I am no longer afraid of getting old. Indeed I can’t believe I ever said anything so stupid. So childish. So offensive and arrogant.
But mainly, so very, very stupid. I desperately want to grow old.
(from Code Name Verity, page 114)
This is probably the hardest review I’ve ever had to write. How do you convey how much you absolutely, totally, completely, and fiercely loved a book while saying as little about the plot as possible? Because, seriously, you need to dive into this book blind. So no spoilers here.
Code Name Verity is the story of two young women, best friends, set in Nazi-occupied France in 1943. One is a secret agent captured by the Gestapo after parachuting into France, and much of the book is her confession. The second is the pilot of the downed plane. The Gestapo captain gives the first woman two weeks to tell her story, and she takes readers on a wild and heartbreaking ride. But amazingly, she is so snarky and feisty that at times you also can’t help but chuckle…and that’s what makes this the most unique World War II novel I’ve read thus far.
Hands down, this is the best book I’ve read so far this year, which is saying a lot given all the great historical fiction I’ve read since January. I finished it last week during my camping trip, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I’ll have to re-read it at some point to see if it rivals my love for The Book Thief, but I have no doubt that it’ll end up on my shelf of all-time favorites.
Code Name Verity is a book about war and friendship. It’s shocking, haunting, and brilliantly paced and structured. The characters are believable and endearing, and the narrative is fresh and on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting. I could keep gushing, but you really just need to get your hands on a copy and lock yourself away for a few hours because you won’t want to be disturbed.
Disclosure: Code Name Verity is from my personal library.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
This is one of those books that I love so much that I actually get teary-eyed when someone else mentions loving it – like it’s MY book, or something. So glad you loved it.
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I was delighted to hear how much you loved it, so I knew I’d chosen the right book for vacation!
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On the shelf with The Book Thief? That’s good. Have to finish MY book before I get pulled in….better put it on my reward-when-I-am-done list. Have you read “Little Bee?” It makes me feel like you do about protecting the plot from readers-to-be.
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It would be hard to top The Book Thief. At this point, I think it’s not as good, but it comes close.
Nope, I’ve never read Little Bee, but I know how much you enjoyed it.
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You’ve got me going as well. This is definitely on the to buy list!
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Hope you love it as much as I did!
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Now I will have to borrow this one!
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Just let me know when you’re ready for it. The Girl wants to read it, too, but she has to finish her summer reading first.
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I love the quote you opened with – reading it just now made me tear up again. Such an amazing book.
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I remember reading how much you loved it!
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Wow, your best book of the year. I need to get my hands on a copy of it!
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Yes, yes you do! 🙂
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Um, I really need to read this book now!
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As I said to Kathy above…yes, yes you do! 🙂
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Thanks for the review. I don’t know why but I thought this a dystopian YA. See how off I was?
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I knew this one was WWII YA, but I saw the reviews from the U.K. bloggers, and the cover is more indicative of a war novel.
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My fear is just..does she die?
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Well…you’ll just have to read it!
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I just now finished it! I didn’t start really liking it though until the second half. I agree – tough one to review!!!
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I must admit I liked the second half slightly more, but I was hooked from the start. Looking forward to your review!
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I’m a WWII literature junkie…I’m all over this.
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Then you really need to read this one!
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I’ve heard about this but never really thought about it that much. But wow it sounds so good!
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I hope I’ve persuaded you to give it a try. 🙂
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I have had this here to read for about a month. I really need to actually read it!
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I can’t wait to hear what you think of it, especially since, like me, you read lots of WWII books.
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Sold!! i will be getting my hands on this one!
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I hope you love it as much as I do. I really can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
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[…] Comments « Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein […]
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This is such a favorite of mine, I so glad you liked it so much, too. I think it is one of the best books this year.
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The tone made it such a unique read for me. I was surprised how much it blew me away.
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EVERYONE is raving about this book. I really need to get it.
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I’m so glad that it lived up to all the hype…at least for me.
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Great review. I know how hard it is to write about a book you love to convey all the feelings without spoiling anything. You did it though. I have this book on my kindle and somehow hesitated reading it but hey, I have to now.
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Thanks, Lila! I hope you get a chance to read it soon.
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I’ve got to try again. The first 80 pages bored me to tears and I gave up. *sigh*
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Oh, no! So sorry to hear that. Well, it’s not going to work for everyone, but I do hope you give it another try at some point.
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I am so glad you loved this!! Especially since I initially told you that you had to buy it, so I would have felt responsible if you had hated it!
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Hee hee. I wouldn’t have blamed you…I probably would have bought it at some point anyway!
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Will have to remember this one!
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Yes, yes you must. 🙂
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Okay, you know I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but you hooked me with those first few lines and since you loved it so much I’m going to have to check this one out!
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You can be a casual hist fic reader and still love this one. 🙂
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[…] Lexile numbers than their reading level, so for her second book of the school year, she stole Code Name Verity off my shelf. I can’t wait to pick her brain when she finishes […]
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[…] 25. My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young 26. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 27. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 28. The Shadow Children by Steven Schnur, illustrated by Herbert Tauss 29. Flight […]
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[…] Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein […]
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