Book: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth WeinGenre: YA Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆
For: Fun
From: The library
Wow! Have I heard A LOT about this book or what? Oh, the buzz! So I put it on hold at the library and believe it or not, it came up for me fast! Double wow.
I had no idea what this book was about. Despite the buzz, I skimmed people's comments. Only that they cried a lot, and hugged it to themselves and other such tangible bookish love.
So I was a bit surprised, and interested, to find out that it's about two girls who experience WWII in a very different way than most girls. One is a pilot and another is a spy. They meet each other during a few accidental moments when their paths cross, and become fast friends. Then one night, they have a very exciting flight which does not have a so very happy ending.
The story is told from both of their points of view... first from the girl who is the spy. She happens to be a prisoner at the time of her story, and she goes back and forth from her current prisoner experience, to the past when she met her friend and then recounts the situation which got her captured.
The second part of the book is her friend's side of the story, and she has a completely different experience, to say the least, though also very harrowing.
People, be warned. This is a very gut and heart wrenching book. There are some disturbing moments, there are some very wonderful happy moments. We definitely learn a lot about WWII airplanes and the British protocol at the time. Much of this technical talk went right over my head and I found it a bit detailed, (thus the four stars above) but some WWII fanatics will love this part I'm sure.
Of course I was much more into the characters and their situations and relationship and the wonderful writing that left me totally immersed.
As usual, I'm being very vague about this story because I feel like the less you know going into it, the better.
Bottom line: I loved it.
Other reviews:
Chachic's Book Nook
Things Mean A Lot
Capricious Reader
Beneath Shining Stars, I Read
The book trailer is pretty awesome and doesn't give anything much away, so here you go:
Oh the peer pressure! I'm going to have to give in.
ReplyDeleteAlready bought this one and set it aside for my camping trip. Can't wait! Glad to see you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAh! I loved this one! I listened to it on audio and was totally blown away.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about this one too! Sounds like it needs to be on my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this one, too. Mostly because it's so different than any other WWII book I've ever read. It's actually funny, or maybe snarky is a better world, but, you know what I mean? It feels more upbeat than most novels about WWII. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI found this book hard to review, too. The less you know about it, the better. I am glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI really need to read this one! I am sure I will love it when I do!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one too. I need to get a review together. And you were way ahead of the curve: this won a Printz honor yesterday!
ReplyDeleteJessica, yeah, this is the ONLY one I've read on any of the lists! :)
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