The world is filled with cruelty. The victims of that cruelty sometimes find a path that leads them to people and situations that help them rise above.
Ada was born with a club foot in pre-WWII London. Her mother, Mam, is hardened from poverty and her husband's abandonment. To Mam, Ada is a worthless shame. She is kept hidden at home, too much of a shame to reveal to the outside world. Ada is slapped around, expected to slave at home as her mother works, and her little brother Jamie goes to school.
As WWII approaches, London, under the threat of bombing, is considered too dangerous for children. Children are being shipped out to the countryside for safety. Her mother intends to send her brother Jamie, but keep Ada at home. Ada sees this as her path, her escape from the cruelty at home, so she sneaks out with her brother. Ada and her brother are placed with Susan Smith. Susan lives comfortably alone, very set in her ways, with a past that she holds tightly. Taking on two children is an obligation that she needs to adjust to. Ada and Jamie discover a world that is very foreign to them, and one that they don't trust.
The War that Saved My Life is a sweet story of how disparate individuals find each other and help each other grow and evolve; that there are people who are caring, and willing to go beyond themselves to help others. Recommend to fans of historical fiction, horse lovers (Ada discovers her affection to horses), and to those that enjoy a simple, heartwarming story.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5
Reading Level: 4.1 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 9 • Lexile Level: 580 • Publisher: Penguin • Pages: 316 • Copyright: 2015 • ISBN: 978-0-14-751048-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding
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