When I opened the box wrapped in pretty wrapping paper with a note on it that said, “Read This Book If You Have Enjoyed: The Book Thief, We Were Liars and Gone Girl,” I truly had no idea what to expect. I uncovered Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein -- a book unfamiliar to me. However, given this initial excitement of my purchase, my expectations were high. Luckily, Code Name Verity did not disappoint. It is a novel that makes you cry out of both love and heartbreak. Prepare some tissues and get comfy; you're in for quite the ride.
Code Name Verity is a twisted version of your classic best-friends story. It follows the friendship between two girls, one British and the other Scottish, during World War II. When one of the friends is captured by the Gestapo, she is forced to either reveal her mission or face execution.
The mission that “Verity” reveals to the Gestapo is, in essence, the novel. Through her recollections, readers learn more about the two friends and their relationship, while Verity, in turn, learns more about herself.
As a reader, it tore me apart to hear a young girl -- who now is living in a tiny jail cell under crude conditions -- reminisce about times spent with her best friend. There's just something about an author evoking memories (of any kind) that pulls heartstrings. It's different from describing the present, because the past, whether good or bad, invokes nostalgia and melancholy. We all know it and have felt it, because that’s one of those sentiments that is universal; I don't think I've ever once thought about moments from my past without missing some aspect of it. Likewise, witnessing Verity as she goes through this very experience from inside of a jail cell is just such a raw human moment. There's no way not to feel the inherent heartbreak.
“It's like being in love, discovering your best friend.” - Code Name Verity
Code Name Verity, in this sense, is tragic. But, at the end of every tunnel, there is light; Code Name Verity is also beautiful and empowering. It's a rare YA novel that centers around female friendship and power -- not an ephemeral romance (which is minimal), not the cute boy next door, not a newfound love interest. And that, I think, is what really makes Code Name Verity stand out.
“It was a rather extraordinary conversation if you think about it -- both of us speaking in code. But not military code, not Intelligence or Resistance code -- just feminine code.” - Code Name Verity
Throughout the novel, Wein incorporates many allusions, most of which I didn't understand. Actually, the sheer abundance of mature allusions makes me think that perhaps I am not yet knowledgeable enough to enjoy the full fruit of the book. I'd love to read the book again when I'm older and see if I can get even more from it. But, I do understand the frequent allusions to Peter Pan, and they are the ultimate representation of what I will remember most from this book. It is an intelligent, down-to-earth, raw story about female friendship and its power. It is quite like finding Neverland.
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