Code Name Verity

A story of friendship set in WWII between a female pilot and a female spy. It's told in such a gripping way that each page pulled me along despite the backdrop and circumstance. The story is full of twists and turns, and while bad things happened in the book, I didn't feel like it was told in a gratuitous manner. Meaning, it did not linger over every gruesome detail, but managed to weave a compelling story. The torture and tough subject matter was handled very well. The gravity of the situation and all the emotions that went along with it still came across without being graphic.There was one issue that jerked me out of the narrative. I'll refrain from mentioning it because it's a major spoiler, but seems like 12 resistance fighters with guns could take out three German soldiers. In the end, despite that scene, it was such a page turner, that I couldn't bump it down to four stars.And I appreciated that Maddie and Verity were so true to life. They felt like real people.Decades ago, fiction was littered with these larger than life male protagonists who always rescued themselves and saved the damsel in distress (who were utterly useless). They didn't cry, they grunted away injuries, and were basically testosterone fueled killing machines who never needed any help. Years later, I've noticed the reverse happen. Now it's the female protagonists who have slipped into that same role. I am so sick of books with the 'tough' female protagonist who is an expert fighter (or my favorite: the most feared assassin in the world at the wise old age of 17), survivalist, saves every male character in the book, and never, ever cries. What's worse...she feels the need to say (at some point in the book) "I don't need help from a man." And proceed to point out how she just did whatever she did better than a man.Basically, these 'tough' female protagonists are cardboard cutouts of their male counterparts, minus the plumbing, and more obnoxious because the narrative tends to make a point out of inserting some 'tough female' speech, or has the protagonist punching a man to show him whose in command. It annoys me to no end.Why can't individuals have strengths and weakness and everyone help each other out (no matter the gender) without giant, Rambo-sized egos?I thought Code Name Verity did an excellent job of this. Maddie had a knack for fixing things and flying, and yet, she had real fears and insecurities, and cried after every harrowing event. She felt so real. The 'tough' female stereotype sneers at crying or any sign of soft emotion. As the daughter of a war veteran, I know first hand that those who are going through, or who have been through hell are some of the most emotional people I know. Tears and empathy are a sign of strength and courage; not weakness.

Prior to selecting this book, I swore to friends and family that I would never read another WW2 book again. This novel, however, was so different that it immediately captured me. Two women, from opposite ends of the social spectrum (and the social order was so adhered to back then), become more than just friends. They become soul mates. I read nothing sexual into their friendship, and it is difficult to described such a friendship unless you have experienced it. I consider myself one of the lucky few who have. The times they live in predetermine their meeting, and their future. So the time period is 1940's, the setting is England and France, and the war is ongoing. But this is really a story of love, and what we would do for one another. Even the most difficult thing possible. Read it to find out.

Over the course of the last few months, I've read three books set in Nazi-occupied France: "All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr, "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah, and "Code Name Verity". All three of these books came highly recommended, with rave reviews. All were award-winning novels - the Doerr book even won a Pulitzer. All of them are compelling and kept me glued to the page. But by far, "Code Name Verity" is my favorite of the three.I think a large part of that is the fact that, while all three of these books contain elements of hope and tragedy, "Verity" features a balance of humor as well. The other two, I suppose, are "serious" novels. But I can appreciate characters who can sometimes - even in the worst of circumstances - laugh at themselves and the mad world around them.All in all, I can't really recommend this book too highly. It is one I will certainly read over and over again. :)

I was looking for an easy read, but not one that was full of fluff or written for a 12 yr. old. My college senior grandaughter mentioned one of the books her class would be reading soon, so I checked it out. Code Name Verity gave me exactly what I was looking for. It was a story, a great story actually, about two friends both wanting to do their part during WWII. They met during the war effort and even though they came from very different backgrounds, their energy, intellect and chutzpa meshed them together like bread and butter. This story of the war and the trials one endures whether being part of the formal military structure, part of a resistance, or even a Nazi prisoner, makes for a dangerous background yet eloquently written for two very unlikely heroes.

The structure of this tale confused me at first and I very nearly discarded it; glad I didn’t as it has turned into an intensely intriguing tale. The relationship between the two women (who get all caught up in the intrigues, vulnerabilities and dangers of Nazi occupied France) is related largely in the first-person, as the two very different women reflect on the desperate circumstances they find themselves in – and the circumstances that threw them together. I have the audio version, and have to say this is one of the best I’ve listened to in some time. The reader(s) come across in the same conversation tone that the journals and chronicle seem written in. Further, the author is a pilot and it shows -- I particularly like that they got the flying portions believable – there aren’t a lot of technical aviation elements, but what there is doesn’t offend with the obtuse fables occasionally spun up by some non-flying authors.

Review 5 starsWhen a young woman is captured by the Gestapo in occupied France, she begins writing down an account for her captors about a plucky lass, Maddie from Manchester. Her story, told as one of her captors accuses ‘in novel form’, shows how Maddie learns to fly and becomes an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot. She befriends Queenie, an enigmatic Scottish aristocrat who is recruited as a spy by the Special Operations Executive. Through this account, the Gestapo learn secrets about the Allies war-effort as well as about the two young women – and the reader realises that the writer is Queenie."I of course took the opportunity to interpose wi’ pig-headed Wallace pride, ‘I am not English, you ignorant Jerry bastard, I am a SCOT."Queenie is accused of being a collaborator, giving away crucial wireless codes and more for her ongoing survival. However, as this account spilled out with disturbing details, I wondered what was being revealed. Perhaps it was the novel’s opening quote about passive resisters that made me unsure about Queenie’s account. Or the truth is, as Queenie writes at the beginning, "I AM A COWARD" and a traitor?What is truth? What is verity? That is the question in war when some sacrifices pay that ultimate price, and principals are abandoned. The atmosphere is rife with emotions – grief gives way to anger as the details are exposed of an era when so many died; what did they die for? The truth?Although Queenie’s account is written for the Gestapo, it peels back their layers, even revealing cultural tastes."Nothing like an arcane literary debate with your tyrannical master while you pass the time leading to your execution."There are moments of humour that distract and buy time. For whom? For what? On one level, it seems that the cost of this betrayal will be too high, yet I wanted Queenie to survive.I just hoped that this was a masterful deception, and that a rescue was imminent. When the novel switches from Queenie’s POV to that of Maddie, I experienced new emotions – not just renewed hope. The voice changed, although the writer had already given us a taste of Maddie’s character as well as of the harsh existence in Occupied France.To say more would require spoilers. Just know that Maddie’s story is as riveting with unexpected plot twists that play through to the end – to the truth, or should I say Verity.All the characters are engaging, whether they are the older adults like the officer that recruits Queenie, or the young people on the frontline of this and so many other wars. Elizabeth Wein captures a deep sense of all those caught up in these life-changing events.This is a brilliant and gritty YA novel that sweeps the reader along with the feisty and resourceful protagonists – pulled into their minds and actions. I felt I was witnessing the highs and lows of lives experienced in the face of the traumatic horrors of warAnd running through the novel, adding another layer to the central characters, was the Neverland theme – poignant and beautiful."How did you ever get here, Maddie Brodatt?""'Second to the right, and then straight on till morning,'" she answered promptly-it did feel like Neverland."Crikey, am I so obviously Peter Pan?"Maddie laughed. "The Lost Boys give it away."Jamie studied his hands. "Mother keeps the windows open in all our bedrooms while we're gone, like Mrs. Darling, just in case we come flying home when she's not expecting us."Code Name Verity must be my favourite read of 2018 as it played with all my emotions. I look forward to reading both the prequel the Pearl Thief – which is more in the style of a classic mystery - and Rose Under Fire a sequel of sorts.Story – five starsSetting/World-building – five starsAuthenticity – five starsCharacters – five starsStructure – five starsReadability – five starsEditing – five stars

This is a powerful look at the role of women in World War II as well as a heart breaking look at friendship, love and duty. And there is a love story here, it's just a wonderful heartfelt look at the true friendship between the closest of friends. Told in two perspectives, one a captured British spy making a written record of her confession for the Gestapo, the other her best friend and the one who piloted her into France.It's well written and the two balancing perspectives played well against each other. I found some of the aspects confusing though as events in the first half were dissected in the second and put through a different perspective. Whilst this is clever in some ways, it became difficult to follow at points and I found myself trying to find that section in Verity's written record to compare. As these aren't titled with interview section numbers though, there is no easy way to remember where to find that section.All in all though I really enjoyed this somewhat different look at historical reality.

I couldn't quite decide whether to read this book or not. I was certainly interested in the content, but wondered if it was purely for the YA market. I kept the sample and kept finding it on my Kindle, which started the whole debate off again. In the end I succumbed - and I am so glad I did! I can now definitively state it is for anyone who likes the look of the blurb and enjoys Elizabeth Wein's style of writing.One of the points of contention about this novel is how credible is it that a prisoner of the Nazis would be permitted to write such a confession over such a long period of time. Part of me agrees with the reviewers who find this unrealistic and part of me thinks that they would potentially gain a lot of useful background knowledge from the writings of a self-confessed coward who has already provided them with eleven pieces of wireless code and was not, perhaps, very discerning as to what to reveal and what to withhold. In the end, I am not sure it actually matters, since as a literary device it is successful and makes the reader want to know more.What else can I tell you about this well-researched novel without giving the game away? Firstly, Elizabeth Wien creates some very memorable characters and you cannot help but become fond of the protagonists as you discover how their friendship develops. Next, the book comsists of two parts, the second of which casts a lot of light on the first. Thirdly, EW's research gives an insight into the roles which women could and could not play for the British in WWII. If you want to know more, you will just have to read it!

This an excellent book but is a hard read because of the subject. It is a tale of two women during the Second World War who become involved in espionage and its attendant support. The first half involves a girl who is captured in France, and the way she deal with her experience and captors and the second half is the story of the girl who flew her out and unexpectedly came down in France and had to hide. Despite the cruelty heaped on the first girl, there are some very funny incidents in the story which it is impossible not to laugh at and subsequently, make it possible to go on reading since you think if she can carry on, so should you.It is very cleverly written so that you are not sure whether the first girl is cooperating or leading the Gestapo down the garden path and then the second girl's story involves her friend who is telling her version of events with characters with whom she is hiding out and who are related to people involved in Verity's story. This story remains in the mind long afterwards and makes you aware of how much is owed to some people we will never have heard anything about, who did similar things in reality.

Couldn't get on board at all with the style of writing - why not just write the story instead of doing it faux diary style as though someone held and tortured by the gestapo would be writing in full sentences waxing lyrical about the English countryside and their jolly good friends?! From the blurb I thought this would be my kind of book, but I think it's best aimed at 12 year olds looking to learn about war time Britain.