This book was recommended to me by an early childhood educator as a helpful tool to teach and model to my children how to have a growth mindset. It took me a long time to read, not because it was dense reading, but because I was actively trying to find my own fixed mindsets (and ones around me) and turn them into growth mindsets. (You have to do it to teach it!)

The most helpful part of the book was at the end where she spelled out specific growth mindset steps. One suggestion was to ask at the dinner table each night questions like "what did you learn today?" and "what mistake did you make today that taught you something?" and (when it's your turn to share) lead into a story of your own experience that day, dramatically describing your mistake, building up the mystery of the problem, and finally revealing the solution that finally worked! It sounds easy in theory, but it takes some thinking. I've become acutely aware of mindset, mistakes, problem solving and how I'm going to do some amazing storytelling at dinner time. The point of it all is to get kids interested in the problem solving process, and to become aware of when they're doing it.

The author uses a lot of real world examples, but her repeated praise of NY Yankee players was a bit much for me to take.

I really enjoyed this book. Loved it immensely! I wanted to check it out before my daughter (age 10) did so I’d be prepared to answer and discuss her questions. I’m hesitant to categorize this as Middle Reader as there are some abusive scenes which might trigger more sensitive kids. The main character is about 12 in the beginning. Throughout, she is forced to deal with some very grown-up issues. So, in that sense I’m inclined to label it YA. However, if a parent reads this to their 10, 11 or 12 year old, I think that would soften the blow of the (very realistic) situations and open up some interesting dialogs about slavery and the American Revolutionary War.

I was captivated and inspired by this true story of America’s first female code breaker. Dense with well-researched facts and delightful details, it was a joy to read.