The Adventures of Blue Avenger. This time our hero is on the hunt for the true author of Shakespeare's plays--was it really William Shakespeare? Or could it have been the obscure 17th Earl of Oxford, Edward De Vere? While he searches for clues to the history mystery, Blue also manages to score a trip to Venice, foil the foul dog-napping of his grammy's beloved Shih Tzu, and discover a sure-fire way of securing the copyright of his friend Louie's stolen video game idea. But even as he saves the world bit by bit, Blue can't help but wonder what it will take to finally win the trust and love of his friend and crush, the fair Omaha Nebraska Brown. Cracking the code of her heart may end up becoming Blue's biggest challenge. Like its predecessor, Blue Avenger Cracks the Code is full of engaging, interlocking plot lines that Howe juggles nimbly and matches up neatly by book's end. Has learning through fiction ever been so fun? Full of facts and factoids, Code will have teens running out to research the 17th Earl of Oxford and trying their hands at Francis Bacon's Bi-Lateral Cipher. As always, the Avenger's adventures are true Blue, and very cool. Stay tuned for the next installment! (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
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