Publishers Weekly
★ 03/25/2024
In this WWII narrative that ranges from 1939 to 1945, Fleming (Crash from Outer Space) chronicles the experiences of 10 young women who, with “record players and teddy bears in tow,” took up top secret work at Bletchley Park. Urgent prose sets the scene, detailing a period of barrage balloons, blackouts, and ration cards as government agencies—such as the “hush-hush” Government Code and Cipher School that inhabited Bletchley Park—move to countryside haunts in hopes of wartime safety. Quick-paced, thoroughly researched chapters subsequently intersperse a survey of WWII movements with specifics about Bletchley Park’s operations and individuals’ assigned tasks, including listening for encrypted Morse code messages, breaking ciphers, translating and indexing information, and working revolutionary machines such as the Bombes and the Colossus. In following the 10 teens’ often painstaking experiences, Fleming delivers a fascinating and cohesive overview of Bletchley Park’s necessarily siloed, collaborative inner workings that reveals how the figures’ ardent efforts affected the outcome of WWII. Engaging interstitials tackle the nuts and bolts of ciphers, clues, codes, and cribs, and b&w photograph reproductions help anchor era-specific information. An author’s note, extensive bibliography, and source notes conclude. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell:
* "An exhilarating read, a useful classroom resource, and ultimately an illuminating look at human nature and the modern fascination with UFOs." — Booklist, starred review
“…perfect for young readers who want the “who-what-when-where-why” of America’s most notorious purported alien sightings....As Fleming details some infamous reports of U.F.O.s and U.A.P.s (unidentified aerial phenomena), she appeals to young readers to think critically and apply the Sagan Standard: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” This, to my mind, makes her book particularly worthwhile, a much-needed counter to the tangled history of fraudulent sightings.” — The New York Times
Praise for The Curse of the Mummy:
* "In Fleming's capable hands, the story of the boy king and Howard Carter's discovery of his tomb brims with enthusiasm, wonder, and mystique." — Booklist, starred review
"The Curse of the Mummy...will draw children's interest with a sense of lurid promise and keep them reading..." — Wall Street Journal
Praise for The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia:
Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature
Winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist
Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction
* "A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history and a great read for those already familiar with it." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "For readers who regard history as dull, Fleming's extraordinary book is proof positive that, on the contrary, it is endlessly fascinating, absorbing as any novel, and the stuff of an altogether memorable reading experience." — Booklist, starred review
* "Fleming has outdone herself with this riveting work of narrative nonfiction that appeals to the imagination as much as the intellect." — The Horn Book, starred review
* "This is both a sobering work, and the account of the discovery of their bones and the aftermath is at once fascinating and distressing. A solid resource and good recreational reading for high school students." — School Library Journal, starred review
* "With comprehensive source notes and bibliographies of print and online materials, this will be a boon to student researchers, but it's also a heartbreaking page-turner for YAs who prefer their nonfiction to read like a novel." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
Praise for Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart:
* "Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars (What did Earhart eat during flight? Tomato juice and chocolate) complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "The book's structure and scope, along with the story's inherent drama, provide a taut, cinematic backdrop for the history of Earhart's doomed flight." — The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
* "Ho-hum history? Not in Fleming's apt hands. What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller... This book is splendid. Hand it to everyone." — School Library Journal, starred review
* "Fleming cleverly structures this biography to give the tale of tragedy a fresh and dreadful impact... As a result, this offers not only a provocative introduction to Earhart but also compelling glimpse of what it was like to watch her disappear from the world." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
School Library Journal
★ 01/01/2024
Gr 8 Up—A thrilling account of how teen girls helped break Nazi code intercepted during World War II. Through impeccable research and magnetic writing, Fleming uncovers the lives of young women who were recruited to live and work at Bletchley Park in the UK countryside, often leaving their homes for the first time, without knowledge as to how they would be aiding the war effort. From all walks of life and with different skills to commend them, the Wrens, part of the female branch of the UK's Royal Navy, were sworn to secrecy and threatened with treason charges and death if their mission was ever revealed to their families. Readers are given a mix of personal stories set against the backdrop of major World War II events, such as the London Blitz, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day. The teens' efforts influenced these monumental milestones, and the gravity of their work was not lost on them. Still, they were young women who played pranks on one another, liked to dress up for local dances, and got homesick. Intermingled throughout are "Top Secret" chapters that feature in-depth explanations of the type of work the Enigma girls (named after the Enigma machine they used to break Nazi code) did, such as illustrating the difference between codes and ciphers and how to decipher coded messages. Fleming captures the emotional and psychological burdens that these teenagers carried and balances it with detailed descriptions of the technology used to carry out their lifesaving tasks. The narrative is broken up by copious black-and-white photographs of the rooms the Wrens worked in; important figures of the time, such as Winston Churchill; the machines they worked on; and other wartime events. The work features a bibliography, source notes, index, and more. VERDICT Fleming does it again! Purchase this compelling blend of WWII, cryptography, and women's history that will mesmerize middle schoolers and inspire them to make an indelible impact on history, too.—Shelley M. Diaz
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-12-16
The latest from acclaimed nonfiction author Fleming is a detailed, well-researched account highlighting a lesser-known wartime chapter.
This chronological survey of cipher-breaking efforts at Bletchley Park during World War II centers on the now-legendary struggle to crack the Axis powers’ messages, including those sent using Enigma machines. This top-secret work was first revealed in the 1970s; Fleming’s book adds depth to readers’ understanding by sharing the stories of 10 young women in the context of changing societal gender roles. Bletchley’s workforce grew to around 7,000 by 1944, with women ultimately outnumbering men. Among the women employees were Patricia Owtram, Jane Hughes, Mavis Batey, Sarah Norton, Diana Payne, Gwen Watkins, Ann Williams, Joanna Chorley, Charlotte Webb, and Marion Graham—all of whom publicly shared their stories decades later. They worked in secret, supporting many aspects of operations: listening for encoded communications; decoding, translating, indexing, and paraphrasing messages; and doing round-the-clock shift work to keep early computers such as the Bombes and Colossus running. Their work helped the Allies defeat the Italian navy in 1941, launch the D-Day invasion of 1944, and bring the Pacific front to a close in 1945. This compulsively readable, compellingly written book will appeal to a broad audience, from readers already interested in World War II to those who are new to the subject. The fascinating photos and diagrams invite browsing.
A gripping narrative celebrating teen girls’ underrecognized contributions to Allied war efforts. (note about photographs, author’s note, bibliography, source notes, photo and illustration credits, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)
