The War That Saved My Life

 

Book: The War That Saved My Life 

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 

Illustrator: N/A

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Awards: Newbery Honor 

Age Group: 5-12 

Summary: 

Set in England during World War II, we follow the story of Ada and Jaime who lived with a very abusive mother; Mam. Life was horrible for Ada since she received the brunt of the abuse due to the fact that she was crippled. Having a clubfoot, Ada was forced to stay inside all day so that no one could see her, was usually hit, constantly told that she was a disgrace/monster, and was forced to spend nights in a roach-infested cabinet. With the threat of their home being bombed due to the war, both Ada and Jaime run off with the other children evacuees and find themselves at the doorstep of Susan Smith. Susan Smith, despite her constant complaints of not knowing how to care for children, reluctantly takes them in. In this new place, Ada is allowed to roam freely, learns to ride a pony, befriends many people, and learns to read and write. Despite all this, Ada still deeply struggles with her mothers abuse and constantly believes she is not worthy of all the good things in her life due to being crippled. As the war rages on and unbeknownst to Ada, her, Jaime, and Susan become a family. When Mam finally comes back to get her children, Ada is unrecognizable to her. Back at Mam's house, we see the vast difference between Susan's warmth and Mam's cruelness.  With her new found strength, Ada is able to stand up to Mam and declares that she and Jaime will be leaving. Ada and Jaime end up reuniting with Susan and despite their home being destroyed by an air raid, Ada is content to be around people who love her.  

Evaluations and Comments: 

It was a little tough having to read the beginning of The War That Saved My Life. However, child abuse is a real thing and this book does a great job in effectively showing readers what it is and the impact it has on a child. It doesn't sugar coat it and as the story progresses, it shows that it still has an effect on a person even if they are in a loving and comforting home. With that, we have characters like Susan, who never in any way, made Ada feel like her feelings weren't valid. She stood with her, understood her, and was there when she needed comfort. 

Due to the nature of the book, this book would be best for middle to high schoolers. On the history side, students can read this book while they are learning about World War II to help get a better understanding of the subject and get a different point of view (since we often only get an American perspective). This book would also work great when talking about emotions/feelings. Ada's journey from an abused girl to becoming a girl accepting of who she is (acknowledging that she's not just crippled and that it isn't her fault) is a great conversation starter and can lead to many meaningful discussions. 

In conclusion, The War That Saved My Life has my seal of approval! 🥇😄