Enigma. (Camp X). Eric Walters. Toronto, ON: Puffin/Penguin Canada Books, 2013. 207 pp., trade pbk., $14.00. ISBN 978-0-14-318710-3. Subject Heading: World War, 1939-1945-Secret Service-Juvenile fiction. Grades 5-8 / Ages 10-13. Review by Tanya Boudreau. *** /4

excerpt:

“I guess that’s something.” Not much- but something. I scanned the surface of the ocean, looking for periscopes. But a periscope was small and the ocean was big and the waves were so high you could practically hide a whole ship in the troughs. What chance did I have of seeing anything, and just what would I do if I did spot something?

“I’m feeling a bit better,” the soldier said. “I think I’m going to head back inside.”

“Me too. I guess I’ll try to get some sleep.”

I took one more look out at the ocean and then turned and headed for the hatch. The soldier had opened it up and was holding it for me. It would be good to get inside, and I could even change into some dry clothing.

“Thanks for – ”

There was a loud blast. I spun around and the sky was on fire!

Enigma, the sixth book in Walters’ “Camp X” series, takes place a few months after the fifth book ended. While the members of the Braun family are on their way to meet the Royal family in England, Little Bill has them escorted to a secret location. There is a valuable piece of encoding and decoding machinery in their possession (stolen from a sunken U-boat), and Mrs. Braun has been ordered to study it. While there’s a war brewing all around them (torpedoes going off, boats sinking, buildings being bombed), the family members try to keep themselves and the machine safe because, if the code is cracked, it could save thousands of lives. Once the family is situated at Bletchley Park, the headquarters for encryption operations, the two brothers meet some old and new friends. Jack, 15, and George, 12, learn more spy tricks from ‘magician’ Ray, and from their 14-year-old supervisor, Sally. The brothers also learn to watch for enemy agents. The brothers work more closely with their father in this book; they break into Bletchley together to test the security. When the brothers and princess are kidnapped, they use their new skills and gadgets to get out alive. The family’s hard work contributes to the war effort, and with each assignment, they learn more about the spy business, and unfortunately, war. There is death and bombs and loss of life, but readers will learn about several real heroes from World War II, including a Canadian. Children who have moved on from the Frieda Wishinsky’s “Canadian Flyer Adventures” series may enjoy this series.

Recommended.

Tanya Boudreau is a librarian at the Cold Lake Public Library in Cold Lake, AB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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