Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
333 pages
YA Historical
Source: Received an e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was so scared to pick this book up! Although it has received near unanimous praise, I've been really picky lately and have found myself disappointed with books that the blogosphere has raved about. Happily that was not the case for this book as I absolutely loved it!
Like other reviewers, I will not share too much about the plot. This initially frustrated me when I was deciding whether or not to read it but I was very glad for their closed lips. You do not want anything spoiled for you. I do few comfortable sharing a few things though.
First the book is divided into halves. Although I have not bought my own copy yet, I am planning to because the second half illuminates the first half in a most kick-ass way. Upon finishing, all I wanted to do was go back and reread the whole thing again (couldn't because I needed to get up early the next day but very much wanted to). Thus I highly recommend buying your own copy so that you can do that.
Second the book is set during World War II from the Allied side-primarily Scottish, English, and French people make up the cast. It's mostly young women who are our focus, which is very exciting. I love getting to read about women doing what was traditionally considered men's work and, as Wein shares in her author's note, the things they do, while not common, are plausible.
Lastly I found this book incredibly affecting and powerful. I was still thinking about it a day later and managed to make myself cry a second and third time (that third time is just now as I write this review-it is highly possible that I will cry again thinking about this book as the days go back).
So that's about all I feel safe sharing. Is there anything stopping you from checking this book out? Please let me know and I will do my best to convince you otherwise as this has probably been my favorite read of the year so far and will definitely be a contender for best read overall of 2012.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like my type of book. I'll have to check it out. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, high praise! I've got this for review from NetGalley too but haven't been ready to read it yet. I figure it will be a nail-biting tearjerker...
ReplyDeleteWow favourite of 2012 and tears, I'm kicking myself for not accepting a review copy for the book tour ... and I don't really know why. This is all the convincing I need :)
ReplyDeleteWoah, this sounds awesome. It's always a good thing when books make you cry...not always fun, but it means you emotionally connected and I LOVE that. Thanks for not including spoilers. I really do want to read this one. I think my sister would really enjoy it too because she was a history major...so these type of things tend to interest her automatically, I think.
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Oh, I desperately wanted to re-read Code Name Verity as soon as I finished it as well with the light of information from the second half. I really like that we've all as bloggers kept quiet about spoilers so we can all have an amazing experience reading Code Name Verity. Sigh. I will definitely be purchasing this book, my plan is to read and get rid of 10 of my books then buy it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a change from many currently popular YA books - the ones that are arrow-straight in plot and writing. They drop you into the action and push-push-push you along the long straight road `til they drop you at the cliffhanger ending that says "sequel to come." I'm not complaining--I like a lot of those books. But this one. Oh - my- gosh....this book is different. This is like a cobblestone path in an old city, with twists and turns and dark corners. You have to go more slowly and watch your step, and look up and down to admire the wonderful architecture on each side. But oh, the rewards for walking down this path! When I finished (and caught my breath and put away the tissues) I reread the first part, having the knowledge I now had from the second part and thought the book was EVEN BETTER. The interweaving of history, plot points and characters is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteHow did I manage to miss this review? I'm so so so happy to hear you loved this book. I was thinking about it the other day and I almost teared up again. She really set the bar high with CNV.
ReplyDeleteI tried reading this one but couldn't get into it. I found it to be really good at the beginning, but then it just lost me.
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