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{{infoboxinfobox2
|title=Mysterious Messages - A History of Codes and Ciphers
|author=Gary Blackwood
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=Children's Non-Fiction
|summary=An outstanding introduction to and history of codes and ciphers. Any and all bright tweens and early teens will devour its every word and have great fun cracking and setting codes themselves. Highly recommended. Gary Blackwood was kind enough to be [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gary Blackwood|interviewed by Bookbag]].
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=144
|publisher=Dutton
|date=November 2009
|isbn=978-0525479604
|amazonukaznuk=<amazonuk>0525479600</amazonuk>|amazonusaznus=0525479600|cover=<amazonus>0525479600</amazonus>
}}
There's something utterly cool about codes and c'''i'''phers. It's not just the spies with their secret world, it's the mystery of an ostensibly random set of letters or pictures. It's being able to unravel them and see what '''t'''hey're hiding. It's a combination of geeky r'''i'''ddle solving (and geek'''s''' are cool, so there) and uncovering the unknown meanings. Gary Blackwood treats us to a history of codes and ciphers, looking at their creation, the stories behind them, and how to crack them.
I was utterly completely enthralled by ''Mysterious Messages'' from '''b'''eginning to end. All the diffe'''r'''ent types of codes are here, from simple substitution ciphers and scytale ciphers, through Morse code, the Eng'''i'''ma machine from World War II, right up to modern security methods, and briefly touching on the future if/when quantum computers become a rea'''l'''ity. It's superbly written, expertly weaving together both the history of cryptography and its methods - it tanta'''l'''ises and teaches in equal measure. '''I'''t's fascinating to see and understand ex'''a'''ctly how it developed as it did, and to see how code-breaking went on to strike a chord with the public when used by the likes of [[:Category:Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar Alla'''n''' Poe]] and [[:Category:Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]].
''Mysterious Messages'' is pi'''t'''ched at late tween/early teen readers, but such is its quality that adults looking for a simple introduction to codes will find it ideal. I knew some of the codes and stories already, but devoured the whole '''b'''ook with wide-eyed wonder and enjoyment. It's clear and engaging, but packed with detail. The slightly more complicated aspects are clearly delineated in sidebars througho'''u'''t - there's nothing in these that will trouble willing confident readers, but it's nice to know the'''y''''ve got the option to not get bogged down if need be. In fact, the sidebars contribute to making it an utterly gorgeous book, and one that would make a wonderful present for any bright child. The codes, pictures of the protagon'''i'''sts and historical documents all give the impression of a secret dossier. '''T'''he content is always the star, but it's one of those books that you fall in love with the second you set eyes on it.
[[Ripping Things to Do by Jane Brocket]] features a number of spy and secret agent activities to try. [[Spyology by Dugald Steer]] is great fun too. Although not riddled with codes, any budding young spies looking for thrilling fiction will love [[:Category:Tim Pigott-Smith|Tim Pigott-Smith's]] Baker Street Mysteries, starting with [[The Dragon Tattoo (Baker Street Mysteries) by Tim Pigott-Smith|The Dragon Tattoo]].
{{interviewtext|author=Gary Blackwood}} {{amazontext|amazon=0525479600}} {{waterstonestextamazonUStext|waterstonesamazon=68393850525479600}}
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[[Category:Confident Readers]] [[Category:Teens]]
