The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, 2015

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This is yet another book that claimed 2016 Newberry honors. (Can you tell I’m catching up?) I loved it and listened to the entire 8 hours in one gulp! It’s all the things I love most about children’s literature—compelling, beautifully written, full of pathos, and bonus! It’s even historical fiction—set in World War II, which I’ve been intrigued with ever since I was old enough to understand that my grandfather fought in the South Pacific. It does, however, have one glaring caution that I’ll share at the end.

Ten-year-old Ada Smith, who doesn’t even know her age at the beginning of the book, has never left her London apartment. She’s never been to school with her younger brother Jamie. She’s not even allowed to speak to neighbors out the window, though she does so whenever she can. She’s kept confined by her mother, a horribly abusive woman who routinely shames her, beats her, and locks her in a cabinet because Ada was born with a clubfoot.

When war breaks out with Germany, London parents prepare to whisk their children away to the countryside in preparation for the bombs that will surely rain on the city. All the children except Ada. “Who’d want you?” her mother asks. But Mrs. Smith doesn’t know Ada has been practicing walking on her ruined foot and has grown strong. She escapes—slowly, painfully—and boards a train to Kent, where she and Jamie are the only children not taken in by the townspeople. A woman, coincidentally named Susan Smith, is forced to take them in but makes it plain she is doing so against her will.

Susan “is not a nice woman.” She’s something of a social outcast, but she treats the children with kindness. For the first time, Ada is given crutches and allowed freedom to roam. She learns to read. She teaches herself to ride a horse. She makes friends. And she comes to understand for the first time that her deformity does not define her. Even so, Ada snaps and snarls at Susan, refusing to fully accept her help even though she longs to do so. Even though Susan tries to get Ada the surgery that will fix her foot. Because Susan is temporary. One day Ada will have to go home. But long before the war ends, Ada returns to Susan’s house to find a woman waiting for her in the yard.

Her mother.

I won’t give away the ending. I will just tell you that you will ache for Ada, grow impatient with her stubbornness, and admire her spunk. And you will enter 1930s London and the county of Kent, take in the countryside and the sea, and meet the villagers. Their portrayal is that vivid. And you will remember this story. It’s that well done.

Now for that warning I mentioned. Though it is never spoken outright, Susan Smith is gay. She is at odds with the community, her (mildly demonized) vicar father, and the village church. And she speaks continually of Becky, a friend with whom she lived since their time at university until Becky’s death a few years before. You may have noticed, in the midst of this current pride month, the unceasing campaign to normalize all aspects of LGBTQ+. Ms. Bradley joins that movement, portraying Susan as the sympathetic, compassionate, and moral hero. Her tactics are subtle, but be aware, the message is there. I’ll leave it to you to give this book to your tween child or not. I would have. The writing is phenomenal and the story worthwhile. But perhaps more important, there’s a conversation about recognizing cultural messages waiting to happen at the end of it.

Ages 8-12

Grab a copy of The War that Saved My Life from Amazon.