Wein, E. (2012). Code Name Verity. NY:
Disney-Hyperion Books.
Code Name Verity is a historical novel for young adult
readers. It is a type of dual-narrative, written in two parts and the story of
two women, Maddie Brodatt and Julie Beaufort-Stuart. It’s a story about friendship,
set amongst the backdrop of World War II.
Julie
(AKA Queenie, code name Verity) is a prisoner of war in Germany, after the
plane they were in was shot down. She is found to be a spy for the allies, and
the Germans torture her to find out intelligence. She thinks Maddie (code name
Kittyhawk) died in the crash, but she escaped and is living in hiding in
France. As Julie writes her confession, masked as the story of her friendship
with Maddie, she is able to stave off her own torture, six week
"experimentation," and subsequent execution. After crashing in France, Maddie joined a resistance group
called "Damask," and they help hide her by giving her a false
identity. In an unforeseen twist of events, a rescue attempt by
"Damask" goes awry and Maddie ends up shooting Julie to save her from
torture by the Nazis.
After
acquiring the papers written by Julie from an inside source, Maddie realizes it’s
all a farce, hidden in the true story of their friendship, and it hides a code
which she begins to decipher. It helps lead them on a mission which allows them
to carry out Julie’s original orders to destroy the headquarters of the
Gestapo. The book ends with Maddie sending Julies letters to her mother. She responds
by writing and relieving Maddie of her guilt.
This book was an emotional read. You can’t help but feel
connected to the characters and their story. This book is well suited for all
age ranges in the YA category. There are some themes such as death and torture,
which might be uncomfortable, but it is not so much to make it inappropriate.
Other more prominent themes are friendship and justice. Fitting in with
Havinghurst’s Developmental Tasks, this book incorporates ideas such as
developing a set of values that guides behavior.
** Top Ten Best Fiction YA 2013
Discussion Guide:
Book Trailer
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