Codebreaker Charlotte - by Cedar Wang (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Charlotte likes cracking codes together with her great-grandmother. On her ninth birthday, she has to solve a few puzzles to find Nana's gift. Charlotte goes on a fun quest--and learns about her grandma's interesting past along the way."--Inside front jacket flap.

Book Synopsis

2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner 2025 Best STEM Book Winner

"Kids who are enthusiastic about codes may want to try decoding the messages that are referred to in the text and can be found (along with worksheets) within the distinctive illustrations. While Nana's work at Bletchley may not be meaningful to children too young to understand the context, codes and secret messages have an enduring appeal for many children." --Booklist

Charlotte loves puzzles. On her ninth birthday, she receives a card from her great-grandmother, on which she finds a difficult code. Soon she embarks on a quest full of codes and riddles. While she tries to solve them, Charlotte discovers important details about the role her great-grandmother played in the Second World War. She also learns about three historical sites in England: Parker's Piece, the River Cam, and Blechley Park. You'll learn about these places, too!

A surprising picture book about history and code language. For codebreakers ages 6 years and up.

Review Quotes

On Charlotte's ninth birthday, she hopes for a special present from Nana, her "sweet greatgrandmother," who shares her love of puzzle solving. In the kitchen, she finds clues that lead her to a park in Cambridge, England, where she lives. Under a bench, Charlotte finds a package and, inside, a beautiful wooden music box and an old photo of a sweet-looking girl. Noticing the Morse code clues drawn in the nearby dirt, she follows them and finds Nana, who tells Charlotte an amazing story: she was a code breaker at Bletchley Park during WWII and worked on a project, led by Alan Turing, to break codes that the German military created using their complex Enigma machine. Kids who are enthusiastic about codes may want to try decoding the messages that are referred to in the text and can be found (along with worksheets) within the distinctive illustrations. While Nana's work at Bletchley may not be meaningful to children too young to understand the context, codes and secret messages have an enduring appeal for many children.--Carolyn Phelan "Booklist"

About the Author

Cedar Wang is a Chinese children's book author and illustrator. She obtained an MPhil in Critical Approaches to Children's Literature from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Her passion for both art and literature inspires her work. Her unique stories and heartwarming illustrations often engage the soul.