Newbery Buzz #4: The Bletchley Riddle

Betsy and Hayley discuss The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. (See our starred review, HERE.)

Hayley: Betsy, I know you and I LOVED this book! Something I really appreciated was the brother-sibling relationship between Jakob and Lizzie. I think the authors nailed the awkward, “we used to be friends but now you’re all grown up,” accentuating that with all the secrecy at Bletchley Park. What did you think of the sibling relationships?

Betsy: YES! The sibling relationship is just so well executed. The chapters alternate perspectives between Jakob and Lizzie; I don’t know if Sepetys wrote one and Sheinkin the other, but the effect is flawless. We learn about the each character both from a self-referenced perspective as well as from the sibling perspective. It adds such nuance to their characters and their relationship.

Hayley: Self-admittedly precocious, I found Lizzie to be such a fun protagonist, spunky and brave but also quite human. What did you think of her?

Betsy: Agreed. Lizzie is adorable. She could be taken as your typical young, plucky heroine, but I think she rises above that trope, don’t you? She IS plucky, but she is also insightful and has some quirks all her own. She also has to reckon with how her actions affect those closest to her. I love how the authors show Lizzie making amends and also just recognizing that she NEEDS to make amends. She grows up a lot and matures through this book.

Hayley: One reason I loved the book was the conceit of a code-breaking mystery set within the broader secrecy of the code-breaking of Bletchley. I thought the authors pulled it off quite well! Did you think so, or did any of it feel contrived?

Betsy: I think they do. You and I have both seen The Imitation Game (directed by Morten Tyldum, 2014), and this book felt very much in keeping with that movie. It’s lighter, and the characters in the book are obviously younger, but I could imagine this book as a subplot to that movie. I did feel like the coded messages Jakob and Lizzie are solving were a touch contrived at times, but I guess I could say I willingly suspended disbelief given the construct of the novels setting. 

Hayley: I love the note in the acknowledgements, talking about the author’s panel in 2019 when Ruta was asked,

 if there was an author she’d like to collaborate with one day. We looked at each other. And as soon as the panel ended, we began batting around specific ideas.  

Betsy, I believe you’ve read each author individually. I have to admit I haven’t, but now I want to! How does this compare? If readers like this, what should they read next?

Betsy: What?! Hayley, you should stop right now and go read both of them!! My favorites of Sheinkin’s books are Fallout and Bomb. Both are riveting stories, and I also learned so much. Sheinkin usually writes narrative nonfiction, and I actually used Bomb as one of homeschool texts a few years ago. Sepetys is such a lovely writer, and she usually writes historical fiction. I really enjoyed I Must Betray You which is probably closest to The Bletchley Riddle’s target audience (her other titles are for older teens). 

Hayley: Something I kept thinking about, as I read Bletchley Riddle, is how pitch-perfect a book this was for teens. Without giving anything away, there’s a hint of romance. But it’s not a YA book. And neither is it a book for middle-grade readers with a 12 year-old protagonist. It’s the kind of book I would have LOVED as a 12 year-old because the characters are almost grown-up. 

How would you categorize The Bletchley Riddle, Betsy? Do you think it will appeal to more or less readers? I know it’s in the children’s section at my library. The cover is interesting but simple -I think it sums up the book rather well, actually. What do you think?

Betsy: I think children’s is probably the best fit (the library will call it “juvenile fiction”). It’s not really a true young adult book, and there’s nothing in the book that will be too mature for younger readers. I think the kids who have one foot in the juvenile section and one foot in the teen section of the library will enjoy this most. I can see it being a very fun classroom read. There’s enough action and  mystery to hook more reluctant readers but enough thoughtfulness and relationship delicacy that more contemplative readers will enjoy it, too.

Hayley: Now, the golden ticket question: can it win? Does it have a chance? It is such an interesting, unique book. I think the uniqueness will make it stand out. But will that bring some recognition? I truly hope so, and I’d love to see Sepetys and Sheinkin collaborate again!

Betsy: I do hope it gets some award attention! I think it could. Sheinkin has earned an honor before (for Bomb); Sepetys’s books are usually above the target age of the Newbery, so this might be her first real contender. I don’t know that it will get the gold; it doesn’t feel angsty enough. But I certainly think it’s a worthwhile contender.

Curious what other titles we’re discussing? Check out our 2025 Newbery Buzz.