Real Teens Read: Code Name Verity

The teen literature group read Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and learned more about WWII and aviation by attending two awesome field trips along with our kid's literature group.
First of all, if this book hasn't been "on your radar," it is definitely worth considering for your teen readers. It is on my list of favorite books, and the events and characters really stay with you long after you finish reading. The teens all loved Code Name Verity, and we had a wonderful discussion meeting after they read it. We've read several books set during WWII, and this one gave us a unique perspective through the eyes of the strong female characters.
In addition to our meeting to discuss the book and its historical background, we attended field trips to the American Legion War Museum and to a small airport.

We were honored to meet real life heroes at the war museum! Several WWII veterans spoke to our group about their experiences in the war, both in the Pacific and European fronts. One gentleman survived the bombing and sinking of the aircraft carrier he was on and was in the water for several hours before being rescued!

Not only was this field trip informative and educational, but it was a "once in a lifetime" experience for the kids as they talked with and learned from these brave men. It was also especially emotional for all of us to see the personal cost of war and to hear what these men sacrificed for freedom. One gentleman, a former drill sergeant, teared up several times as he reminisced and shared his "soldier's heart" with us.

Our second field trip, to a small local airport, was fun and truly hands-on in every sense of the word. We learned about several facts of aviation, first from the pilot side, then from the air traffic control side, and finally from the mechanical/technical side.
Many of the kids, as well as the parents who accompanied us, had never been in an airplane, so it was really a special treat to get to climb inside and "take the controls" of these marvelous machines.