Barone, Rebecca E. F. Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazi’s Secret Code. Non-fiction. H. Holt, 10/2022. 272pp. $19.99. 978-1-250- 81420-3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 6-12.
Spies, codebreakers, and the heroic struggle to defeat the Nazis, animate this well-researched account of the decades-long struggle to break the German Enigma code. There are fascinating details of dozens of individuals who devoted themselves to subverting and 137 decoding German military communication during WW II. Dramatic tales of brave sailors who risked, and lost, their lives retrieving documents from scuttled Nazi ships, the little-known role of Polish cryptographers who were the first to make major breakthroughs, details about Alan Turing and the men and women of Bletchley Park, and the hidden histories of the intelligence officers and traitors working inside France and Germany keep the pages turning and create a deep appreciation for the complexity of the story. The level of detail makes Unbreakable best for those with intrinsic interest in espionage, WWII, or codebreaking. Unfortunately, the cover reads young and may discourage older readers. An excellent epilogue summarizes the impact of breaking Enigma, lets readers know what happened to the Polish, British, French, and Germans central to the story, and points out the central role of ciphers in our current online existence. A substantial bibliography and extensive endnotes confirm Barone’s exemplary research. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy, Retired