Table of Contents
About The Book
When James Bond was still in diapers, Virginia Hall was behind enemy lines, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler’s henchmen. Did she have second thoughts after a terrible accident left her needing a wooden leg? Please. Virginia Hall was the baddest broad in any room she walked into. When the State Department proved to be a sexist boys’ club that wouldn’t let her in, she gave the finger to society’s expectations of women and became a spy for the British. This boss lady helped arm and train the French Resistance and organized sabotage missions. There was just one problem: The Butcher of Lyon, a notorious Gestapo commander, was after her. But, hey—Virginia’s classmates didn’t call her the Fighting Blade for nothing.
So how does a girl who was a pirate in the school play, spent her childhood summers milking goats, and rocked it on the hockey field end up becoming the Gestapo’s most wanted spy? Audacious, irreverent, and fiercely feminist, Code Name Badass is for anyone who doesn’t take no for an answer.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 7, 2021)
- Length: 384 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534431898
- Ages: 14 - 99
- Lexile ® 1200L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Raves and Reviews
"Demetrios tells this fascinating story in an uber-modern narrative voice that is snarky AF, LOL, with plenty of hits to the patriarchy and a glorious sense of celebrating Dindy’s badassery. . . meticulously well-researched. . . A remarkable telling of an extraordinary woman."
– Kirkus Reviews
"Frequent first-person asides and ample pop culture references make even the more mundane details highly readable . . . Demetrios provides a thoroughly researched history of “La dame qui boite,” and those just discovering Dindy will be convinced that she was, in fact, a badass."
– BCCB
"Bringing together rigorous research and a vibrant writing style . . . [the author] creates a solidarity rooted in feminism and affectionately breaks the fourth wall to engage teens to keep reading. It’s a creative liberty, reminiscent of Jason Reynolds’s Stamped. . .This is a fun, illuminating read. . . A delightful account of an epic spy . . ."
– School Library Journal
"[The] true story of one of history’s greatest spies, documented in this well-researched biography. Using a conversational style replete with expletives, Demetrios blends necessary background information on WWII with detailed accounts of Hall’s espionage and reconnaissance missions in Vichy France. . . An enlightening account of a heroine worth knowing."
– Booklist
Awards and Honors
- ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- Evergreen High School Book Award List (WA)
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Top Pick
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Code Name Badass eBook 9781534431898
- Author Photo (jpg): Heather Demetrios Photograph by Zach Fehst(0.1 MB)
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