Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

By Phoebe Breed

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein caught my eye because of my love of historical fiction, as well as my love for strong leading ladies. How could a book about a female pilot and a female spy, navigating their way through life during WWII together, disappoint? Well let me tell you, despite my critical approach, it did not. I am so glad that I checked this book out of the library, and even more glad that there is a companion book for me to add to my to be read list: Rose Under Fire.

“I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do. That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. Buy I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead, and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine – and I will do anything, anything to avoid SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer von Linden interrogating me again.
He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France – an Allied Invasion of Two.
We are a sensational team.”

What I Liked

I loved Verity and Maddie/Kittyhawk’s characters. I’ll admit, I did not love Verity at first, but she grew on me exponentially. These ladies embody everything that I know and love about women during WWII. They took on great responsibilities for their country, and assumed positions usually reserved for men despite the dangers that accompanied them.

Turns out the author is a real life pilot, which made the descriptions of the various aircraft and flights in the book just come alive to another dimension. I admit I don’t know how to fly a plane, but my dad is a recreational pilot, so I have many fond memories of flying. Although I am predisposed to love flight, Elizabeth Wein could captivate anyone with her exciting and realistic descriptions.

I love a good redemption story. At one point I just couldn’t see where the plot was going because it all seemed so bleak. But, the second part of the book, which takes up about the last third of the pages, made me realize just how brilliant the first part of the book had been! Lo and behold, there was hope where I saw none, and there was a strong woman where I saw a girl who had succumbed to her captors.

What Wasn’t My Favorite

This may be toeing the line of a spoiler, but I didn’t like that I was duped by an unreliable narrator. I have read many books with an unreliable narrator, but I was always aware that the character was sketchy. In this book, I was completely surprised! It worked out for the better, but it made wading my way through the first part of the book a little harder.

The first part of the book did not captivate me. I was interested, but not incredibly invested. Like I have already explained, I felt hopeless about the situation, and I was disappointed in one of the main character’s actions.

The Verdict

I would absolutely recommend this to someone who enjoys historical fiction, or less-than-traditional narration. If you love impressive female protagonists, this book is also for you!

Rating

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

By Phoebe Breed

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