Codebusters

by Dan Metcalf

Things are not going well for Jackson 'Jax' Hibert. He wanted to fit in at his new school but now everyone knows he's a math's whizz. Even worse, he's been asked to join a secret (and totally uncool) group of code the Cypherpunks. Their mission is to solve mysteries and fight crime. So far, they've found a missing hamster... But now, someone has stolen the school's math prize from the trophy cabinet, and the only clue is a mysterious code. This looks like a case for the Cypherpunks!Funny, exciting or a little bit spooky, Black Cats are fast-paced stories with short chapters and illustrations throughout - stepping stones to reading confidence.

Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2017

About the author

Born at an early age, Dan Metcalf knew exactly what he was going to be when he grew up – tall. This was achieved before he even got to secondary school and so another career was decided on. The life of a chocolate teapot salesman is however fairly temperamental and so he decided to move to a job which was comparatively reliable – a writer.

He has written for radio, screen and magazines but is best known as the author of ‘The Lottie Lipton Adventures’ (although he is best known around where he lives as ‘That Weirdy Beardy Guy’). He is a full time writer and his biggest ambition is write a major children’s adventure series and create a superhero comic.

Reviews

[Victoria Vivente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Codebusters is a fantastic, fast-paced, and clever mystery that proves being a math whizz is the ultimate superpower. Jackson ‘Jax’ Hibert just wants to fit in at his new school, but his talent for numbers gets him noticed, and recruited into the secret (and supposedly uncool) code-cracking club, the Cypherpunks. Their first mission? To find the school’s missing hamster. But when the prestigious math prize is stolen from the trophy cabinet, leaving only a mysterious code as a clue, Jax and his new friends are thrust into their first real case.

Dan Metcalf delivers a pitch-perfect blend of humor, suspense, and puzzle-solving that is perfectly tailored for newly confident readers. The codes are satisfying to crack alongside the characters, the short chapters keep the pace brisk, and the relatable theme of using your unique skills to save the day (and maybe make some friends) is empowering. The illustrations add to the fun, making this a perfect stepping stone into longer chapter books.

A brilliant, engaging read for any child who loves mysteries, puzzles, or stories about underdogs finding their place.

[Vonprice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for introducing lower Key Stage 2 children to code-breaking in a fun adventure. My full review is here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...