Create Your Own Secret Language, by David J. Peterson; Odddot.com:
New York; $12.99, paperback
Book Review by John Davis
Kids who have been at home a while know one thing. Their brothers and sisters are creeps who breathe their air! They want to be alone! They want to talk to their friends! Why can’t they have some privacy!!! Why can’t they leave me alone? A wise parent, hearing some version of these complaints, now has a solution.
Give you children a way to create their own secret language! Instead of hearing the same merry-go- round arguments, give them a means of talking to their friends in a secure, even secret way. David J. Peterson is an inventor. He invents languages. He’s done so for such wonders as Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Game of Thrones, and a host of other famous settings. He’s devised this beginners guide to inventing codes, ciphers, and hidden messages. He’ll show kids how to substitute letters for letters, and so make secret messages only ‘real friends’ can read.
He’ll keep the prying eyes of the creepy little brother out of your diary, because even when he tries to steal it, he’ll be foiled because it is in a symbol code even his obnoxious buddies can’t figure out. Peterson’s guide will advise your budding sleuth of pitfalls, too. You’ll see how some codes and ciphers can just be too hard to decipher. Or, some secret messages using symbols might be too easy to unlock, and thus not worth the effort.
When you are trying to keep a secret, know who can read it. That means you have to have a ‘key’ which you give only to trusted friends. But where will they use this code? Will it be on a computer? In a letter? Beware! Each of these methods is subject to its own difficulties.Everyone who reads this will see examples of all types of methods used to keep secrets. There will be examples and then challenges to be sure you have it right. How better to while away a rainy afternoon than to learn about secret ways of communicating…they trying it yourself!
~ Book Review by John Davis
Read More from John
John William Davis is a retired US Army counterintelligence officer and linguist. As a linguist, Mr. Davis learned five languages, the better to serve in his counterintelligence jobs during some 14 years overseas. He served in West Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands during the Cold War. There he was active in investigations directed against the Communist espionage services of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. His mission was also to investigate terrorists such as the Red Army Faction in Germany, the Red Brigades in Italy, and the Combatant Communist Cells (in Belgium) among a host of others.
His work during the Cold War and the bitter aftermath led him to write Rainy Street Stories, ‘Reflections on Secret Wars, Terrorism, and Espionage’ . He wanted to talk about not only the events themselves, but also the moral and human aspects of the secret world as well.
And now recently published in 2018, John continued his writing with Around the Corner: Reflections on American Wars, Violence, Terrorism, and Hope.
Two powerful books worth reading.
Read more about them in the following Six Questions:
Six Questions with John Davis: Author of Rainy Street Stories