The War That Saved My Life

This younger and gentler World War II book is also a great family read aloud—one I read to my own.

After her brother is evacuated during the Blitz, Ada, a young Londoner with a disability kept home by her abusive mother, runs away after him.

Bradley’s story follows a familiar turn: namely the introduction of a seemingly hard-hearted caregiver who turns out to be the very parent Ada needs. But the book hits these notes with precision and warmth, evoking older, beloved classics. There’s also a great sequel!

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s brilliant storytelling brought me into Ada’s world and made me root for her right from the start. I could feel the excruciating physical and emotional pain she experienced both at the hands of her abusive mother and from her clubfoot. She was prevented from ever leaving her apartment and interacting with anyone besides her younger brother Jamie. I cheered Ada on when she secretly taught herself to walk so she could escape London, and her mother, with Jamie as children were being evacuated by train to the English countryside to get away from the dangers of World… show more.

I got lost in the pages of this middle-grade historical fiction book. Ada’s character tugged at my heart and I was completely invested in her story. The cruelty her mother showed her added to the dangers of the war going on around her, and I rooted for Ada to survive and thrive. As she and her younger brother fled from London to the countryside I was hoping they would find safety and love. The storytelling is masterful and readers will feel like they are in the story with Ada. This is a book that will stay with you after you… show more.

Some of my favorite adult books are historical fiction set during WWII, so it’s a no-brainer I picked this middle-grade book to recommend. My grandma’s name was Ada, so from the start my heart broke for the main character who was treated horribly by her own mother. Despite that situation, I still worried when Ada and her brother Jamie were torn from the only home they knew to escape the bombing in London. I can’t imagine how they felt, forced to live with a stranger, especially since Ada didn’t believe anyone could truly care about her. And yet, Ada and… show more.

This book is perhaps my daughter’s favorite novel of all time. And she’s certainly not the only kid who feels that way. I can’t even estimate how many children (and adults!) have told me this book is their number-one. Ada’s abusive mother keeps her locked up in their London apartment because of her twisted foot, but when Ada’s brother, Jamie, is evacuated to the countryside to escape the bombings, Ada runs away to be with him. What follows is not only a page-turner, but a poignant, heart-rending, and harrowing story about the healing power of love and acceptance. Bradley’s evacuee… show more.