Alvin's Secret Code

Alvin Fernald #2

by Clifford B. Hicks

Alvin Fernald and his friend Shoie discover what looks like a message in a spy's secret code. They go off on a tear, trying to learn all they can about spies and encoding secret messages. They make friends with Mr. Link, a disabled veteran who explains the history of codes and how they are used not just by the military, but in everyday life, especially in the business world. They end up solving a hundred-year-old mystery and saving a bankrupt orphanage. Along the way, they find out you can't judge by appearance; the "loner who keeps to himself" may just be a shy man. There's a long appendix of Alvin's own notes on codes and ciphers, how and when to use them.This is one of the best books in the Alvin series.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Mystery, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Contemporary

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Hicks was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1920. He graduated cum laude from Northwestern University, then served as a U.S. Marine during World War II, earning the Silver Star. In 1945, he joined the staff of Popular Mechanics magazine, and became a special projects editor in 1963. He wrote the magazine's Do-It-Yourself Materials Guide and edited the Do-It-Yourself Encyclopedia.

In 1959, Hicks penned his first children's book, First Boy on the Moon, which was dubbed Best Juvenile Book of the Year by the Friends of American Writers. The next year, he wrote The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald, the first of a series of books about a boy who relies on his "Magnificent Brain" to solve problems. The books inspired a pair of two-part Disney television movies: The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton (1974), and The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper (1976).

Hicks wrote one non-fiction children's book, The World Above (1965), which discusses the Earth's atmosphere and the universe beyond. In 1971, he began the Peter Potts series, which follows the misadventures of a small town boy who often gets into trouble "by accident". Hicks also wrote a two-act play, Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day (1992), which was based on one of his Alvin Fernald books.

On September 29, 2010, Hicks died at his home in Brevard, North Carolina at the age of 90.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffor...

Reviews

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 3 out of 5]

National Treasure Lite. A slow start with a lot of exposition and a definite 50s/60s vibe, but also points up for diversity and a fun adventure. Alvin, Shoie and The Pest break a code, dodge a villain and search for a buried Civil War treasure.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Alvin Fernald adventure evar. Alvin uses his code-breaking techniques to solve a mystery from his home town's murky past. Along the way he gets lots of code and cipher breaking tips from various sources, which will be of great interest if you are a teenage kid intensely interested in codes and ciphers (and know the difference between the two). Along with The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald, this story occasionally gets reprinted. If you ever see it available, pick it up and you won't be disappointed.

[David Grabitske · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, this was my favorite book as a youth. I read this about 1977 or 1978. Dad, who worked at NSA at the time, then had me read The Codebreakers by David Kahn. Forever hooked on cryptic communications.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the books from my childhood that created a strong enough impression on me that I still remember it to this day. Codes and ciphers always had an aura of mystique about them--spies used them, and spies were cool, so when we used them, we were cool too! This book provided the foundation for a lot of the knowledge of (basic) cryptography I have now, and encouraged me as a homeschooler to delve deeper into the subject. Though the writing is not that of Koontz, King, Bradbury (or Shakespeare for that matter), the story is enjoyable and even entertaining. I would suggest this book as something for grade schoolers to read if they are interested in the subject matter.

[Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened up the world to me. I checked it out repeatedly from my elementary school library in the 1960s, having also enjoyed "The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald." This book, with its detailed and delightful lessons on making - and breaking! - codes and ciphers was to influence my life later on, as I was interested in both language and mathematics: disciplines that intersect in the fascinating field of cryptanalysis. I used that knowledge in my career, and was extremely blessed with the opportunity to do so - and with this wonderful story that gave me, back in my childhood, a little edge and impetus.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a kid. I liked the whole Alvin series but this was my favorite. Great introduction to codes and ciphers wrapped up in an entertaining story. As I recall, it had an appendix with more information about codes and stuff. Great fun.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in 5th grade, 1973-74, and I absolutely loved it. Being the highly imaginative kid that I was, I started my own secret code club (I was usually the only one in it, but that didn't matter to me). This was quite the trip down memory lane.

[JACOBO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is your book fiction or non-fiction? fiction
What is the book about? the book is about a boy named alvin and his friend shoie, they’re both ‘’secret agents’’ alvin is secret agent k-21½ and shoie is secret agent Q-3. they found a secret message and tried to decode it, they founded out that probably mr. pinkey was a spy so they tried talking with mr. link he was a spy in world war 2.

they told him and he told them that mr. Pinkey wasn’t a spy he just used business codes to maintain some secrets about his business then mr. link told them other types of codes when they returned home alvin’s dad told alvin to find a hi-fi radio set for his wedding anniversary then they met a woman that has an orphanage. The woman told Alvin's dad that someone had mailed something to her and that his name was j. a. smith. She then told the story about how she found the note.

when she finished alvin and his friend went to the radio store to buy the hi-fi radio set in the poster it said brand new and that it was the latest model but alvin watched the cyphers the radio had and saw that the radio was 4 years old and then the shopkeeper lowered the price 75 dollars.then when they returned home alvin created his own secret code so mr. link wouldn’t break the code. finally mr. link broke the code and alvin returned home with his friends and the pest but then in a library they find a man who has a secret and it was the secret code of the hidden treasure then they copy it to know what it means and the man sees it and chases them then they return home and alvin decodes the code and find out where it is so he wanted to visit mr. link to show him what the code means but the man was there and tried to hurt mrs. Murphy and mr. link finally alvin calls the police and fire department and send the man to jail and find the treasure

What's your opinion on the book? What did you like it? What did you not like? I like it all but it's super large
Did the book change you or helped you grow? How? no it didn't
Who would you recommend this book to? Why? to people who likes spies

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another marvelous adventure that lets you learn something new! Actually, I've had a copy of Codes and Secret Writing that Alvin mentions in the back ever since I inherited it from my brother in the early '70s, so I already knew about the codes and ciphers Alvin learned about. Still, this is another fine book from Mr. Hicks. The childish artwork isn't nearly as good as the art in The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the series of juvenile adventure books about Alvin Fernald. In the last book he was a great inventor, in this book he gets involved in cryptography and a missing treasure. Not quite up to the same level of quality as the first in the series but still entertaining, although still not on the level as Brains Benton or The Three Investigators. Written in the early 1960's.

Good way to spend a few hours.

[Karl Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this several times back in the late-70s, and when it popped into mind recently, I tracked down a newer printing... and it's still a fun read. A great introduction to codes and ciphers for young kids with a simple story that is still a joy.

And until today, I didn't realize that this was a whole series!

[Andrew]

As suggested in Excellent Books for Early and Eager Readers

[William Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one I read in fifth and sixth grade. It was likely the cause for my love of technology, ciphers, encryption and security.

[Sara Burriesci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 8. I am now nearly 50, and I still remember a lot of its tricks for breaking ciphers. What a fun book!

[Keith White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in grade 3 or 4 and have never forgotten it. Bought a copy again recently to re-read

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun read. Nice way to explain ciphers. Nowadays, Hicks would likely include public key encryption in the Appendix.

[Becca Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline rates 5 stars. Fun read with secret codes and buried treasure

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a kid who loved codes and spy stories. Now I get to read it to my kid who also loves codes and spy stories!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated. Maybe if you're desperate to learn about cyphers in the context of children's fiction, but otherwise, not a great story, and the explanations are difficult to understand. The most interesting, the scytale, makes no sense in Hicks' words and I had to go to Youtube (which of course did not exist in 1963 when the book was first published).

The women make cookies. The little sister is called "Pest" even by the adults, and she's not a pest at all. The kids know about the library but use it very seldom. The plot is contrived, to say the least. The ending is too happy in too many ways. Bleh.

[Eliza Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wore this book out as a kid. (Wow...my copy has a sticker from a used bookstore that proclaims it cost my mom 14 cents. Now I feel old.) It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember being completely fascinated by code-breaking--especially with deciphering product bar codes. Not sure if that even still works, given how long ago this book was published, but I still think of it every time I see a bar code.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alvin learns about cryptography and uses it to find a buried treasure.

I vividly remember loving this book as a kid. I used the handy guide in the back to make my own cipher. It holds up pretty well as a re-read as an adult. I'm not sure what kids today would think of it, but what's not to like - friends and family helping one another, codes and ciphers, a possible spy in the neighbor, and buried treasure that helps out orphans.

[Joe Davoust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this out of nostalgia after my kid had a project where she asked me what I had read as a kid. As good as I remember, adjusting for the fact that I'm not nine any more. I thought it would be too dated to be relevant, and it is a bit out of time, but still enjoyable. I'd be comfortable recommending it to any pre-teen.

[Jorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was a kid and I still remember parts of it vividly. Very clear explanations of various types and styles of codes woven into the plot. Just pretty damn awesome when you're a puzzle-minded kid.

[Ron Giesecke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book STILL sits on my shelves to this day. I used, at some point, every single cipher in the book to nurture my love of mystery--and shrouded things. I was but a boy. And now, I'm 48 and still love this book.

I will never give away or sell or give away this tattered copy!

[Michael Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 37 times as a boy, and then a few more times as an adult. It got me interested in codes and ciphers, and as a writer may have been the first influence on me regarding the value of snappy dialogue. May seem a bit dated now, but I think it is worth revisiting.

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real fun book - my children's favorite of the Alvin Fernald stories.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recognized this cover. Another book from my childhood. Wish I could remember more about it.

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book for youngsters. I loved it.

[Poslfit · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book from about age 5 to age 12.

[Chris Zable · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood favorite revisited. Sexist by today's standards, but it was great to see it again.