The Poe Codec

When middle schoolers Brett and Jordan creep through an old and empty bookstore, they’re hoping to find something they can sell to ease their families’ financial problems. A faded letter from Edgar Allan Poe floats into their hands, presenting a challenge Poe had sent to one of his adversaries—a secret code is in one of his works; a treasure awaits the person breaking the code. Brett and Jordan elicit the aid of friend Lauren, and the quest begins. The protagonists discover they have strengths to share, and their personal knowledge and interests enrich a search that touches on Poe’s works and life, on languages, encryption, forensic science, computers, autography, films, and pop culture—and on modern methods of communication, which turn out to be both a boon and curse since they provide new ways for threats to travel. In the end, the young people solve their mystery, and leave a small one dangling for the reader.