This historical novel about the roles of women during World War is a great read. Written by Elizabeth Wein, it is the story of two young women who meet in England while performing their respective duties for the war effort. Maddie is a young self-made mechanic training to become a pilot in late 1939, when Britain declares war on Germany and all civil aircraft had to be grounded. So Maddie joins the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) where women did everything BUT fly planes. She becomes a radio operator, and meets Queenie, a wireless operator also in the WAAF, and they become fast friends. Both women, however, switch roles as the war progresses, Maggie becomes a pilot in the Civil Air Guard, where as a member of the ATA ( Air Transport Auxiliary), she transports passengers involved in the war effort. Queenie moves into the Special Operations section and becomes a spy interrogator. The two experience a plane crash over northern France and become separated in German occupied territory, where Maggie goes into hiding and Queenie is eventually captured by the Gestapo.
The novel is told in varying accounts by Maggie and Queenie, and as a reader the author skillfully draws you in to the time period so you experience first hand what it was like to have been either of the two heroines. Code Name Verity has a very powerful ending, and if you have any interest in historical fiction, this is a must read.