Tag: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War I Finally Won

by atozmom, posted in Book Reviews
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The sequel to the 2016 Newbery Honor Book The War that Saved My Life continues the story of Ada whose mother hated her because she was born with a clubfoot and locked her away.

This book begins with Ada in the hospital finally getting surgery to repair her clubfoot.  Susan, her adopted mother, is by her side as is her brother, Jaime.  The surgery is successful and after a few months Ada gets to go home.  Only their home got bombed so now they are living in a cottage owned by Lady and Lord Thorton whose daughter, Maggie, is Ada’s best friend.

Ada can now walk almost normally. She can ride her horse, Butter.  She can lead a normal life.  Only the times are not normal.  This is World War II and the war is raging all around them in England.  Food is rationed.  Gas is rationed.  All unnecessary travel is discouraged.  Bomb raids are a constant threat.

Still, Susan, Jaime, and Ada manage to lead a decent life.  However, the government takes over Lady Thorton’s home for war purposes, leaving her to move in with them in the cottage.  Lord Thorton is doing top secret work for the British government.  When he learns that Susan has a degree in Maths from Oxford, he gives her a Jewish German girl named Ruth to tutor.

Everyone does not trust Ruth who had to flee Nazi Germany because she is Jewish.  Eventually, she manages to fit in and becomes almost a sister to Ada.

This book features close family members dying in the war, Susan very sick with pneumonia, and the girls left to discover themselves in this war chaos.

Excellent historical read, dealing with profound war topics such as the Holocaust and death and the whys of war.  Yet, generosity and heroism shows through in the simplest human daily acts that will warm your heart.  Highly recommended but read The War that Saved My Life first for context and so this book will make sense.

The War that Saved my Life

by atozmom, posted in Book Reviews
The War that Saved my Life
The War that Saved my Life

“Mommy, I don’t want this book to end!” my daughter said.

The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a beautiful story of overcoming adversity and finding love set in World War II.  Ten-year-old Ada Smith was born with a clubfoot.  And her mother hates her for it.  She locks her up in their flat, refusing her to ever leave.  She crawls around and enduring humiliating treatments such as being locked in a cabinet and being physically abused.  She stays to take care of her six-year-old brother.

One day Ada decides to teach herself to walk–and she does.  Slowly over time.  Then the war starts and children are ordered to leave the city of London to avoid the bombs from Germany.  Jamie, Ada’s brother, will go, but Ada is told she can’t leave.  But she does anyways.  She sneaks out with Jamie and takes the train to the country.

There, they are the last evacuees to find a home.  And it’s with a woman named Susan Smith who is depressed over losing her best friend and has never had children.  Susan learns quickly, however.  She takes both children to the doctor.  Feeds them three solid meals a day.  Has Ada’s foot looked at and offers surgery if her mother agrees.  She clothes them, bathes them, and provides for them.  And slowly, over time, both Ada and Jamie, learn to love Susan.

Both children grow and learn.  Ada learns she’s not dumb.  She learns to read and write and ride a horse named Butter.  She helps with wounded soldiers and even catches a German spy!  Jamie befriends a cat he names Bovril.  Both children thrive.  Until one day, Ada’s mother shows up.

Ada and Jamie are taken to London but not for long.  Ada, stronger than before, stands up to her mother and gets her to admit she never wanted them and the only reason she came for them was for the money.  The next day London is bombed.  Susan finds the children in London whom she came to reclaim and they return to their home in Kent.  Only their home is no longer standing.  It was bombed.  And in the end Susan saved Ada and they saved her.

Amazingly awesome story.  I can’t recommend this book enough.  It shows the ignorance of disabilities and the treatment disabled people endured long ago.  It shows the determination of one little girl determined to have a life.  It shows the love and compassion of a stranger who opens her heart despite the fact her heart is still bleeding.  It shows the love of siblings and what one will do for family.  A heart-warming story of overcoming adversity despite the toughest odds.  And doing so at an incredibly young age.  A 2016 Newbery Honor Book.  And for good reason.