Jean Daigneau - Code Cracking for Kids: Secret Communications Throughout History, with 21 Codes and Ciphers

Copyright 2020 by Jean Daigneau

All rights reserved

Published by Chicago Review Press Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

ISBN 978-1-64160-138-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Daigneau, Jean, 1952author.

Title: Code cracking for kids : secret communications throughout history, with 21 codes and ciphers / Jean Daigneau.

Description: Chicago, Illinois : Chicago Review Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Ages 9 & up | Summary: A hands-on guide to introduce kids to the fascinating world of secret codes and ciphers, CODE CRACKING FOR KIDS explores many aspects of cryptology, including famous people who used and invented codes and ciphers, such as Julius Caesar and Thomas Jefferson; codes used during wars, including the Enigma machine, whose cracking helped the Allies gather critical information on German intelligence in World War II; and work currently being done by the US government, such as in the National Security AgencyProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019023309 | ISBN 9781641601382 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781641601399 (Adobe pdf ) | ISBN 9781641601412 (epub) | ISBN 9781641601405 (Kindle edition)

Subjects: LCSH: CryptographyJuvenile literature. | CiphersJuvenile literature. | SpiesJuvenile literature. | EspionageJuvenile literature. | CryptographersJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC Z103.3 .D35 2019 | DDC 652/.8dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019023309

Cover and interior design: Sarah Olson

Cover images: (front, clockwise from upper left) Babington postscript, courtesy of the National Archives (UK), via Wikimedia Commons; cipher disk, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; Native American code talkers, courtesy of USMC Archives, via Wikimedia Commons; mock-up of a bombe machine at Bletchley Park, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; US Navy signalman sending a semaphore message, courtesy of the US Navy; African American codebreaking unit, courtesy of the National Security Agency; Phaistos Disc, 123rf/asafeliason; (back) German enigma machine, courtesy of the US Central Intelligence Agency

Printed in the United States of America

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To my late husband, Fred Buzz Daigneau, for his never-ending love and support

I wish to extend my sincere thanks to my editor, Jerry Pohlen, for his help and patience getting this book to completion, to former editor Lisa Reardon for her support of the project from its inception, and to Devon Freeny, developmental editor, for his help in pulling all the final details together. A huge thanks also to my agent extraordinaire, Vicki Selvaggio of Storm Literary Agency, for her guidance, support, and complete confidence as we navigate this writing road together. Special thanks to Lisa Amstutz, Mary Kary Carson, and Brandon Marie Miller, whose early encouragement and support helped push me to join them as a For Kids author.

I cant offer enough thanks to Craig Bauer, Associate Professor of Mathematics at York College of Pennsylvania, for his expert guidance and patience in helping me work through technical questions and inconsistencies. He saved me from what surely would have been many mistakes and much embarrassment! My appreciation for his help in making a sometimes technical subject kid friendly cant be expressed enough.

Thanks for the help and support of Rob Simpson, Museum Librarian at the National Cryptologic Museum, and John Brozycki, CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), for their help in answering questions and sharing some of their vast array of knowledge. A special shout-out goes to St. Patrick School (Kent, OH) teachers Jen Wohlwend and Sue OConnor for their help guiding their students through activities included herein and to those studentsFares, Colt, Dylan, Jerzey, Kyle, Dominic, Kristina, Marianne, Aiden, Alivia, Hailey, Jace, Mason, Olivia, Holden, Annaliese, Macey, Sophia, Anthony, Maxwell, Leah, Scarlett, Patrick, Jayden, and Kevin. Their enthusiasm made it such fun for meeven those absent but there in spirit! Thanks to Josette Atkinson, Lois Cavucci, Linda Gurzenski, Debbie Hill, Cindy Idone, and Jean Kreycheyou know why. To dear friends and critique partners Gloria Adams, Joan Arbogast, LeeAnn Blankenship, Charlie Colman, Emily Levin, Judith Leisenring, and Janice Stefkothere isnt enough space here to thank you fully for your love and support on this entire writing journey. Thanks to my familyTracy, Todd, Ty, Aaron, Eli, Christian, Ben, Rebecca, Tessa, June, Nick, Izzy, Simon, Ryan, Emily, and Lindsaywho make every day an adventure in a good way! And endless thanks to my husband, Buzz, who has shared this crazy roller-coaster ride in childrens publishing with unwavering support, encouragement, and love, and who never expressed one minute of doubt that this would happen.