Synopsis
Oct 11th, 1943- A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?
Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.
Oct 11th, 1943- A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?
Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.
When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?
Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.
Loved
- Okay, I just first have to say that this is truly one of the most brilliantly books I have ever read, if not THE most brilliant. This is the only book I've ever read where immediately after reading the last page, I turned it over and read almost the whole thing over again. As the synopsis says, it really has stayed with me after three years and I'm honestly still recovering from it- in the best way. I don't feel like I can do this review justice in order to avoid spoilers, but if you have any inclination at all to read this book, JUST DO IT. Even if you don't normally like historical fiction, just read it. I promise you it will completely blow your mind and you will never forget this haunting and genius story.
- The WRITING. Okay, this is frustrating to write a review about this story when I can't say much to avoid spoilers. But this is one of the most genius and cleverly written books I've ever read. Truly, my mind was blown throughout the book at the insane twists and how the writing told different stories at once. Like I said before, I truly did read almost the whole book right after turning the last page because I had to go back and read the book after knowing the twists. I really have never had my mind blown reading a book like I did during this story (except maybe during Brandon Sanderson's Hero of Ages). Just read it and you will know what I'm talking about.
- The characters. These two friends are BRILLIANT. They are some of the smartest and bravest girls I've ever read about. A pilot and a spy- does it get cooler than that? I love their vibrant and honestly quite funny personalities and how they use pure brains and guts to navigate the horrors of their circumstances. I also love their friendship and how they are both willing to sacrifice literally everything for each other. The secondary characters are all super awesome too.
- The history. I am such a sucker for history, and this had some fascinating insights into WWII. I love that it was from the perspective of a female pilot and a female spy- it was very interesting seeing what it was like for Maddie to be a female pilot during this time period when mostly males flew. This was a very different WWII story because it wasn't about concentration camps or hiding Jews, it was about a smaller reconnaissance mission in France, which gives a different side of WWII that has not been in the spotlight as much as other sides of the war.
- The ending. I HATED the ending. (*NO spoilers*) So why is it under the "Loved" category? Because it was beautiful, heart wrenching, and surprisingly perfect. After reading the ending of this story I cried tears of sadness and rage, wondering how the author could do this to us. But the more I thought about it, the more perfect it was and I wouldn't change it. If you haven't read this, just prepare your heart. And a tissue box.
- There's really not much more I can say about this without spoiling it. But I seriously loved every aspect of this book and I'm not lying when I say it's one of the most brilliant books I have ever read. I promise it will not disappoint.
Didn't Love
- I loved everything about this book- honest to goodness. Wouldn't change a single thing.
Content
- Language:
- Pretty frequent "damns," "hells," "sh**s" and taking the Lord's name in vain. Sometimes these are translated into other languages.
- One or two uses of f*** and f****** during one scene when a character is being tortured.
- Sexual content:
- References to a main who is a notorious "lech" and takes advantage of women.
- References of women being taken advantage of sexually by men.
- Character is asked if characters are raping her, to which she denies.
- Violence:
- The violence in this story is quite jarring. The blood and gore are not described in much detail, but the acts of violence are grisly and quite shocking at times.
- Many mentions of people being tortured, shot and beaten by the Nazi regime.
- One character is imprisoned, threatened and tortured for much of the book.
- One character traumatized by having to kill someone.
- Character is forced to watch as a woman is beheaded via guillotine right next to her. Talks of blood spraying.
- Some characters are shot in the appendages as an act of torture.
- One character is shot and the death is described in detail.
- Theme of fear, torture and death are prevalent throughout the book since it's during wartime. The book is very intense and I recommend caution if reader is sensitive to jarring violence.
- Pretty frequent "damns," "hells," "sh**s" and taking the Lord's name in vain. Sometimes these are translated into other languages.
- One or two uses of f*** and f****** during one scene when a character is being tortured.
- References to a main who is a notorious "lech" and takes advantage of women.
- References of women being taken advantage of sexually by men.
- Character is asked if characters are raping her, to which she denies.
- The violence in this story is quite jarring. The blood and gore are not described in much detail, but the acts of violence are grisly and quite shocking at times.
- Many mentions of people being tortured, shot and beaten by the Nazi regime.
- One character is imprisoned, threatened and tortured for much of the book.
- One character traumatized by having to kill someone.
- Character is forced to watch as a woman is beheaded via guillotine right next to her. Talks of blood spraying.
- Some characters are shot in the appendages as an act of torture.
- One character is shot and the death is described in detail.
- Theme of fear, torture and death are prevalent throughout the book since it's during wartime. The book is very intense and I recommend caution if reader is sensitive to jarring violence.
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