Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity, #1) in SA Book & Challenge Lovers

Mar 04, 2013 S.A. Partridge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

If I had known how wonderful it was, I would have read it the moment it came into my possession. I actually want to read it again to relive the experience.
The book details the friendship between Maddie and Julie, two British girls caught up in the chaos of World War Two. The best friends are constantly separated and reunited; their duties often putting them in dangerous situations that change them forever. When Julie is captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France, Maddie will do everything i If I had known how wonderful it was, I would have read it the moment it came into my possession. I actually want to read it again to relive the experience.
The book details the friendship between Maddie and Julie, two British girls caught up in the chaos of World War Two. The best friends are constantly separated and reunited; their duties often putting them in dangerous situations that change them forever. When Julie is captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France, Maddie will do everything it takes to get her back.
Code Name Verity is many things. It’s easier to explain in list form. 1. It’s a timeless tale of friendship. 2. It’s an incredibly detailed story that describes how it was before, during and after WW2. 3. It’s a thrilling adventure story for girls featuring fearless girl pilots, Gestapo fortresses and espionage. 4. It’s an empowering read that explains the role women played in the war.
It fits quite a few boxes too: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure.
The book focuses on the relationship between two young women. One is rural lass who aspires to be a pilot, and the war in Europe finally gives her the opportunity to realize her dream of flying. The other is a member of the upper class who has the less glamorous job of interrogating prisoners, a job she is assigned because she can speak German. In normal circumstances the two would never have met, but the war throws them together and creates a bond that cannot be broken.
Wein has masterfully created a picture of wartime Britain. She doesn’t skimp on the details, so while reader is transfixed by the intricacies of fighter planes and airforce bases, she’s also faced with the harsh realities of war – the increased work week, rations, life during the blitzes, death. Nor does Wein ignore the goings-on in Europe, and describes in detail the fear and torment prisoners of war experience at the hands of the Gestapo.
Some of the content makes this book suitable for older readers only, but it’s not just a book about the atrocities of war. It’s an imaginative, clever, thrilling adventure that teaches girls that there is nothing they can’t do. It’s also a beautiful tale of friendship that will stay with you for a long time afterwards ...more

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Aug 15, 2015 Wanda Hartzenberg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015

I found myself amazed at how this author never wrote down to her audience.
Aimed at the YA market this book has layer upon layer of debth with plot, sub plot and phrases used to embellish, enhance and always add to the story.

Kiss me Hardy, kiss me quick has now become apart of my personal dialogue.

I know all about the controversy surrounding the first part of the saying now, the kiss me Hardy part because I felt I needed to know more to understandvthis book better.

All in all I would not only ...more

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Jun 16, 2015 Eva Thieme rated it it was amazing

What an absolutely delightful book! I really only read it because my 14-year old daughter read it and loved it, and I wanted to see what kind of fiction she is enjoying at the moment. I'm so glad I did. I'm a bit of a World War II buff and this one, illuminating the story of young women in the RAF or rather Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in Great Britain, made for a fascinating read.

While it IS a young adult book, I think it's great reading for anyone. It is very well written, the plot moves What an absolutely delightful book! I really only read it because my 14-year old daughter read it and loved it, and I wanted to see what kind of fiction she is enjoying at the moment. I'm so glad I did. I'm a bit of a World War II buff and this one, illuminating the story of young women in the RAF or rather Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in Great Britain, made for a fascinating read.

While it IS a young adult book, I think it's great reading for anyone. It is very well written, the plot moves along with some unexpected twists, and it definitely doesn't shield the reader from harsh realities, i.e. torture, Nazi death camps, retribution killings, and such. In fact, I was surprised it even counts as a young adult novel. Whichever it is, I can imagine it being made into a great movie.

The characters of both narrators (First Queenie or Verity, who has been captured by the Germans in Occupied France and is now being interrogated by Obersturmfuhrer von Linden, by ways of being forced to write down her story, and then Maddie, one of the few woman pilots during World War II and Queenie's best friend who also happened to pilot the plane that dropped her behind enemy lines) are exquisitely drawn (and came particularly well to life in the audio book version). The book is well researched (i.e. types of airplanes flown, RAF procedures, scenes from the Blitz, when were pens first used to replace fountain pens...) without even for a minute being long-winded, the plot is fast-paced yet lingers enough to explore the characters and allow for the occasional bit of humor. I found myself becoming one with the characters and thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book, which I usually find is the key ingredient for a great book.

I especially liked the diary writing style by both narrators. Verity's account is particularly vivid in that it jumps back and forth between her back story (the one she is writing down for von Linden) which illuminates her friendship with Maddie, and her current story about her struggles with her captors, the little victories she gains, and the sacrifices she makes for her country. I found myself having to go back to read over (or rather listen to) earlier passages as the plot unfolded and made everything appear in a new light, several times over.

Elizabeth Wein is a great narrator and I'm looking forward to reading her other books. ...more

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Nov 30, 2013 Chrizette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, favorites, reviewed

More reviews at http://justreadingforfun.blogspot.com

What an unusual experience this book was! This was once again one of those books that I went in blind. Maybe I should make that my standard way of choosing books. I seem to find a lot of my 5 star reads this way. Or maybe I should just keep away from others’ reviews so that I don’t get influenced and then be disappointed by their views. That happens to me a lot!

But to the book. Code Name: Verity is a story of World War II told in two parts. In
More reviews at http://justreadingforfun.blogspot.com

What an unusual experience this book was! This was once again one of those books that I went in blind. Maybe I should make that my standard way of choosing books. I seem to find a lot of my 5 star reads this way. Or maybe I should just keep away from others’ reviews so that I don’t get influenced and then be disappointed by their views. That happens to me a lot!

But to the book. Code Name: Verity is a story of World War II told in two parts. In part one we meet Verity. She has been captured for looking the wrong way when crossing the road. Her first day as a spy and she is captured for just crossing the road! Now her life is in the balance and she has two weeks to tell her captures everything she knows. And she will. She will give them all the names, all the details, all places she can remember - everything. Because Verity is only a girl named Julie. A girl who wants to live. But reality is cruel and often intrudes her reminiscing. She is convinced that there is only terror in her future and maybe she is right.black-1

The second part shows us all the events through the eyes of her friend, Maddie. Maddie is a spunky girl that just wants to fly. She will become one of the many civilian woman pilots that helps in the war effort. She is a great pilot even trying to save her friend as her plane is coming in for an unavoidable crash. Maddie is taken in by the French Resistance and hid in a barn while she remembers all the events that led up to her and Julie’s flight into enemy territory.

It is hard to say any more than this without giving away spoilers, so just let me say that Julie and Maddie stayed with me long after I listened to the last sentences. I am once again amazed at how brave people can be even if it is just to go on living . . . Life is not always just about the joyous moments, sometimes it is just having the courage to open your eyes for one more day.

I think the subject matter is very serious for Young Adult and I would suggest it to older readers. Also listening to the audio version is a great plus for this book. Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell takes you right into the reality of Maddie and Julie’s circumstances. A great combination.

I would love to hear what you thought about Code Name: Verity. I am ready for the second book, Rose under Fire. ...more

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