Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity, which will publish in Spring 2012,is the story of two young women from totally different backgrounds who are thrown together during World War II.

Only in wartime could a stalwart lass from Manchester rub shoulders with a Scottish aristocrat, one an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot, the other a wireless operator with the WAAF. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends.

But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. Almost immediately she is arrested by the Gestapo, and it seems her mission may be over before it's even begun. The story begins in "Verity's" own words, as she writes her account for her captors...

Elizabeth Wein is a member of the Ninety-Nines, the International Organization of Women Pilots. She was awarded the Scottish Aero Club's Watson Cup for best student pilot in 2003 and it was her love of flying that partly inspired the idea for Code Name Verity.

Goodreads Summary

    World War II will never be forgotten. This fictional tale takes the reader to WWII and introduces history in an entirely new way. Verity was captured by the Gestapo on a mission in France for the Allies. An expert actress with a can-do attitude and a mastery of the French and German languages, Verity was thought to be the perfect candidate for the mission that went so horribly wrong. While writing her confession for the Gestapo, Verity tells the story of her friendship with the female pilot who flew her to France. The pilot’s name is Maddie; she is brave, loyal, and goodhearted. Maddie has always been fascinated by flight, being a pilot is her dream job. Through their initial work as radio operators, Maddie and Verity met when guiding a German pilot to their air field to be taken as a prisoner of war. Then, the girls became friends after waiting out a German raid on their airfield and discussing their worst fears. Although they have very little in common, Verity and Maddie consider each other sisters and help each other grow and develop their skills. Maddie becomes a civilian pilot, shuttling pilots and damaged aircraft all over Brittan, and Verity’s missions become more and more complex. Writing her confession feels like a horrible betrayal to Verity’s home, but after weeks of mental and physical torture, Verity is pushed to her limit. According to the Gestapo, Maddie died after their plane was hit and Verity parachuted to the ground. Mourning Maddie and writing her confession, Verity struggles to survive. 

    Written as a diary, Wein did an incredible job becoming her characters. Verity is spunky and wry even when all hope seems lost. Maddie is sincere, talented, and kind. Both girls are noble and easy to admire, Elizabeth Wein’s writing makes the reader feel as if she knows the characters. High school girls will love this novel. An audience of teenage girls would enjoy reading Code Name Verity. This book was excellent; five out of five stars!

*Review written by Kristin*


Find this book:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
The Book Depository



This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.