by Elizabeth Wein
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 15, 2012)
Buy the Book: Amazon
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.Code Name Verity is a book that is filled with intense action and emotion. It takes the reader through the countrysides of Scotland, England and France during the early 1940s as World War 2 rages. We are given glimpses into the lives of 2 young women who find themselves caught up in the military efforts of Britain. Maddie has a love of flying and puts her passion to work by ferrying pilots and planes to airfields around England. Julie's aristocratic upbringing and fluent German give her the ability to gather information from unlikely sources. The girls' passions and patriotism bring them together in a friendship that is strong and unforgettable.
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.
On a secret mission to France, Julie is arrested by the Nazis and held in a former hotel. She is tortured for information about wireless radio codes, airplanes and airfields. The first part of the book is written from Julie's perspective as she writes to satisfy the demands of her captors. We read all that she describes for Hauptsturmfuhrer von Loewe, cringing with horror at what she endures and hoping against hoping that she will be rescued. The second part of the book is told from Maddie's point of view as she goes through the same time period. We hold our breath as she hides from Nazi soldiers and urge her on as she tries to find her best friend.
This is not an easy story to read but it pulls you in and won't let go. As I got into it, I couldn't put it down wondering what was going to happen....how is it going to end. But then as I got closer to the end I almost didn't want to finish it. I didn't want it to end, to close the door on Julie and Maddie. These two are wonderfully full characters who bring reality to life in the middle of war. I am quite impressed with the research and humanity that Elizabeth Wein brought to the book. There is violence associated with wartime and torture. There is also some language but I never felt that the profanity was just thrown in for shock value. It seemed realistic given the setting. I would definitely recommend this book especially to fans of historical fiction.
Yep! It gets an extra piece! :D
Content:
- Profanity: Heavy
- Sexual Content: Mild (Moderate dialog)
- Violence: Heavy
- Other Notables: A small amount of religious content
For more details, check out Code Name Verity on Parentalbookreviews.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sounds really good! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI've heard such good things about this book & I really need to just read it already! I love historical fiction, especially when it takes place during WWII. Great review. :) And thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love history, but I haven't read much historical fiction. I'll have to look this one up.
ReplyDeleteHistorical fiction is not my favorite genre, but some books were really engaging, so it would be nice to try this one as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to read this. I'm a huge fan of historicals.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am so intrigued by this. I was fortunate to visit Normandy Beach on the 55 anniversary of D-day. There were several veterans from Scotland there there that day and it was such an awe inspiring moment to talk to them. I'll never forget it and I'd really love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, and the opportunity to win this! It looks great. :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard so much about this book. I started reading it when it came into my library and it hooked me right away--unfortunately there were holds waiting for it, and I still haven't had a chance to read it. It is definitely attracting readers!
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about this book and it's female protagonists. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteEveryone is talking about this book & I haven't heard a single negative thing about it. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review and giveaway! Initially, I wasn't that thrilled by this book - too much violence and other dark stuff for me - but I've heard so many great things about it, now I want to read it!
ReplyDeleteI love this book so much-it's my favorite read of the year so far and I cannot say enough good things about it and I've been trying to recommend it to everyone I know (online and in real life!)
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good! I just put it on my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading a review from Maggie Stiefvater & getting immediately intrigued... now I want to read it even more!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! :)
Thank you for making this international! :D
ReplyDeleteLooks good!
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read! WW II novels are always emotionally difficult (for Me), but I love reading them.
ReplyDeleteWow! I can't even imagine what I would do in the Julie's situation! Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!
ReplyDeleteI have heard great things about this book. Thanks Andres Mom for taking the time to post on Reading Teen. Its nice to have the moms involved too!!
ReplyDeleteI just want to thanks you for the chance to win. I really do think I would enjoy this book because it's seems just my kind of book.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of good reviews for this book. It seems so intense! I feel my want-to-read quotient growing . . .
ReplyDeleteSounds great!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to gravitate toward historical fiction, but based on all the great things I keep hearing, this book sounds like one I might have to give a try.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely cannot wait to read this book. It sounds brilliant!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds really interesting. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI loved Code Name Verity too. But the ending! Ahhh.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a great powerful read. Thanks for the giveaway! :D
ReplyDeleteI've had CODE NAME VERITY on my wish list ever since I first heard about it. It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. so intense, but so good! and yes that ending! gah i sobbed for pages!
ReplyDeleteI am really excited about this book. It sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteReally want to read this book!
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway..heard so much about the book:D
ReplyDeleteI've heard nothing but awesomeness about this book, can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteHeard lots of great things about this book. Thinking of suggesting it to a book group at school.
ReplyDeleteThese heavy books are always my favorites.
ReplyDeleteLove historical fiction and though it sounds sad, I want to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this giveaway! The book sounds really interesting, though emotionally heavy. I'd like to have a go at it. I'm adding it to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great to read everyone's comments. I hope you all do take the time to read Code Name Verity. It is well worth your time.
ReplyDeleteLove historical fiction.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love anything that has to do with history, and honestly love reading anything during the time of ww2. So I can't wait to read this! It is something I know I would enjoy a lot! Lovely review.
ReplyDeleteSounds intense!
ReplyDeleteI really like historical fiction so I guess this is the kind of book for me. And it seems so intriguing...
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the giveaway!
I have heard so many good things about this book. thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI've read so many glowing reviews on this book. Can't wait to add it to my list of favorite reads
ReplyDeleteI'm EXTREMELY looking forward to this after hearing wonderful things and fab reviews such as yours. :) Must read this soon@
ReplyDeleteFrom all the comments I heard of the book, I can't wait to get my hands on it! Awesome giveaway
ReplyDelete