Enigma Girls

Praise for The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II:

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

* “A thrilling account… Fleming does it again! [T]his compelling blend of WWII, cryptography, and women’s history… will mesmerize middle schoolers and inspire them to make an indelible impact on history, too.” – School Library Journal, starred review

* “Fleming delivers a fascinating and cohesive overview of Bletchley Park’s necessarily siloed, collaborative inner workings that reveals how the figures’ ardent efforts affected the outcome of WWII.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “In this absorbing book, Fleming approaches the subject by telling the individual stories of 10 young women… who left their homes to work secretly on projects related to the German military’s Enigma cipher machine. Even readers with little interest in codes and ciphers will find the women’s experiences intriguing.” – Booklist, starred review

* “This compulsively readable, compellingly written book will appeal to a broad audience, from readers already interested in World War II to those who are new to the subject.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “[This] is a fascinating and emotionally moving perspective on the well-trod ground of WWII, carefully balanced and rich with details of technology, history, and humanity. This book is not just about deciphering the Enigma messages, however, as it peels back the mythological layers of history to depict the people, technology, mind-numbing mundanity, and heartbreaking tragedy of the war machine.” – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book, starred review

“Events are brought to dramatic life through a treasure trove of photographs–which show the goings-on at Bletchley and the sobering progress of the war–and through the author’s meticulous research.” – The New York Times Book Review

Praise for Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell:

* “An exhilarating read, a useful classroom resource, and ultimately an illuminating look at human nature and the modern fascination with UFOs.” – Booklist, starred review

”…perfect for young readers who want the “who-what-when-where-why” of America’s most notorious purported alien sightings….As Fleming details some infamous reports of U.F.O.s and U.A.P.s (unidentified aerial phenomena), she appeals to young readers to think critically and apply the Sagan Standard: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” This, to my mind, makes her book particularly worthwhile, a much-needed counter to the tangled history of fraudulent sightings.” – The New York Times

Praise for The Curse of the Mummy:

* “In Fleming’s capable hands, the story of the boy king and Howard Carter’s discovery of his tomb brims with enthusiasm, wonder, and mystique.” – Booklist, starred review

“The Curse of the Mummy…will draw children’s interest with a sense of lurid promise and keep them reading…” – Wall Street Journal

Praise for The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia:

Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature

Winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist

Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction

* “A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history and a great read for those already familiar with it.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “For readers who regard history as dull, Fleming’s extraordinary book is proof positive that, on the contrary, it is endlessly fascinating, absorbing as any novel, and the stuff of an altogether memorable reading experience.” – Booklist, starred review

* “Fleming has outdone herself with this riveting work of narrative nonfiction that appeals to the imagination as much as the intellect.” – The Horn Book, starred review

* “This is both a sobering work, and the account of the discovery of their bones and the aftermath is at once fascinating and distressing. A solid resource and good recreational reading for high school students.” – School Library Journal, starred review

* “With comprehensive source notes and bibliographies of print and online materials, this will be a boon to student researchers, but it’s also a heartbreaking page-turner for YAs who prefer their nonfiction to read like a novel.” – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

Praise for Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart:

* “Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars (What did Earhart eat during flight? Tomato juice and chocolate) complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “The book’s structure and scope, along with the story’s inherent drama, provide a taut, cinematic backdrop for the history of Earhart’s doomed flight.” – The Horn Book Magazine, starred review

* “Ho-hum history? Not in Fleming’s apt hands. What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller… This book is splendid. Hand it to everyone.” – School Library Journal, starred review

* “Fleming cleverly structures this biography to give the tale of tragedy a fresh and dreadful impact… As a result, this offers not only a provocative introduction to Earhart but also compelling glimpse of what it was like to watch her disappear from the world.” – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

Candace Fleming is the award-winning and highly acclaimed author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including:

• Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster
• Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell
• The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb
• The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II (Sibert Honor Book)
• The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh (Winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award)
• Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera (Sibert Award winner)
• The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire (Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and Sibert Honor Book)

Candace received the American Library Association’s Margaret A. Edwards and Children’s Literature Legacy Awards in 2026. She lives outside of Chicago.

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