The War That Saved My Life

Imagine being a child and not knowing your own birthday. Imagine not knowing your own age. Imagine that a war going on in the world is more comforting than the one-room solitary confinement that you have to endure on a daily basis. Imagine Hitler becoming your friend, your savior...and you are English, not German. Ada's mother is a monster in every sense of the word. She is a wretched creature who abhors her own children, especially Ada, blaming her for being born with a club foot. Ada's mother makes a make-shift prison out of one room in her apartment in which Ada sits in a chair and looks out of the window at life literally pass her by. She is cruel. But cruel has its own partner-in-crime; its name is unusual. Ada is forced to use the show more bathroom in a bucket. How degrading! But then, something happens that shifts Ada's and her little brother's course. Thank God for Hitler. The war was beginning and the children in London must evacuate for threat of an invasion. Ada and Jamie are placed in the home of Miss Smith who does not know IF she is capable of taking care of children, but definitely knows that she does not want them. And so the merging of two worlds begins between the children and Miss Smith. Miss Smith feels that she could never love again, after Becky. And the children, especially Ada, had associated love...oddly enough, with pain. When you know nothing else, the abnormal becomes normal; it becomes your life. Until...something happens that changes your very course. Ada found out that she is lovable, smart, helpful, and most of all...more than a cripple. Miss Smith found out that she really could love again, and that was enough for her. show less

Ada is a pre-teen girl who lives in squalor with her abusive mother and younger brother. Her mother keeps her locked up, beating her and berating her, never allowing her to leave to house. When WWII breaks out and children begin to be evacuated to the country, Ada sees her opportunity for escape. She and her brother are sent to live with the reluctant Ms. Smith who ultimately grows to love them.
This book was amazing, I enjoyed every second of it and was sad when it was over. The story itself was heartbreaking, Ada has been so horribly abused that she is clearly suffering from PTSD, but somehow Ms. Smith's own trauma and sensitivity make her the perfect person to care for Ada and Jamie. It's so rewarding to follow Ada as she slowly show more learns her own worth. Fiercely independent (as a form of self preservation) she learns to ask for help and rely on those around her. When her mother came back for her (a moment I knew was coming) my heart broke. I was so grateful when she was finally reunited with Susan. show less

What a great way to spend a Sunday. I was immersed in this story from start to finish.
Ten year old Ada Smith lives a life of imprisonment in her family's London apartment with her younger brother, Jamie, and their abusive mother, who is ashamed by Ada's physical disability. With the looming threat of WWII, the children of London evacuate to Kent, England for safekeeping. Though not permitted by her mother, Ada works tirelessly to teach herself to walk so that she is able to escape to the country with Jamie. The siblings find refuge in the home of Susan Smith, a woman grieving the loss of her partner, Becky. On Susan's property is a stubborn pony, Butter, whom Ada falls instantly in love with. By riding Butter, Ada is able to explore show more the world around her while building up her physical and mental strength. Her bond with Butter allows her to form close relationships with others along the way, including her caretaker (Susan), a neighboring stable worker (Grimes), and the daughter of the WVS leader (Maggie). Though Ada is happier in her new home, it takes a long time for her to feel safe. Susan's persistent patience and compassion help Ada and Jamie heal, and through this, Susan heals as well.
This is really well done historical fiction; it all felt so believable. Parts of the book, particularly the scenes of child abuse, were difficult to bear, but I appreciate that nothing was sugarcoated. I would have loved this as a young reader, and I love it today. show less

Wow this book. Such a difficult subject, but hard to put down. It’s set during WWII. The main character is Ada, a young girl who lived with her brother in poverty in London, until children were evacuated to the countryside. Ada resented her mother’s treatment of her, and longed to play outside, but she didn’t realize how bad things had actually been, until she faced a much better life with a woman who was was actually reluctant to take them in, but did her duty. How could this woman Susan feed them, clothe them, give them a warm and comfortable place to sleep, even make sure they got educated (Ada didn’t know how to read and write before), when her own mother who was supposed to love her had neglected those things? Ada hadn’t show more liked getting yelled at, physically punished or shut up in the room- never allowed outside- but she partly thought she deserved it. Her mother was ashamed of her club foot and had always abused her. Life in the country was so different Ada didn’t know what to think. She didn’t know about some of the simplest things- having never gone into shops, never walked through a field, never attended school. She sometimes reacted with anger and resentment at kind things people did for her, or gifts they gave, because she thought it would all get taken away again. Her conflicting feelings and terror at the prospect of being returned to London warred with her growing acceptance of the idea that life could be better, that she could actually learn and do things. She learned to walk on crutches, she taught herself to ride a pony, she made a few friends. She even assisted others when war brought wounded soldiers into their village. She grew up quickly and matured in so many ways, finding herself more capable than she’d ever imagined, and even slowly learning to trust that Susan actually cared for her. But at the end, she had to face her mother once more . . .

This story has so much going on. At heart, it’s about this girl gradually overcoming the trauma from her abusive childhood, learning new skills and learning to trust and receive love. She finds acceptance among the villagers and even admiration for a job well done (helping out with the war effort). The are quiet, parallel stories in here on similar themes- their temporary foster mother seems to be shunned by the locals and (though it is never spoken of clearly) appears to be suffering from depression and grief, after the death of her long-time friend. The two women had lived together and I can only assume they were partners. Ada’s brother is punished in school for being left-handed, and Susan has to march in there and set the teacher straight. So he had his own fear and shame to overcome, for something he couldn’t help- just being himself. Even the pony has been harmed by ignorance, because Susan assumed he was fine out there in the pasture with grass to eat, and never gave him proper care. Ada only learns this from a stable worker at a nearby horse farm who helps her out when she’s learning how to ride. She’s angry at Susan at first, then learns herself how to take care of the pony better, and teach Susan the same. They make things right. There’s also- of course- a lot in here about how civilians experienced the war, the fear of bombing, hiding in shelters, shortages and food rationing. Ada’s little brother loves to watch planes on the airfield near their home, and they have their share of close calls, terrifying moments and seeing others injured, wondering if there are spies among them . . . This one does have a good ending. You fear for Ada in the final chapters, but things turn out all right. show less

Ada doesn't know how old she is. She doesn't know what trees look like. All she knows is living in a one-room apartment with her brother, Jamie, and her mam. Because of her crippled foot, Mam doesn't let Ada leave the house; she can't walk, and she's never seen anything beyond their window. But as war with Germany approaches, the possibility of evacuating London with Jamie emerges, and Ada takes her chance. In the countryside, everything is bright and new. With crutches and a pony named Butter, Ada discovers a world she can take part in. But will any of it last?

At over 300 pages, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's novel is long for a children's book, but the engaging story and complex characters make it a quick read. I appreciate the nuance show more with which she portrays traumatized children adjusting to a loving home. And am I write to assume—hope—Miss Smith is a lesbian? Can't wait to read the sequel! show less

Ada has a clubfoot and her mother has abused/neglected her all her life, but when her brother Jamie is sent away from London to the country for safety during the air raids, she takes the opportunity to run away from home. The children are reluctantly taken in by an old maid, Susan, who tells them she isn't very nice - but she doesn't hit like Ada's mother did and has a pony named Butter that Ada is determined to ride.

This is a heartbreaking, lovely book. Ada is a strong, independent girl but deals with her abuse in a very realistic way - the scenes of this were probably even harder for me to read as an adult because I understood what was happening more than I would have as a child. I cried and cheered as Ada began to overcome her past show more and trust Susan, and as Susan herself came to love the children. Details about riding as Ada learns to ride Butter and some aspects of the war fill out the narrative. The ending felt just a little bit rushed and neat, but overall it was a satisfying read and I can see why it's won such acclaim. show less

I love this book -- I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. Because of Ada’s twisted foot, her mother doesn’t allow the ten year old to leave their one-room flat. But in the summer of 1939, Ada secretly teaches herself to walk and when her younger brother’s school is evacuated to the country, she steals her mother’s shoes and leaves with him. Ada and Jamie are foisted upon a reluctant, grieving woman who owns a pony. Ada is immediately determined to teach herself to ride.

The amount of things Ada doesn’t know (including her own age) and the extent of deprivation she’s experienced is staggering -- but her journey is so heartwarming and hopeful. But recovery isn’t straightforward or instantaneous. I was fascinated by show more how the better things get the angrier Ada becomes -- and by how believable that anger was. She doesn’t want to become too attached to living with Susan because it is temporary and the more she learns, the more she understands how unnecessary and cruel her mother has been.

I love how Susan -- still struggling with grief and not always knowing what Ada and Jamie have been through or what they don’t understand -- supports these kids. She too knows that recovery isn’t an easy, straightforward thing.

“I’m just now learning to write,” I said. “And read. So I couldn’t write back yet. I’m sorry. Next time I’ll try.”
Instead of looking horrified by my ignorance, she looked mollified. (Susan taught me that word, and I loved it. Mollified. Sometimes when Jamie was cross, he had to be mollified.) “I didn’t think of that,” she said. “I thought you just weren’t interested. But wouldn’t Miss Smith have helped you? She would have written down what you wanted to say.”
She would have, if I’d asked. “I didn’t want to ask her. I don’t like her helping me.”
“Why ever not?”
“I don’t want to get used to her,” I said. “She’s just someone we have to stay with for a little while. She’s not, you know, actually real.” show less