to be the learners, the workers, and the teachers all at the same time.”

After you’ve enjoyed this fabulous biography of a female trailblazer, you’ll have the chance to decipher a code! A brief explanation of codes and ciphers explains the rules, then all you need is a pencil, paper, and some focus.