CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein was recommended by Rachel of The Reading Picnic to my book club over the summer. (Yes, I really am only just now having time to review it!) She had been begging us to give it a chance for several months, yet something else was always getting picked, so she was ecstatic when this one was the book club choice (a very prestigious award, indeed!)
Here is the synopsis from its Goodreads page:
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, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?
This book, just like Horns, I came out of thinking it was a great story that needed a better editor. What was actually a very dynamic story with characters who were multi-faceted and based in history that is just as fascinating as fiction got bogged down with details about aviation that the layperson is neither interested in nor looking for in that volume.
I learned that the author is a pilot herself, which completely explains why she wanted it included but a good editor would compromise with her, remove some of the overly-unnecessary and superfluous model numbers and jargon to keep the story moving. It really took me out of what was, like I said, a great plot.
That being said, if you really enjoy World War II history (which I do) I would still recommend giving this book a shot. The story really keeps you guessing; there is a mid-book reveal that makes the book difficult to put down until the very end. I mean, it’s a book about female WWII spies. It’s obviously going to have its suspense!
The girl-power-yeah feelings I got from this book weren’t bad, either. I’m really into that. And woah, are powerful female friendships on display in this one!
If you’re into historical fiction and don’t mind A LOT of aviation details, read this book. If that turns you off, pass.
