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Code Name Verity

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Code Name Verity Cover

ISBN13: 9781423152194
ISBN10: 1423152190
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Staff Pick

In this tale of friendship, war, and early women's aeronautics, "Verity" has been captured by the Nazis while attempting espionage in France during World War II. This story is her confession. She swears she is telling the truth, but she also admits that she is a very good liar. Code Name Verity is totally engrossing.
Recommended by Kathy H, Powell's Books at PDX

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

Review:

"Wein (The Empty Kingdom) serves up a riveting and often brutal tale of WWII action and espionage with a powerful friendship at its core. Captured Scottish spy Queenie has agreed to tell her tale — and reveal any confidential information she knows — in exchange for relief from being tortured by Nazis. Her story, which alternates between her early friendship with a pilot named Maddie and her recent sufferings in prison, works both as a story of cross-class friendship (from an upper-crust family, Queenie realizes that she would likely never have met Maddie under other circumstances) and as a harrowing spy story (Queenie's captor, von Loewe, is humanized without losing his menace). Queenie's deliberately rambling and unreliable narration keeps the story engaging, and there are enough action sequences and well-delivered twists (including a gut-wrenching climax and late revelations that will have readers returning to reread the first half of the book) to please readers of all stripes. Wein balances the horrors of war against genuine heroics, delivering a well-researched and expertly crafted adventure. Ages 14 — up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review:

"This heart-in-your-mouth adventure has it all: a complex plot, a vivid sense of place and time, and resonant themes of friendship and courage. Practical Maddie and mischievous Julie are brought to life through their vibrant narrative voices and intriguing backstories....In this powerful work of historical fiction, Julie and Maddie need never fear 'flying alone'; the reader will soar with them until the final page." The Washington Post

Review:

"Young people will enjoy this Second World War spy story, no doubt, but its appeal is much wider. It's a beautiful thriller about friendship, courage and daring at a desperate time." The StarPhoenix

Review:

"Moving back in time, rather than forward, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is an original, cleverly written Second World War story about spies, torture, women pilots, friendship and the horror of war." The Independent

Review:

"A carefully researched, precisely written tour de force; unforgettable and wrenching." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Review:

"[Code Name Verity] is outstanding in all its features — its warm, ebullient characterization; its engagement with historical facts; its ingenious plot and dramatic suspense; and its intelligent, vivid writing." The Horn Book (starred review)

Review:

"A fiendishly plotted mind game of a novel." The New York Times Book Review
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About the Author

Elizabeth Wein has lived in Scotland for over ten years and wrote nearly all her novels there. Her first five books for young adults are set in Arthurian Britain and sixth century Ethiopia. The most recent of these form the sequence The Mark of Solomon, published in two parts as The Lion Hunter (2007) and The Empty Kingdom (2008). The Lion Hunter was short-listed for the Andre Norton Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction in 2008. Elizabeth also writes short stories.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 20 comments:
nrlymrtl, April 3, 2013 (view all comments by nrlymrtl)
This book was so intense, I did not want to put it down. I instantly connected with Queenie as she was so desperate and beaten down in her circumstances. The entire book I wanted things to miraculously change for the better for her. As she described Maddie and her life as a pilot, I became very attached to the both of them. Their friendship came about in an unusual way as they are from different classes. In fact, that was one minor point made in the book �" how WWII started the break down of the class differences in England as all sorts of folks mingled together in their war efforts. Elizabeth Wein wove together enough fact in this historical fiction to make me believe that a story like this actually took place.

Even though there was heart break in this book, I truly wanted to read it all over again as soon as I completed it. It was simply written, yet so full of human spirit that it captivated me. While the story focuses on these two women, there are other men and women who play significant roles that coalesced the story into perfection for me. Even if you have never had an interest in WWII fiction, this is an excellent read. If you have a heartbeat, then this book will grab a hold of you and hold you close until the very end.
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Beverly B, March 4, 2013 (view all comments by Beverly B)
Code Name Verity is a gripping, realistic and gut-wrenching WWII mostly historical fiction and partly spy thriller - with a twist. Unfortunately, I can't reveal the twist, or the events leading up to it, without ruining the story, but I am rarely surprised by events in YA literature and I did not see this twist coming at all. Code Name Verity is the story of two young British women working behind enemy lines in France. They come from opposite backgrounds and have opposite personalities, but become best friends while training together. Code Name Verity may be classified as YA, but adults will be biting their nails and losing sleep as well. All readers will connect with both of the characters - strong, smart and heroic in different ways. Both of them committed to saving Britain from the Germans. Both of them committed to doing her job as best as she can. Both of them committed to having her best friend's back. An unforgettable story.
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Woodchip, February 6, 2013 (view all comments by Woodchip)
Love historical fiction and books about how people survive unlikely events in their lives!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781423152194
Author:
Wein, Elizabeth
Publisher:
Hyperion Books
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Children s-Science Fiction and Fantasy
Subject:
Children s-Historical Fiction-Military and War
Copyright:
2012
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Publication Date:
20120531
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Language:
English
Pages:
352
Dimensions:
8.25 x 5.5 in 22.8 oz
Age Level:
from 14
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Related Subjects


Children's » Action and Adventure » Adventure Stories
Children's » Awards » Michael L. Printz Award Winners
Children's » Featured Titles
Children's » General
Children's » Historical Fiction » Europe
Children's » Historical Fiction » Holocaust
Children's » Historical Fiction » Military and War
Children's » Middle Readers » General
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » General
Young Adult » General

Code Name Verity Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$11.95 In Stock
Product details 352 pages Hyperion Books - English 9781423152194 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

In this tale of friendship, war, and early women's aeronautics, "Verity" has been captured by the Nazis while attempting espionage in France during World War II. This story is her confession. She swears she is telling the truth, but she also admits that she is a very good liar. Code Name Verity is totally engrossing.

by Kathy H
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Wein (The Empty Kingdom) serves up a riveting and often brutal tale of WWII action and espionage with a powerful friendship at its core. Captured Scottish spy Queenie has agreed to tell her tale — and reveal any confidential information she knows — in exchange for relief from being tortured by Nazis. Her story, which alternates between her early friendship with a pilot named Maddie and her recent sufferings in prison, works both as a story of cross-class friendship (from an upper-crust family, Queenie realizes that she would likely never have met Maddie under other circumstances) and as a harrowing spy story (Queenie's captor, von Loewe, is humanized without losing his menace). Queenie's deliberately rambling and unreliable narration keeps the story engaging, and there are enough action sequences and well-delivered twists (including a gut-wrenching climax and late revelations that will have readers returning to reread the first half of the book) to please readers of all stripes. Wein balances the horrors of war against genuine heroics, delivering a well-researched and expertly crafted adventure. Ages 14 — up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review" by , "This heart-in-your-mouth adventure has it all: a complex plot, a vivid sense of place and time, and resonant themes of friendship and courage. Practical Maddie and mischievous Julie are brought to life through their vibrant narrative voices and intriguing backstories....In this powerful work of historical fiction, Julie and Maddie need never fear 'flying alone'; the reader will soar with them until the final page."
"Review" by , "Young people will enjoy this Second World War spy story, no doubt, but its appeal is much wider. It's a beautiful thriller about friendship, courage and daring at a desperate time."
"Review" by , "Moving back in time, rather than forward, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is an original, cleverly written Second World War story about spies, torture, women pilots, friendship and the horror of war."
"Review" by , "A carefully researched, precisely written tour de force; unforgettable and wrenching."
"Review" by , "[Code Name Verity] is outstanding in all its features — its warm, ebullient characterization; its engagement with historical facts; its ingenious plot and dramatic suspense; and its intelligent, vivid writing."
"Review" by , "A fiendishly plotted mind game of a novel."
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