The War That Saved My Life
Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So, when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute, and she sneaks out to join him.
So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take in the two kids. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan. And Susan begins to fall in love with Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
I cannot believe that this book is in the middle school section. It’s more suitable for high school or adult readers. The subjects discussed in this book are pretty hardcore. And I’m not talking about the war. That’s horrible for its own reasons. I’m talking about how Ada and Jamie’s mother doesn’t care about them one bit. I find it heartbreaking to read about kids who aren’t loved by their parents.
Ada has lived with so much hatred and pain that the first time someone offers her kindness, she doesn’t know what to make of it, and that’s just sad. I know for a fact I wouldn’t have been able to handle her story as a kid.
The War I Finally Won
When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—damaged, deranged, disabled mentally as well as physically. She’s not a daughter anymore, either. What is she?
World War II continues, and Ada and her brother, Jamie, are living with their loving legal guardian, Susan, in a borrowed cottage on the estate of the formidable Lady Thorton—along with Lady Thorton herself and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded cottage is tense enough, and then, quite suddenly, Ruth, a Jewish girl from Germany, moves in. A German? The occupants of the house are horrified. But other impacts of the war become far more frightening. As death creeps closer to their door, life and morality during wartime grow more complex. Who is Ada now? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?
I was not expecting a sequel, but I guess there was more to discuss.
These books are a perfect introduction to historical fiction. It’s a serious subject you will learn in history class, but it’s not just facts and figures. It’s about real people and how the war affected them.
I think my mom enjoyed these books more than I did. She’s more into historical fiction books than I am. But if you’re interested in reading about one girl’s point of view of World War II, this is the book for you.
This week’s Weird but True Fact about World War II
During World War II, scientists tried to make a replacement for hard-to-find rubber – and wound up making Silly Putty.
Well, that’s it for 2018! See you all next year!