Code Name Verity

by Elizabeth Wein

I hesitated over whether to write a review of this book for the simple fact that I wasn’t sure how to convey why I liked it without some major spoilers. I’m still not sure how to do that, but I’ll give it a whirl. Some basic facts: It takes place during World War II. It centers around the friendship between two English girls, Maddie and Queenie. One of them is a pilot, one of them is a spy. One of them is captured, one of them isn’t (not giving anything away, this is in the book jacket blurb). It is beautifully written, and both main characters are fully developed. It’s got some slow parts, and some gallows humor, and some heart-in-your-throat moments. It’s got some surprises and some predictable reveals. It might make you cry. It’s different from the sort of historical fiction I normally read, and I’m glad I deviated from the norm to pick it up. Overall, it’s a unique sort of book, and a good one. If historical fiction is your thing, definitely try it out.
 

I give it 4/5 stars.