Code Name Verity

Bibliography

Wein, E. E. (2012). Code name verity (M. Christie & L. Gaskell, Narr.). [Audible Audiobook] Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Plot Summary

Code Name Verity tells the story of two young British women, Julia Beaufort-Stuart and Maddie Broddatt. Set during WWII, we follow the blossoming friendship of Julia, the intelligence agent, and Maddie, the pilot, through each protagonists’ own narrative. This work of historical fiction begins with Julia’s tale written as her confession to the Gestapo after her capture in Nazi-occupied France. Julia’s, or Queenie’s, confession moves between her first-person account of her treatment at the behest of Hauptsturmführer von Linden and her third-person account of Maddie and Queenie’s friendship and their foray into the male dominant war efforts of the time. Julia's verity, or truth, will leave you shaken. It is impossible to proceed with the plot summary without spilling the beans. Part 2 will leave you wondering, what would you do for your very best friend? (It was almost impossible or me to type the last line without shedding a tear.)

Critical Analysis

Elizabeth Wein’s words come to life through Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell. Christie assumes the role of Julia Beaufort-Stuart and Gaskell as Maddie Broddatt. The unabridged audio version through Audible download is crisp and clear. The audiobook ends with the Author’s Debriefing discussing her search for authenticity as she wrote the book. Christie’s and Gaskell’s readings are engaging and allow you to picture the female protagonists. 

While I listened to the book in its entirety, I also purchased a copy. The paperback copy allows readers to see the underlined code that Wein reveals about Julia’s confession. The characters are likeable and believable. It is easy to get wrapped up in the words and imagine being in England and flying planes. The story is seamless and allows even people with little knowledge about WWII (like myself) to imagine what was happening at that time and how people were affected in Europe. The themes of friendship, loyalty, heroism and bravery are felt through the emotions of the characters and the trials they face.

Review Excerpts

From Booklist:

“But the writing is so superb and both readers so seamless in their deliveries that teens should quickly become engrossed in this amazing historical fiction.” -Shari Fesko

From Kirkus:

“A carefully researched, precisely written tour de force; unforgettable and wrenching.”

Awards and Honors

• UK Literacy Association Award, 2013

• Edgar Award, 2013

• Shortlisted for the 2013 CILIP Carnegie Award

• Printz Honor Book, 2013

• Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, 2012

• Golden Kite Award Honor Book, 2013

• Shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Award, 2013

• 2013 Catalyst Book Award (East Lanarkshire County Council, Scotland)

Connections

This book could be used to discuss the value of friendship. How do friends treat each other? How do friends support each other? How do students’ friendships compare to the friendship between Julie and Maddie? What would you be willing to do for your friend?

Additional books about women’s courage during wartime can be collected to discuss their roles. What roles did women take during wartime? How were their roles different from the roles that they had before wartime? Additional books could include:

• Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

• Flygirl by Sherri Smith

• Code Name Lise: The true story of the woman who became WWII’s most highly decorated spy by Larry Loftis