The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War That Saved My Life review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2015.

ISBN 9780803740815

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The War That Saved Me follows the Smith siblings, Ada and Jamie, as they are sent to the countryside during World War II. Susan Smith, no relation, takes the children in; showing them more love and compassion than their Mam ever did back in London. Ada and Jamie learn how to adapt to being in a positive home environment and to a country fighting in an international war. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This novel does a great job of supplementing the story with historical events and tidbits to enhance the reader’s understanding of the setting. Bradley makes the historical elements a large part of the story, without allowing them to be the only driving force in the storyline. There is the wonderful character development of each of the three main characters that feel natural and not forced to further the book. The ending did feel a little rushed without answering all the questions posed throughout the novel. Overall, it is an eye-opening piece of how people with disabilities and people with lower economic standing view life and are sometimes viewed by people as well. Difficult trials are placed in front of each character that pushes them to grow and step out of their comfort zone and each character comes out stronger in the end. The plot is filled with excitement as the reader is left chapter after chapter wondering where will this take Ada? It is a wonderfully written story of how people can overcome seemingly impossible trials. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2016 NEWBERY HONOR

From Kirkus Review: “Ada narrates, recalling events and dialogue in vivid detail… Ada’s voice is brisk and honest; her dawning realizations are made all the more poignant for their simplicity.”

From Publishers Weekly: "In this poignant story, Bradley celebrates Ada’s discovery of the world outside her dismal flat, movingly tracing her growing trust of strangers and her growing affection for Miss Smith. 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: “We’re sympathetic to Ava from the start, but I don’t know that I started to really like her until she had to grapple with the enormity of Susan’s sharp-edged kindness. As an author, Bradley has the unenviable job of making a character like Ada realistic, suffering real post-traumatic stress in the midst of a war, and then in time realistically stronger.

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War I Finally Won ISBN 9780147516817

The Lacemaker and the Princess ISBN 9781416985839

Gather other works set during WWII

Denenberg, Barry. Early Sunday Morning. ISBN 9780439328746

Dickson, Shirley.The Lost Children. ISBN ‎9781838881856

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

One Crazy Summer review by Sarah Bartholomew 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2010.

ISBN 9780060760885

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to visit their mother who left them when Fern was just a baby. They have just one month to try to learn all they can about their mother that abandoned them. The year is 1968 and these young sisters see the fight for equality first hand when they join a summer camp sponsored by the Black Panthers. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

One Crazy Summer provides a unique viewpoint of the end of the Civil Rights Movement that took place in the 1960s. The story is told through the eyes of three young girls who grew up in Brooklyn, taught by their father and grandmother to keep a low profile so as not to draw increased attention to themselves because of the color of their skin. When they move to Oakland for a month, this viewpoint is challenged as the girls begin spending time around Freedom Fighters and the Black Panthers. Their way of life is turned upside down as their mother takes a backseat in parenting and, in multiple ways, neglects her daughters. Williams-Garcia creates a vivid setting that allows the reader to not only understand the physical layout of the story, but the political and social issues going on at this point in history. Each character reacts to the changes in their lives differently, and they develop in unique ways while still becoming closer as a family. A lot of events happen in the month span that the story takes place without the plot feeling forced or rushed. Williams-Garcia did a fantastic job creating a novel that addresses racial inequality, abandonment, and other tough topics in a kid-friendly way that will help readers to better understand the world around them. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2010 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

2011 CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD

2011 NEWBERY MEDAL HONOR

2011 SCOTT O’DELL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 

From Kirkus Review: “Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings...while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.”

From Publishers Weekly: “Delphine’s growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers.”

From School Library Journal: “Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Rita Williams-Garcia

P.S. Be Eleven ISBN 9780061938641

Gone Crazy in Alabama ISBN 9780062215895

Gather other Civil Rights Era works featuring a black female protagonist 

Robinson, Sharon. Child of the Dream. ISBN 9781338282818

Patrick, Denise Lewis. Melody: No Ordinary Sound. ISBN 9781683371403

Storyteller by Patricia Reilly Giff

Storyteller review by Sarah Bartholomew 

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Storyteller. New York, NY: Random House, 2010.

ISBN 9780525479017

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Storyteller follows Zee living in the 18th century and her descendant, Elizabeth, living in the 21st century. Elizabeth is sent to live with her aunt for a short time and is determined to learn everything she can about her ancestor, Zee. Despite living centuries apart, the girls have strong similarities. Elizabeth is able to learn more about herself by learning about Zee. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Giff aimed to connect Zee’s 18th-century world with Elizabeth’s 21st-century world in her novel Storyteller. Both stories take place in New York state, and Elizabeth is able to walk the path that Zee had centuries before. This allowed Zee’s story to become more real for Elizabeth and reminded the reader that those who came before us have incredible stories to be shared. There was a strong development of both girls as their stories progressed, and the reader was able to see both characters find inner strength in completely different ways. The transitions between the two stories throughout the novel were seamless and helped to progress both storylines. One element that was frustrating was the fact that Zee’s story was continually spoiled by Libby and Harry during the chapters taking place in the 21st century. This made Zee’s story slightly less intriguing and the reader was already told what would happen. All in all, Giff did a great job of showing readers how much of history is still left to be discovered. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Kirkus Review: “This is a lovely story about love and loss, a little-known aspect of Revolutionary history and the way the past informs the present, and the ending is gratifying.”

From Publishers Weekly: "Through thoughtfully crafted narratives that alternate between each heroine—Elizabeth's story is told in the third-person present tense, Zee's interior monologue is written in the past tense—Giff draws parallels between the two.”

From Historical Novel Society: “This is a fine addition to historical fiction about the American Revolution, particularly because Giff writes about battles that are less familiar to readers. Highly recommended for readers who like strong female protagonists and American history.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Patricia Reilly Giff 

Genevieve’s War ISBN ‎9780823441785

Island War ISBN 9780823439546

Gather other works set during the American Revolution 

McNamee, Libby Carter. Susanna’s Midnight Ride. ISBN 9781732220201

Tripp, Valerie. Meet Felicity. ISBN 9781562470043