The War That Saved My Life

The War That Saved My Life

Written by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Newbery Honor

This novel follows a ten year old girl, named Ada, and her six year old brother Jamie, on a rough journey trying to gain freedom during the WWII. Ada was born with a clubfoot and has been abused and ridiculed by her own mother or also called mam, since she is embarrassed of Ada. While being forced and stuck in their small apartment all day long, Ada spends her time trying and learning to walk on her own, cooking and taking care of Jamie. 

Once WWII was declared, the government forced the children of London to move to a safer area, the countryside of England, Kent. There, Ada and Jamie is placed with Susan Smith. Susan is use to taking care of just herself, but later took on the motherly role towards Ada and Jamie. Ada learned how to ride and take care of a horse she fell in love with, Butter. Ada also learned how to read, write, sew, and walk properly with crutches. Ada and Jamie were able to experience what nature is like outside of muggy London. The both of them made friends with the soldiers at the airbase next to their house and with the rest of the villagers. But even more, Ada and Jamie experienced something different while living with Susan than with mam, motherly love that showed kindness, patience, and love. 

The children's mother finally came, after being reached to for months, to take Ada and Jamie home back to London, leaving Susan all alone again. Mam confessed to them that she ultimately did not want children and only had them since their father insisted. Ada and Jamie realized that their real home is back in Kent, with Susan. While mam went off to work at night, London was airstrike by Germany, forcing Ada and Jamie to seek shelter. The next morning, Ada and Jamie found Susan in the streets and was embraced in Susan's arms again. Once the three of them arrived back in Kent, Susan's house was bombed and completely gone when she left to search for Ada and Jamie. It is then that they realized that not only did Susan save the children's lives from mam, but that they saved her life from the bombing.

I absolutely loved and enjoyed this novel! I haven't teared up this much in a long time while reading a book. This is an essential to have in the classroom for the students to enjoy while reading. This book would be fitting for third to fifth grades. This book can introduce a unit about World Wars. This also encourages and teaches students on what it means to persevere through life challenges and conflicts.