The War That Saved My Life

 

Title- The War That Saved My Life 
Author/Retold- Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 
Genre- Newbery Honor
Grade level- 7-12th grade

The story begins with Ada and Jamie. They live in London at the beginning of WWII. They live with their wicked mother. Ada has a foot defect and she is subjected to maltreatment from her mother. While her mother is at work, she practices walking at home. Ada and her brother escape from London by train and they come to live with Susan. Ada and Jamie experience life in a whole new way while living with Susan. During their time with Susan, Ada got better at walking, helped soliders that landed injuried from the battle of Dunkirk, and caught a German spy coming into the town. Her mother had found them and forced Ada and Jamie to go back to England in a new home, but Ada and Jamie missed Susan. Ada persuaded her mother to let them leave and she did. They found Susan in London and they went back to her home, but her home was bombed. 

This is an amazing fictional representation of what happened in WWII. I really enjoyed how they fit in historical events like the Battle of Dunkirk into the story. I think this would be an amazing story to share in a history class for world history/WWII era. I think this is a book that can be read by students that are in seventh or eight grade, but the story can be gruesome at time, so be attentive when younger readers are reading this book.


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