The War that Saved My Life

Image courtesy of Dial for Young Readers

Bibliography

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. New York: Dial for Young Readers, 2015. Print. ISBN 9780147510488

Plot Summary

There’s a whole world beyond Ada’s apartment, but with her clubfoot she’s not allowed to leave. In her mother’s words, “You’re nobbut a disgrace! A monster, with that ugly foot!” School, friends, and even going down the hall to the restroom are out of the question. Her little brother brings word that London will be bombed and he’s to evacuate. Against her mother’s wishes, Ada escapes the apartment with her brother to the countryside. A whole new life of horse riding and learning manners in a home where she’s loved brings her the normal life she’s been longing for, but she lives with the fear that her mother will come back for them.

Critical Analysis

I instantly felt connected with Ada and her brother with the realistic characterization of each. Ada is cautious, yet extremely brave. When she becomes the hero of her new village, readers feel true joy for her. The balance of rising action, suspense, despair, and resolution in this story is about the best I’ve ever experienced. Just when I thought I had predicted where the story was going, Bradley throws a curve ball. This book left me on edge to the very end.

Bradley has a reputation for researching that feeds her historical fiction novels with authenticity. The War that Saved My Life serves up real events of WWII and realistic happenings around the fictional characters in London and a country village near the English shore. Complete details of the settings fill the reader’s imagination as Ada takes them all in for the first time in life. Bradley weaves the details of the story together for an effortless read. Told from Ada’s point of view, readers will find themselves rooting for her through the thick of the war. Use of dialect is minimal, but some vocabulary surrounding care of horses and British words create interest in the time and place.  

Themes such as community coming together to help each other accomplish their mission reflect the political war culture of the time. Ada learning to love and help Susan while Susan begins to love again and help Ada leads to themes that withstand the passage of time. The War that Saved My Life is a refreshing WWII tale from a unique perspective.

Awards and Review Excerpts

2016 Newbery Honor Book

2016 Schneider Family Book Award

Wall Street Journal’s Best Children’s Books

Publishers Weekly Best Books

The Horn Book Fanfare Book

From Kirkus Reviews: “Set against a backdrop of war and sacrifice, Ada’s personal fight for freedom and ultimate triumph are cause for celebration.”

From Publishers Weekly: “Proving that her courage and compassion carry far more power than her disability, Ada earns self-respect, emerges a hero, and learns the meaning of home.”

From School Library Journal: “Ms. Bradley does a stellar job of bringing to life this struggle in Ada and in inflaming a similar struggle in the hearts of her young readers.”

Connections

Compare ways that communities and countries support war efforts in wars of the past to current wars.

Compare ways that birth defects are handled in different situations. Start a fundraiser to help raise funds for a charity that helps correct birth defects in poor communities.

Pair with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ISBN 978-0385751537 for a different perspective on WWII.

Write or Skype with someone who lived through WWII to understand different perspectives first hand. Look at primary source documents to see evidence of the happenings and feelings of the time.