(38) Code Name Verity

Title: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
272 Pages
Genre: YA - historical fiction

I received an electronic ARC through netgalley for this title.  It was released on May 15.

Synopsis: In exchange for a temporary stay of execution and lesser forms of torture, a young female spy captured in Nazi-occupied France writes a confession of her activities in the Resistance. Her story is that of two women who should never have crossed paths, yet were destined to become the best of friends and embark upon the covert mission.

Review: I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through this book in the beginning.  It just seemed to be all over the place and I was finding it hard to follow but it quickly started to make sense.  The first half of the book is told by a woman captured in France as a spy.  She has been tortured and in exchange for the torture to stop she has said she would collaborate.  Throughout  her writing she is pained that she is collaborating with the Nazi's and you feel for her.  Her story is compelling and keeps you reading. The second half of the book is told by the captured spy's best friend. This is where the story really shocks you.  At this point I didn't even want to leave the house, all I wanted to do is finish this book.

Historically accurate, for the most part, in regard to female pilots during WWII, this is a fitting tribute to those women who served and died for their country.  Heartbreaking and compelling both stories keep you interested but the second half of the book keeps you on the edge of your seat.  This is one story that is going to stay with me for a while, I keep replaying it in my head.  The loyalty and devotion of two people who may never have met but seemed destined to, is riveting, heartbreaking and beautiful.