Code Name Verity

Wein, E. (2015). Code name Verity. New York, NY: Hyperion.

This is a beautiful work of historical fiction that tells of the friendship of two young women involved in the Allied efforts of World War II. The story is mostly told by Julie, who worked as a wireless radio operator and is captured by the Gestapo and tortured to reveal her mission. Julie agrees to give her confession in exchange for her life, but does so by telling her story in a journal piecemeal together with scraps of paper. Through her writing, we see learn the story of how she became friends with Maddie, a pilot, and how she believes her to be dead after her plane wrecked shortly after dropping Julie off on her fateful last mission. The second half of the book is told from Maddie's point of view, and the reader quickly realizes there is so much more to Julie's story.

This is a well-told story of friendship, love, courage, bravery, loss, and of how important women's roles were in the war. I loved how the author used the different points of view of Julie and Maddie to tell two sides of the same story.

Elizabeth Wein's website:
http://www.elizabethwein.com

Women pilots of World War II:
http://www.elizabethwein.com/women-pilots-world-war-ii-links