minty's review against another edition
5.0
I love books that compel you to re-read them immediately. This book had a slow build, and right around halfway I was a little bored, but then the pace picked up and it was engaging to the end. I like how thoughtful and careful the storytelling is.
I give this five stars but it's maybe slightly more rightly 4.5.
Bonus: the book's agent is a friend of a friend from college!
I give this five stars but it's maybe slightly more rightly 4.5.
Bonus: the book's agent is a friend of a friend from college!
iramdham's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ybug09's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a great story about girls in war time who had the courage to do dangerous work. It's been a long time since I've read a historical fiction and this one was definitely worth it. I enjoyed the way that it was written and that you really had to pay attention to understand the big picture. I loved listening to this audiobook! It made the experience even better because I could grasp the character shifts, emotions and just overall descriptions of everything going on.
kappareads's review against another edition
4.0
It was good! It's the kind of book I want to go back and read physically with sticky notes, so I may reread this one day.
The twists definitely hit me, but I think I just didn't connect to the characters enough or something for this to be a 5 star read. I do at least understand the hype a little bit now
The twists definitely hit me, but I think I just didn't connect to the characters enough or something for this to be a 5 star read. I do at least understand the hype a little bit now
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
4.0
This was a unique book with fantastic writing. It took me a while to get into the rambling style of the first POV, but as her circumstances became more clear, I starting understanding the rhythm of the writing. I loved that while this was a period piece, the author herself doesn't define the novel as true historical fiction and no characters were true historical figures. I knew that spy networks were a huge part of WWII and that women spies were common, but I didn't know that female pilots existed at that time(even if it was mostly "taxi" work). Very interesting book.
m_kaythen's review against another edition
5.0
On October 11, 1943, a British plane crashes into Nazi-occupied France carrying a pilot and a spy. When the spy is then captured by the Gestapo, she must weave together a confession for her torturers to try to save her own life. Through the pages of her confession, she reveals how she met and became friends with the plane's pilot, Maddie, and how they both ended up in that crashed plane. As her captivity goes on, she wrestles with the fact that all of the secrets she's betrayed still might not be enough to save her life.
It's gonna take me awhile to emotionally recover from reading this book. One of my absolute favorite things is stories that trust their audience, and this book fits that description. Almost every element of the story is a secret that is revealed during the course of the book, and Wein trusts that you remember what happened earlier in the book, instead of pointing at every clever thing her characters do and saying "look what I did guys, did you get it?" The framing device of the two main characters writing the story down for others to read allowed the point of view to be closely first person while still maintaining a distance that allows them to keep secrets from the readers. Even the side characters were interesting and complex, and Jamie and Amelie are both precious, I tell you, precious .
I'd recommend Code Name Verity to readers around 15 and up, as there are some descriptions of torture and some strong language. Readers who enjoy mysteries and/or historical fiction, especially about World War II, which has basically become its own sub-genre by now. It would also appeal to readers who like unreliable narrators, strong female friendships, and stories involving espionage.
It's gonna take me awhile to emotionally recover from reading this book. One of my absolute favorite things is stories that trust their audience, and this book fits that description. Almost every element of the story is a secret that is revealed during the course of the book, and Wein trusts that you remember what happened earlier in the book, instead of pointing at every clever thing her characters do and saying "look what I did guys, did you get it?" The framing device of the two main characters writing the story down for others to read allowed the point of view to be closely first person while still maintaining a distance that allows them to keep secrets from the readers. Even the side characters were interesting and complex, and Jamie and Amelie are both precious, I tell you, precious .
Spoiler
Also, the words "Kiss me Hardy" now make me emotional, so there's that.I'd recommend Code Name Verity to readers around 15 and up, as there are some descriptions of torture and some strong language. Readers who enjoy mysteries and/or historical fiction, especially about World War II, which has basically become its own sub-genre by now. It would also appeal to readers who like unreliable narrators, strong female friendships, and stories involving espionage.
axel_'s review against another edition
WHAT A BOOK!
it was amazing, just captavinting loved every second of it.
it was amazing, just captavinting loved every second of it.
cryingscarf's review against another edition
Just hard to follow along or care about the characters.