Title: The War That Saved My Life
Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Publisher: Dial Books
Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge
ISBN: 9780803740815
I can’t believe I’m so late in reviewing this book that I absolutely LOVED!! I’ve just finished listening to the audiobook version of it, in anticipation of the sequel, The War I Finally Won, and just have to share it now.
The War That Saved My Life was a Newbery Honor book in 2016 and won multiple other awards, so I’m not alone in thinking this title is one of the greatest historical middle grade novels ever written. When I first read it, my sons (ten-years-old at the time) were turned off by the dark beginning. And it truly is dark – the main character’s mom locks her in the closet under the sink, calls her terrible names and won’t let her go outside because of her club foot. Once she is evacuated from London during the blitz, things start to change for Ada but the change is slow, nuanced and very realistic.
It is the characters that truly make this book special. I LOVED them all so much and they came alive for me even more when listening to the audiobook. My sons (now twelve) also really enjoyed the audiobook version and have already read the sequel. I can’t wait to spend more time with Ada and will post a review of The War I Finally Won as soon as I can (but if I don’t like it, you may here nothing… see my review of A World Below). Fingers crossed my expectations are not too high!!