Sunday, October 7, 2012

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein


I AM ABOUT TO FANGIRL ALL OVER.  Hold on to your horses, people.

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. But 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-Hauptsturmführer 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. (GoodReads).


I would rather read Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein than go to a party. A really fancy one with all my friends and free drinks and party dresses. I would happily stay home from the event of the year to read this book, it is that gorgeous and moving. Even though it left me a puddle of tears standing at the kitchen counter over my dinner--I couldn't even be bothered to move to the table to eat. That is how involved I was in the last 20 pages.

Queenie is described as smart, brave and imaginative, incredibly charming but with a foul mouth, beautiful and capable. Her narration is beautiful in its desperation, her love for Maddie, and the terrible and powerful experience of Nazi-occupied France. I will absolutely reread this book.  And I wish I was amazing enough to be friends with these two ladies.

Originality: 10+. I loved this incredibly intricate story, rooted in fascinating history, but I do not want to give ANYTHING away, because I spent a lot of the second half of the book gasping and feeling satisfied by the complicated plot twists. Also, points for not one but two strong female leads.
Absurdity: -100,000,000.
Level of Paranormal Romance: 0. This is a book about friendship and courage in many forms. There are so many courageous people being brave in this book, it is mind-blowing. It is absolutely about love, but I don't even want to apply a paranormal grading scale to Queenie and Maddie's friendship. They are just so far superior.
Level of Harry-Potter-ness: 9. This book stuck with me, keeping me up late thinking through the heartbreak and friendship and the conspiracies. I do not kid when I say I called by boyfriend at midnight and said "What would you do if I was a spy captured by the Nazis? Would I be a good, brave spy? PS I LOVE YOU."  This book makes you FEEL big feelings. Maddie and Queenie's friendship is inspiring and heartbreaking. This is a true tribute to the J.K. Rowling grading scale of books that linger in your mind. Fabulous!

8 comments:

  1. I do have this book on my shelves (I got a copy at BEA) and I really want to read it! It's just so hard to make time for all the books I want to read! I want to read a book that makes me feel big feelings!

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  2. Praise after praise after praise for this book. Have not read ONE negative thing about this book. Obviously, being a fan of historical fiction novels anyway this one has been high on my wishlist. Love this review!

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  3. I've only ever heard wonderful things about this book. It sounds like one of those that just makes you FEEL so much (which is incredibly rare nowadays). I dig historical fiction and haven't read too much set in the WW2 time frame so I'm eager to pick up a copy and give it a go!

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  4. Wow, I am definitely adding this to my Must-Read-Soon list! :) Your review was great and I could feel your excitement! Thank you for sharing!

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  5. *grabs GS and jump hugs with her* YES x 10000000 I spent the end of this book crying so hard, this is my favourite book of 2012 and one of my fave books EVER! I loved those girls so much and like you, I wish I could be their friend, too

    p.s KISS ME, QUICK! *sob*

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  6. I still haven't finished this. I have to be in the right frame of mind and when I was reading part one, I would literally think about it while driving and start sobbing while driving 80 mph on a busy highway.

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  7. I love this book so much! I keep forcing it on people :)

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