Cracking the Code

Humans have been keeping secrets for generations and using cryptology to make sure those secrets don't fall into the wrong hands.

From the development of ancient Greek ciphers, to the creation of the Enigma and today's CRISPR technology, codes and codebreakers have changed the course of history. Today cryptology addresses cybersecurity and the ethics of hacking our own genetic code.

Cracking the Code reveals the history of codes, explores why humans keep secrets and introduces us to coding heroes like the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II. Codes have defined human history and will map our digital future. Will you be the next codebreaker to unlock the mysteries behind the codes that shape our world?
Key Selling Points

• This STEAM title explores the past, present and future of cryptology. It explores topics including codes that changed the world, coding machines and cybersecurity and the human genetic code, topics making headlines today.

• Introduces well-known coding heroes such as Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace. It also includes people whose work hasn't been as well recognized, including the Cree and Navajo Code Talkers from World War II and Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Contemporary coders such as teenager Avye Couloute and Bruce Schneier are also discussed.

• The book appeals to the natural curiosity of readers by detailing famous historical codes that remain unsolved today. This element not only adds a layer of mystery but also challenges readers who might be inspired to try solving these codes themselves.

• Includes a number of curriculum connections including coding, computational thinking, computer science, cybersecurity, World War II.

• Rachel Kehoe is the author of The Trailblazing Life of Viola Desmond in the Orca Biography series, which is one of the top 10 titles on the 2023 Ontario Library Association's Best Bets list.
Part of the nonfiction Orca Timeline series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book looks at the past, present and future of codes and codebreaking.
Rachel Kehoe is an avid reader, traveler and photographer who has lived in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong. She has written for Muse, Faces and Science News for Students magazines and has also published non-fiction books on a range of topics including climate change, energy technology, artificial intelligence and mental health awareness. Her book, The Trailblazing Life of Viola Desmond, was listed as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People in 2024. Rachel lives in Burlington, Ontario.

Meegan Lim is an illustrator and arts facilitator striving to nurture community growth and healing through visual arts. She holds a bachelor of design and illustration from OCAD University. Her work primarily focuses on the intersections of food and cultural identity, manifesting through detailed gouache illustrations, digital paintings and risograph zines. Her illustrations have been featured in Chatelaine, Eater, Broken Pencil Magazine and the books What We Talk About When We Talk About Dumplings and What Do We Eat?. Meegan lives in Brampton, Ontario. It's about time! From the past to the present and into the future, the Orca Timeline series explores how big ideas have shaped humanity. Discover what our collective history can tell us about the planet today and tomorrow. Can you keep a secret?