Code Name Verity

Oh, Code Name Verity, what to say about you?

The thing is, it's a good book. I liked the writing and storytelling, but I was bored nonetheless for 3/4 of the book. The fault is my own when it comes to that, though. See, historical fiction has never been my thing. Of course, I've had a few I really enjoyed here and there which, combined with the high praises, lead me to investigate Code Name Verity.

I'm sad Verity wasn't the knock-out I'd been hoping for, but I did still enjoy it, especially the end. Right off the bat, I enjoyed the writing. Our narrator was so normal. When I read historical fiction I always expect formal language and whatnot, but it wasn't like that in the least. Then again, it was set only 70 years ago. Verity (I think that's the least telling of her names, so that's what we'll go with) was so real. She was sarcastic and witty and brave, but so vulnerable as well. And you know what, I don't blame her in the least. Not everyone can stoically endure the various forms of torture Verity underwent. I loved her for her rash defiance and consequent regret for it.

Though the story was slow-going for me because of its historical roots, I also really enjoyed learning all the new things I did. The funny thing is how I don't usually enjoy historical fiction as a form of entertainment, but I really enjoy learning about history. It's even better knowing how much research Wein put into Verity. I love the bit about the ballpoint pen. Who would've known it was originally invented for use in the Royal Air Force?

Oh man, that twist. At the end? Yeah, I didn't see that coming. How could I? It was set up so perfectly, and for that I applaud Miss Wein.

I loved the total difference between the first and second parts. I don't want to give too much away, but I really appreciated the difference in voice. The second was more clipped and formal while the first was lavish and very story-focused.

Guys, I cried. I mean, I thought I was going to cry, but the reason surprised me in the end all the same. And since I was reading at work it really wasn't pretty. I was drying my eyes every five seconds so I wouldn't look like a complete mess when customers came in, but I'm not one to deny myself a good cry, so I let it flow anyway.

The Nutshell: Code Name Verity wasn't everything I'd hoped it would be, but I know this is largely due to the high expectations I had going in. I did enjoy the writing and storytelling as well as Verity's voice overall. I'm glad to have read it, but in the end I wouldn't say it was a life-changer.

Near Miss

Getting in to Code Name Verity took me a long time, perhaps 80 pages. In fact, I nearly DNFed this one, since I have plenty enough to read and was not feeling any connection to it. Even once I got a bit more caught up in the story, this book was a bit of a slog for me. I was never swept away and it was not a quick read. Still, I am very glad that I put the time and effort into finishing Wein's novel.

Code Name Verity is INTENSE. It is a novel of war, of interrogation, of women, and, most importantly, of friendship. Verity/Queenie (neither her real name, which you won't learn until about two hundred pages in) and Maddie are best friends. Maddie is a pilot and Verity does, well, lots of things. At the opening, the reader is working through Verity's confession. She has been caught by Nazis in occupied France, and has spilled her secrets. She is committing to paper everything she knows about the British war effort.

Verity's section, the first half of the book, gave me the most trouble. While I did like Verity's humor in the face of awfulness, I had a lot of trouble with the way that part was written. Verity writes in third person and in first person. When writing about past events she mostly uses third person, which is fine and interesting, as it conveys that she no longer feels like the same girl that she used to be. However, she also occasionally uses first person when talking about the past, not just the present, and I found that shift awkward and unrealistic. Maybe it's supposed to be a symptom of the pressure Verity is under or something, but I had trouble with this style.

Maddie's tale comes next, and I found it much more easy to read, even though it lacked the humor and, perhaps, the excitement of Verity's. I nearly made it through this book without shedding a tear, but Maddie got me in the end. I loved their friendship, and getting to see it from both perspectives, especially since it's hard to know what's going on with Verity. You can be more sure of verity from Maddie. Ironic that.

Other than the previously-noted issue, the writing was amazing. The story focused a bit too much on details that didn't especially capture my attention, another reason it moved so slowly, like the different kinds of planes. Oddly enough, this is something I also very much appreciate about the book, because it's so chock-full of history and so different from any other young adult book I've read.

Code Name Verity may not capture you immediately, but it's worth a read if you have any interest in history. It's also wonderful to read another WWII book on women's roles, especially the much more rare of women actually involved in what are more traditionally male occupations in the war machine.