by Elizabeth Wein
It's 1943 and two British girls crash land in Nazi-occupied France. One of them is a spy captured by the Gestapo. One is a pilot never trained to be on the war front. In their own way, each has to complete a mission important to turning the war against the Germans. It is a matter of life and death.
Powerful, cunning, fingernail-biting good. Code Name Verity is one of the best wartime novels in recent memory. The best part is that the protagonists, both women, are not left on the homefront to "come of age." These women are in the mix of battle from the get go, doing their part and more to help the war effort.
The story of their friendship, the high price that the war demands of them, and the grace and panache with which they handle it will leave you marveling at the storytelling ability of the author. Fantastic read!