Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing

by Paul B. Janeczko

Book Overview

"The author's upbeat, positive tone is refreshing and his enthusiasm about his topic is contagious." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

Pssst Do you know the difference between a code and a cipher? Can you tell a St. Cyr slide from a Cardano grille? Did you know that the discovery of a substitution cipher caused Mary Queen of Scots to lose her head? Don't look now, but packed into this practical field guide is everything...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763629723
• ISBN13: 9780763629724
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.0" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Not too old for a 6-year-old

Although this book seems to be recommended for middle schoolers, I bought it for my just-turned 6-year-old son as a birthday gift. We had initially checked it out from our library and he absolutely loved it. Expect to find page upon page of engaging codes and ciphers. Parents are forewarned! Arm yourself with the patience to solve the numerous scribbled codes your kids are going to bring you. Fabulous book. I'm so glad we got our own copy. Another book I'd recommend is Martin Gardner's Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing.

It's No Secret, This Book is Great

Last summer my son decided he wanted to have spy club, so we looked through every book we could searching for information on how to be a spy. This book had the most thorough treatment of codes, ciphers and the like. It had plenty of activities that I felt like I could set up for the kids and that they could work on their own. This summer we bought the book because we want to reference it so much. Even Mom and Dad like this book.

My son loves this book!

My son has carried this book around and travels with it. He loves writing codes and making us decipher them. Excellent book! Codes are described well.

Onderfulay!

Wonderful! I like the way this book tells you (in understandable English) how secret codes were invented and how to write with them. The codes go through commonly heard codes and codes you have probably never heard of and can probably not find. No problems withe the book and the sneaky cover and title make kids like me want to read it!

isthay ookbay asway eatgray

I bought this book for my 11-year-old brother for his birthday. The youngest of five, he's an understandably secretive kid; so I thought he'd enjoy this sneaky book. Of course, I had to read it first, because I'm one of those dastardly people who reads books before giving them to people. It's a great book; it gives a quick overview of the history of cyphers, but keeps it upbeat and snappy. It includes a dozen or more codes to learn and use, and encourages kids to be imaginative and modify them or create their own. A great, hands-on read. It made me wish I was a kid again with lots of time on my hands so I could write secret messages to my friends.