Codebreaker

Gr 8 Up–Mia Hayes’s life has never been boring. As the daughter of a journalist and a renowned history professor, she has traveled the world. Each year, she spends her birthday solving the intricate puzzle games that her father creates, learning all she can about his passion for codes and ciphers. Adventure takes on a whole new meaning, however, when government agents arrive at her home, accusing her father of stealing something and shooting her mother in retaliation. This year, the stakes of Mia’s scavenger hunt are higher than ever, as she seeks to uncover a government plot of deadly proportions. Author team Andy Bennett and Katy Helbacka debut under the Martel pen name with an exciting adventure that is a blend of National Treasure and The Inheritance Games, with a tame teen romance subplot. This uniquely engaging thriller features an interactive format which alerts readers when to pause and attempt to solve the puzzle themselves. The cast of characters is not overtly diverse; racial representation is ambiguous. Possible triggers include gun violence and death.