The Science Fair Scheme

By Penny Warner

Will the Code Busters be able to unravel their latest case?

Cody, Quinn, Luke, M.E., and Mika are the Code Busters—clever clue hunters with a passion for puzzles. They can’t wait to compete in the Science Fair. They each plan to come up with unique projects—all incorporating codes—for the chance to win first place! But when they discover someone spying on them and find pieces of their projects sabotaged, their chances of winning look slim. Will the Code Busters be able to find out who is spying on them? And can they salvage all their projects to win the prize?

Can you crack the code? Test your brain with the Code Busters to see if you have the right stuff to be an ace detective. Answers are in the back, if you ever get stuck.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798765612156

Penny Warner

Penny Warner has published more than 60 books for both adults and children. She teaches child development at a local college in California. You can join the Code Busters Club at www.codebustersclub.com.

Book preview

Code Busters Club Rules

Motto

To solve puzzles, codes, and mysteries and keep the Code Busters Club secret!

Secret Sign

Interlocking index fingers (American Sign Language sign for friend)

Secret Password

Day of the week, said backward

Secret Meeting Place

Code Busters Club Clubhouse

Code Busters Club Dossiers

Identity: Quinn Kee

Code Name: Lock&Key

Description

Hair: Black, spiky

Eyes: Brown

Other: Sunglasses

Special Skills: Video games, Computers, Guitar

Message Center: Doghouse

Career Plan: CIA cryptographer or Game designer

CodeSpecialties: Military code, Computer codes

Identity: MariaElena—M.E.—Esperanto

Code Name: Em-me

Description

Hair: Long, brown

Eyes: Brown

Other: Fab clothes

Special Skills: Handwriting analysis, Fashionista

Message Center: Flower box

Career Plan: FBI handwriting analyst or Veterinarian

Specialties: Spanish, I.M., Text messaging

Identity: Luke LaVeau

Code Name: Kuel-Dude

Description

Hair: Black, curly

Eyes: Dark brown

Other: Saints cap

Special Skills: Extreme sports, Skateboard, Crosswords

Message Center: Under step

Career Plan: Pro skater, Stuntman, Race car driver

CodeSpecialties: Word puzzles, Skater slang

Identity: Dakota—Cody—Jones

Code Name: CodeRed

Description

Hair: Red, curly

Eyes: Green

Other: Freckles

Special Skills: Languages, Reading faces and body language

Message Center: Tree knothole

Career Plan: Interpreter for UN or Deaf people

CodeSpecialties: American Sign Language (ASL) and fingerspelling, Braille, Morse code, Police codes

IDENTITY: Mika Takeda

Code Name: Senjin to honor ancestors

Description

Hair: Black, short, straight

Eyes: Brown

Other: Petite

Special Skills: Origami, Haiku poetry, Drawing Manga characters

Message Center: Under front door tatami mat

Career Plan: Artist, Poet, Anime illustrator

Code Specialties: Japanese language, Puzzles, Puzzle boxes

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Challenging Message

Chapter 1

Science Fair Dare

Chapter 2

What’s the Question?

Chapter 3

The Body Code

Chapter 4

Matt’s Secret Plan

Chapter 5

Science Geeks Are Cool

Chapter 6

Truth... or Lie

Chapter 7

A Threatening Code

Chapter 8

A Secret Project Revealed

Chapter 9

Bernie’s Awesome Flying Machine

Chapter 10

Sabotage and Suspects

Chapter 11

Matt the Mystery Solver

Chapter 12

A Mysterious Invitation

*To crack the chapter title code, check out the CODE BUSTERS’ Key Book for ASL Fingerspelling on page 155.

Reader

To see keys and solutions to the puzzles inside, go to the Code Busters’ Key Book & Solutions on page 154.

To see complete Code Busters Club Rules and Dossiers, and solve more puzzles and mysteries, go to www.CodeBustersClub.com.

Introduction

Afew weeks after school started in the fall, Cody received a text on her phone. Quinn had typed the message in LEETCode, using keyboard symbols and numbers to substitute for letters. Cody deciphered it in a matter of minutes.

Code Busters Key and Solution found on pp. 157 and 160.

Cody loved going to the Exploratorium with her dad and sister. The science museum was full of interactive gadgets, experiments, and fun. There was even a Tactile Dome, where you felt your way through a pitch-dark tunnel, but she’d never been to it. Sounded scary and exciting!

According to the Science Fair rules, the winner could take up to five friends—perfect for the Code Busters!

But winning this year wouldn’t be easy—not with Bernie Bunsen participating again. The son of the school’s science teacher had won the top prize two years in a row. No wonder. He was supersmart. And he probably had help from his dad.

Besides, she didn’t have a clue what to do for her project this time. And even if she did, what if Matt the Brat tried to steal the idea like he did last year?

No, this year the Code Busters had to come up with something brilliant . . . and keep it top secret.

When she finished brushing her teeth, she grabbed her backpack and cell phone, and was about to head out the door for school when her phone chirped. Probably M.E. or Mika, letting me know they’re on their way, she thought.

The text was in code, but it wasn’t what she expected from her friends. Someone had used the periodic table to write a message. Cool, Cody thought. It must have taken some time to create, but luckily it was easy to decipher.

Hmmm, Cody thought, after reading the message. So, Matt the Brat’s planning to prank the Code Busters again? She searched the internet and found a site that turned English words into the periodic table code, then copied and pasted it in her reply:

Code Busters Key and Solution found on pp. 158 and 160.

Now, all they had to do was win.

Chapter 1

Dakota Cody Jones sat in her class reading a biography of Samuel Morse, the scientist who invented Morse code. Since the Berkeley Cooperative Middle School Science Fair was coming up, Cody’s teacher, Ms. Stadelhofer—Ms. Stad for short—had asked the students to read a biography of a famous scientist to give them ideas for a project. Cody thought if she learned more about her second-favorite code—American Sign Language was her very favorite—maybe she would come up with a good idea to submit. She found the idea of using Morse code in different ways, such as tapping a sound, tapping a person, using a flashlight, and blinking her eyes, interesting and fun.

But Cody was more interested in visual communication, like sign language. She wondered if there were any scientific studies on body language and facial expression as a means of communicating hidden thoughts and feelings.

Cody felt a tap on her back. She turned around. Stephanie slipped her an intricately folded note from her best friend, M.E.—MariaElena Esperanto. Glancing at Ms. Stad to see if she was watching, Cody quickly took the note. Tucking it in her hand, she pretended to read her book, sensing the teacher’s intense gaze on her.

Tiny beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

Please don’t let me get caught! Cody thought.

After a few moments, she took a chance and glanced up. Thankfully, Ms. Stad was busy correcting papers at her desk.

Whew! Cody thought. Close one. Ms. Stad had caught Cody and M.E. passing notes a couple of times in class, so the girls had to be extra careful when communicating through secret messages. Whatever M.E. had written to her this time must be important or she wouldn’t have taken the chance of getting caught again.

While Ms. Stad continued to correct papers, Cody carefully unfolded the origami note behind her open book. It had been folded so many times, she fumbled a few times opening it.

I said SILENT READING! Cody started at the sound of Ms. Stad’s loud voice.

Cody glanced up, feeling her face turn red. Ms. Stad was looking right in Cody’s direction, but she quickly realized Ms. Stad was staring at Matt the Brat, who sat in front of her. Cody hadn’t noticed, but