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The ending is upsetting, to come all that way only to have Julie/Verity shot by Maddie/KittyHawk, I know that Maddie did the right thing but was still a shocking ending, what are your thoughts?

I was also disappointed. But I cannot think of anything better.

They could've found a way to rescue Verity. That would've been better.

They could have, but where would the plot twist have been? A rescue mission would have been all too predictable, and on top of that, it's more realistic that Verity actually ended up dying. I hate to say it because I liked her character, but that ended up happening a lot.

I'm sure it would've been more realistic, but I get bummed out by sad endings :)

A quick death by a friend is preferable to being a scientific experiment. Plus it kept her cover--the French boy still thought her a traitor.

Remember that in the list of fears earlier, one (if not both--can't remember) said that a fear was of "killing someone."
I think that a rescue would have been a trite ending--too easy and too 'American.' Life--and war--simply doesn't work that way. Espionage involves tough trade-offs and clearly Verity understood this when she took the mission. Frankly, if the book had ended with a "happily ever after"-type ending, I think the book would quickly descend to the realm of the forgettable--despite how well it is written.
I think the emotional reaction the reader has when Verity dies is part of what makes the book so strong. My jaw dropped when I read it--and I consider that a good thing in a book. There are far to many 'easy' stories around that make you feel warm and happy. This book forces you to consider the depths of friendship and duty and to contemplate what you would have done had you been in either girl's position. The fact that readers can't shake this book or these questions is a great testament to the power of the writing.

This book, done in the two voices and the plot twist evoked strong emotions in me as I listened to it - and I do recommend the audio version. Kiss me,Hardy!
Verity's death was something I expected, but not in that manner...and I think that it is what will make this a hard to forget read.

I found the ending quite moving, and it made me think of what the ultimate sacrifice for a friend is...to face their own fear and to have to live with the fact that they killed their best friend(for a very humane reason, but still the burden to one's soul...)Maddie is a very strong woman, and 'the best' of friend's. I also thought that by the end, Maddie gained a whole family and while this is 'no prize,' for the loss of Julie, for me, I felt some comfort in the mutual support these characters would offer each other.

The only small comment I have is about the 3rd person narration of part 1 - Julie's portion of the story. While it was an interesting approach to the telling,I felt a little distanced from the girl's relationship which is a natural outcome of 3rd person POV...Julie's narration of prison was so vivid while the story of the blossoming friendship faded in parts...for example, at the beginning, when Julie was re-telling Maddie's version of her first encounter with a plane, I felt some distance as I did when Julie was descibing the growing friendship between through Queenie...

Very powerful book though and I really appreciated the writer's note at the end about it being a work of fiction (very good work indeed)rather than a historical account...

I did expect Julie to die. Not necessarily in that way, though it did not surprise me. You can't have a book like this and not kill off one of the main characters. Julie being the more obvious one to die.
Even if Julie did survive, she wouldn't have been the same.

Vania wrote: "The only small comment I have is about the 3rd person narration of part 1 - Julie's portion of the story. While it was an interesting approach to the telling,I felt a little distanced from the girl's relationship which is a natural outcome of 3rd person POV."

And I also felt those parts were a little hard to get into. It might have been the 3rd person POV. I'm not sure. :/

I was VERY sad when Maddie decided to shoot Julie. I think they could have found another way out. UGH WHY DO THE GOOD ONES DIE?

I also thought that shee wouldnt die like that. Just not that way. It was too suddent and VERY unpredictable

The amazing thing is that the second time you read it, and you are just waiting for the end, you'll notice all this foreshadowing of Julie's death. I never considered that Maddie would shoot Julie (though I did expect her to die) even though the second read makes it obvious that that's what the book was building up to.

People die in wars and the Nazis made sure that MANY people died.

I listened to the audio book and broke into tears at Julie's death. Like Bev, I recommend the audio format.

Of course I was saddened by the death and the awful waste of lives. But that's what war does. The strength of the girls' friendship in the face of horror is the reason I found the book so moving. The final letter from Julie's mother helped to ease the loss of the remarkable young woman.

Josiphine's second reading is a good idea, an idea I think I'll follow.

Melissa wrote: "I was also disappointed. But I cannot think of anything better."

I was also disappointed when I got to that part of the story. I thought they would rescue Verity. But I think that was the only way Maddie could "recue" Verity, or set her free.

This was the best way for her to go, as the story demanded. Here's how Julie could have died; in a concentration camp undergoing serious physical torture, dying slowly and anonymously, alone. Instead, she was with the person she cared about most when she died, who saw her die, and who rescued her from a worse death. She died on her terms, triumphantly, spitting in the enemy's face, with Maddie right there. Out of all the things she feared about the way she was going to die (alone in a cell, beaten to death by guards, cut open in a camp, starved to death) she wasn't alone and she knew Maddie was going to tell her story and inform her family what happened to her. And Julie was ready to go. And she faced her death nobly.

I still wept, but I also felt the incredible triumph and defiance in her death. The Nazi's didn't kill her, and she decided when she was going to go, not them. Kiss me Hardy indeed.

Maddie wrote: "This was the best way for her to go, as the story demanded. Here's how Julie could have died; in a concentration camp undergoing serious physical torture, dying slowly and anonymously, alone. Inste..."

Excellent comment. I know it sounds strange, but the death was amazingly life affirming.

First of all, I want to say that this war must have been pure terror. National Socialism was an indescribably evil disgrace to humanity. Many of You have grandparents who fought proudly against the Germans in World War II, but I (as a 25-year old German) and others have Grandparents who were bombed out of their homes at night and could not get a whole night's sleep ever since. My parents were born during the war, their first baby-impressions were gunshots and explosions - for years! Nowadays, in Germany it still is common to find old, still explodable bombs when building a new house.

Second, this is not American history, it is not German history, it is World history - Our history. It is the blackest spot ever to be found in the history of the human race.

Third: I don't mean to be rude, but I think that many people have lost the connection to reality. In the first place, making a war novel has two major aspects: Making money (bad) and Reviving History for educational purposes (respectable). But then, feeling history is completely different. In my very neighbourhood, there was a Concentration Camp, only some 53 years ago. I have been to that beach in France, and let me tell You: Just seeing the sea, the sand, the dunes really scared me rigid. Talking with my grandma (she led a baby nursing home in that time), that's history. Just sitting in a movie theatre, listening to SDDS and watching Tom Hanks cry is a different experience.

What I want to state here is that there is quite a difference between a novel (may it be as realistic as possible) and real history. This really happened! Millions of people were slaughtered in the most cruel ways! By other people! When I go to my University building, I see the holes in the wall which have been there since the war. They have never been repaired in order to give people something to think about. From exactly that building, Sophie Scholl and her friends threw Anit-Nazi papers into the crowd and got executed only a short time later.

It is not the most impressive war books I have ever seen (that's "The Bridge" from 1959), but it shows how the war was like. In all aspects. Anyway, how can war books be "good" or "best"? "The book thief" is an exceptional educational masterpiece, it should be recommended together with "Schindler's List", but it is only a movie. It cannot replace reality.

So, I recommend this: Watch the movies, everyone! But also think about the real people of any nation that were cruelly murdered in those years, and think about those who lived through it. Even think of those who were with the regime and still walk the earth. Then, book a ticket for Europe, see the Normandy for yourself, see Berlin, see Dresden, see Munich, see the wounds of history. And see that being German is not the same as being a Nazi. After You get home to wherever You come from, I promise, You then will have a different view of reality.

Wow this book must've really pissed you off huh?

Indeed .I have zero respect for authors that stereotype nations like that .

The ending was truly a shock and I do wish that Julie didn't die, but then again I kinda prefer that ending. But the one thing that bugged me was how fast pace they made her death. I was shock and I did feel sad, but I wasn't heartbroken. I wanted to be heartbroken, due that she's my favorite character, but it wasn't as intense as I wanted it. But all and all I really did enjoy the book.

I felt like the book did not take the whole subject seriously enough and made light of a lot of things. Really, this ending was a much better end for Julie than would have really happened.

Bev wrote: "This book, done in the two voices and the plot twist evoked strong emotions in me as I listened to it - and I do recommend the audio version. Kiss me,Hardy!

I cannot agree more! The audiobook left me in such a state that I couldn't listen to or read another book for a month after I finished. Nothing could compare to the dramatic reading until time put a faded patina to the story and the emotions it brought.

Meghan wrote: "I felt like the book did not take the whole subject seriously enough and made light of a lot of things. Really, this ending was a much better end for Julie than would have really happened."

The book was marketed as a YA book. There's only so much brow beating and sermonizing you can direct at teenagers before you repel them. This is a fictional story set during WWII and the author makes that very clear in her note at the end of the book. The book was written to include aspects of history that the author found interesting (such as the ballpoint pen) while providing her leeway to write the story she wanted. The story is one of friendship and facing fears set amidst the events of WWII. It was not a story whose purpose was to create a totally factual recreation and moralization of that war. I find it amazing that there was enough factual information that really grounded the story that people are arguing that it's not real enough.

Dusty Bibliophile wrote: "Meghan wrote: "I felt like the book did not take the whole subject seriously enough and made light of a lot of things. Really, this ending was a much better end for Julie than would have really hap..."

I know perfectly well that this was a YA book but the author did not take things seriously. You can be serious and age appropriate at the same time. Facts like ball point pens are completely irrelevant to what I'm talking about. The girls sounded more like stereotypical teenagers of today than young adults of back then. I've read other YA books on this topic that do a much better job portraying it.

The end really surprised me though I expected Julie to die. I feel like Maddie killing Julie was hardest on Maddie, not Julie. Julie ASKED Maddie to kill her. Obviously it was a hard choice for her, but we all know that was the best way for it to end since they were unable to save her. I'm also not sure Julie would have wanted to survive the war. I think the way she had to give up everything and pretend to be a traitor would have been really hard to live with, maybe death would have been preferable...

I liked the premise of the story. I must agree with some of the others above who mentioned the girls sound like stereotypical teenagers. My problem with this is that they are not suppose to been teenagers but young women in their 20s. I like the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society much better.

Susan wrote: "Continued to hope until the last second that Julie had somehow survived. Ugh. Can anyone tell me if I should read #2? Loved Code Name Verity but worried the second will ruin the magic of the first...."

I was kind of afraid to read it too, but the second one doesn't really have much to do with the first one in terms of plot. There are a few references to Julie, Jamie, and Maddie, but the plot doesn't build onto CNV's plot.

Susan wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Susan wrote: "Continued to hope until the last second that Julie had somehow survived. Ugh. Can anyone tell me if I should read #2? Loved Code Name Verity but worried the second w..."

It would have been cool, but I wouldn't want to inflict upon Julie the suffering of concentration camp. Most of all though, I wouldn't want to inflict on Maddie the thought that she shot her friend for absolutely no reason... :) I see what you mean though!!

Just finished this. WOW. So. Good. I was super surprised by the ending, too, but as a few people have said - it made the book more realistic. My jaw dropped after the last "Kiss me, Hardy!" I honestly think that's what made this book great - that it defied the stereotypical ending of its genre.

Also, can we talk a little about Jamie?! He was one of my favorite characters! From his "MA CHERIE!", I knew I loved him. And then the boots. UGH, that made me cry. :)

I accidentally read these out of order, so I met Rose first. Then Maddie and Julie. Both books were so moving. I think because I read them backwards, I was so happy that Maddie shot Julie. "Kiss me, Hardy!" Indeed. What amazing books. I hope there is a third, but it seems fairly wrapped up.

In response to Madeleine (message 16), well said. I completely agree. Great story and great ending!

Leah wrote: "They could have, but where would the plot twist have been? A rescue mission would have been all too predictable, and on top of that, it's more realistic that Verity actually ended up dying. I hate ..."

Wow, I'm late to this party... It's 2016! I'm still stuck on this book though.

It's one of my favorite books. And I have to say I love the ending. I cried and cried honestly, but it's realistic and it's not a fairytale ending and I love that because this is a book about WWII. I mean, the chances of them actually being able to find a way to get Julie out were so slim.

And the fact that Maddie did it. "Kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me quick! It's probably one of my very favorite scenes in the book, it give gives the feels but I loved it. And, in Rose Under Fire, when Rose meets Maddie afterwards, Maddie does say that Julie never would've survived that, so all in all I think the ending is amazing.

Ashley wrote: "Just finished this. WOW. So. Good. I was super surprised by the ending, too, but as a few people have said - it made the book more realistic. My jaw dropped after the last "Kiss me, Hardy!" I hones..."

Exactly! And I love that scene. The way it's written is amazing.

And I LOVE Jamie too. Love love him.

Barbara wrote: "Maddie wrote: "This was the best way for her to go, as the story demanded. Here's how Julie could have died; in a concentration camp undergoing serious physical torture, dying slowly and anonymousl..."

just yes to this.

I'm late to the party too. Oops.
I did a double-take and then had a crying jag at "Kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me, quick!" Because I thought Julie was just happy to find Maddie in the vicinity but oh boy was it a shock when she shot her but it suddenly made so much sense.
Not ashamed to admit I kept hoping till the end that there'd be a surprise reappearance of Julie but ah my heart
This book reminded of a thing I read once that had apparently been left written on a wall of a Jewish concentration camp during WW2 that said "If there is a God, he shall have to ask for my forgiveness."
Makes one certainly wonderl.
Other than that, the book was absolutely wonderful. A ride from start to finish. AND CAN SOMEONE PLS MENTION VON LINDEN?? HELLO??? His suicide at the end rly made me feel the true horrors of that time.

YES SAME. Honestly I had and still have no real complaints about this book, I love it so much; its definitely one of my favorites and I HIGH KEY want to get a tattoo that reads "kiss me hardy" because that's seriously how deep my love for the book goes.