Parents' Guide to

The War That Saved My Life

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Abused girl finds courage, family in compelling WWII story.

Book Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Historical Fiction 2015
The War That Saved My Life Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 9+

Based on 15 parent reviews

jessjessjay
jessjessjay Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
May 7, 2022
age 8+
I think that this book shows positive messages and role models. This book also educates kids about the terrible WWII there is one sad death when a man from the war wanted to write a note to his family and died before he could. All and all I think this is a great book for kids nine and up.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
dfdwa
dfdwa Adult
August 4, 2021
age 10+

11/10

This is a amazing story for kids who wanna learn more about world war 2. there is some common sense in it but if your someone who has read something like this then this is the perfect book I'm 9 and I loved it!

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In London just before World War II, Ada doesn't know how old she is, her last name, or much of anything of life outside the room where her mother has kept her in terrible conditions for as long as she can remember. Ada's mother is humiliated at the thought of people knowing she has a disabled daughter (Ada was born with a clubfoot and gets around by crawling), so Ada has no dealings with other people, except to wave from her window. Her younger brother, Jamie, who's about to start school, is more mobile and sometimes steals food for his starving sister. Their mother beats them both regularly and often doesn't give them enough to eat. Suddenly, as World War II and a possible German invasion loom, the kids are evacuated to the countryside, where they're so filthy and lice-infested that nobody wants them. When a reclusive local spinster is forced to take them in, their lives change in unimaginable ways, including having clean clothes and regular meals. Also, there's a pony. As the kids experience love and kindness for the first time in their lives and learn to pitch in with the war effort, Ada can't get away from her biggest terror: that their new happiness will last only until their mother finds it more convenient to take them back to their old life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (54 ):

In lesser hands than those of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, the plot might tumble into cliché, but thanks to Ada's unforgettable character and unflinching voice, you're too busy cheering her on. She comes into her own as she experiences a world she's never imagined. A cynic, even a young one, might note in passing that THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE includes elements we've seen many times before: Lives change when a reclusive curmudgeon takes in waifs; a pony transforms a troubled girl's life; brave Brits rise to the occasion in wartime. But they're artfully woven into the story.

You'll also share the anxiety that gives Ada bigger panic attacks the better her life gets, because it's all going to be snatched away. She explains to her new friend that she doesn't want her guardian, Susan, to help her, because "I don't want to get used to her. She's just someone we have to stay with for a little while. She's not, you know, actually real."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about World War II. Do you have family members who lived in that time? What were their experiences?

  • Why do you think stories about a young protagonist's life-changing relationship with a horse are so popular? What others have you read or seen as movies? How does Ada's relationship with Butter in particular compare with other stories you know?

  • If something happened in your community so all the kids were being sent away to a safer place, how would you feel? Would you be happy to get to safety, or would you do your best to figure out a way to stay home?

Book Details

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