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