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Birthdays are supposed to be fun days for kids—full of loved ones and presents and plenty of treats. But for the teenager in Codebreaker by Jay Martel, a birthday phone call kicks off a life-or-death race to find answers—and possibly save the country from disaster.
The story finds Mia Hayes wrestling with her grief and anger as she spends her 17th birthday alone. Birthdays were always an adventure for Mia and her parents. But then, three weeks ago, their house came under attack. Her journalist mother was killed, and her college professor father disappeared. Just when things seem to be settling down, Mia gets a message from her father, seemingly kicking off her annual birthday scavenger hunt—only this one isn’t just for fun. As she follows the clues, she’s chased by shadowy government agents who want what her father fought to protect.
While Mia was supposed to spend the evening of her birthday on a first date with lovable hacker Logan, things take a sudden turn when Logan arrives at her house to find her battling armed agents. The two end up on the run, trying to put the pieces together to follow Mia’s dad’s clues while also evading the people who always seem to be right behind them. Mia’s adventure races through Washington, D.C., following the clues that take Mia and Logan from landmarks to museums on their quest for answers. Readers can even learn about codes—and crack them along with the characters—as the story plays out. And with each new clue, Mia learns more about her parents, about what’s going on in her country, and about this group of rogue agents who are stirring up chaos throughout the country.
This fast-paced teen read feels a bit like National Treasure—just without the humor and with more timely drama. Though the story behind Mia’s adventure often feels somewhat indistinct, there’s a definite sense of importance and urgency to the action—and though not all of the surprises are entirely surprising, the clues and codes and constant danger make for an engaging, high-energy adventure.
Though the details of the story may sometimes seem rather hazy, the heavy suspense, the series of codes to be broken, and the likable main character of Codebreaker will grab readers’ attention and keep them racing along with Mia and Logan. It’s an entertaining pick for readers who enjoy action, adventure, and a good challenge.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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