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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
3.5!! I thought this was an excellent WWII story - especially because it highlights the amazing women that served. There were several sections I found myself skimming over, but overall I enjoyed the story and want to read more on the topic.
Fantastic. Can't remember the last time I blubbed like this while reading.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved this book! Can get back to normal life again now instead of sneaking around trying to read ;)
Very moving and really makes you think about how people's lives were during the war. (Clearly not everyone's was like this but the connection with the characters really made you feel for them.)
Will be searching out other books by this author for sure!
Very moving and really makes you think about how people's lives were during the war. (Clearly not everyone's was like this but the connection with the characters really made you feel for them.)
Will be searching out other books by this author for sure!
This was not an easy read-aloud book, but it did (somehow?) keep my 12-year old son's attention. It takes a LOOOONNNGGG time to start to put all the pieces of the story together, and because every character has at least two names or aliases (many have more!), I could re-read this story fifty times and pick up something new with every pass. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Anyway, because my kiddo quite enjoyed it, four stars.
Code Name Verity was a genuinely original novel told in an interesting and novel format. The unreliable narration and multiple POV created a complex layering of story that I really enjoyed reading, and the plot was fantastic. This book managed to be simultaneously funny, suspenseful and heart wrenching. Quite simply, this book is just good story telling. The characters were interesting and well developed and the kind that you miss after the book ends. I really enjoyed this novel and found that it created a very (terrifyingly) realistic glimpse into an unusual chapter of the Second World War. For historical fiction lovers a definite must, but I think this one will have wider appeal as well.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was very good. The most interesting part I think was the author's notes at the end, talking about the historical basis for the air auxiliary and the role of women pilots in support roles in WWII in England, in which she acknowledges that Maddie would not have flown to France, but that there absolutely women pilots in the air auxiliary, and also female spies. Having thought that the implausible premise was a shortcoming in this book, I was glad to read about this context.
I liked both of the main female characters, and many of the side characters as well, particularly the brother Jamie, Engle the female guard/translator in the prison, and the female pilot who mentored Maddie. I especially liked that you got to see many of these characters from both protagonist's perspective, as some had a whole new angle that wasn't apparent from Queenie's narrative, (whose real name I can't remember - audiobooks are not the easiest way to learn character names, especially when it isn't used in half the book and she has multiple aliases), which we knew was intentionally unreliable, but having Maddie give her perspective gave us another chance to view the story.
Queenie's narrative had dramatic turns, moving from the awful reports about the horrible conditions and treatment in the Nazi interrogation room, to the sometimes even whimsical recollections about her earlier life with Maddie. It seemed confusing that she knew so much about Maddie's life before those two met, as I had thought that would be a plot point
There was one part that I found particularly straining credulity, total spoiler though
Overall, an interesting read.
I liked both of the main female characters, and many of the side characters as well, particularly the brother Jamie, Engle the female guard/translator in the prison, and the female pilot who mentored Maddie. I especially liked that you got to see many of these characters from both protagonist's perspective, as some had a whole new angle that wasn't apparent from Queenie's narrative, (whose real name I can't remember - audiobooks are not the easiest way to learn character names, especially when it isn't used in half the book and she has multiple aliases), which we knew was intentionally unreliable, but having Maddie give her perspective gave us another chance to view the story.
Queenie's narrative had dramatic turns, moving from the awful reports about the horrible conditions and treatment in the Nazi interrogation room, to the sometimes even whimsical recollections about her earlier life with Maddie. It seemed confusing that she knew so much about Maddie's life before those two met, as I had thought that would be a plot point
Spoiler
I thought it would be revealed that it actually was Maddie in the prison, not Queenie.There was one part that I found particularly straining credulity, total spoiler though
Spoiler
Maddie not only sees Queenie's death, but in fact fire the shot (at great distance, at night) that hits her in the head and spares her the awful fate of the other prisoners who are being shot. She's only shot a gun a couple prior occasions, as she's a civilian pilot, but somehow she's an expert marksman, in a situation that is so unbelievable it detracted from the rest of the story. I think it would have made more sense for Queenie to die in the resistance siege of the prison / hotel, and Maddie still could have had a material role in it to feel guilty, face potential penalties, etc. One more spoiler, I think that Queenie had switched her spy ID with Maddie's as it would better protected Maddie if she survived the plane crash. Queenie never said that and Maddie never guessed that, but the girls did fly for a while after it was apparent that Queenie would parachute and they would be split up. Anyone else think that? ok, enough spoilers.Overall, an interesting read.