“The War That Saved My Life” is heartbreaking, masterful

Bea’s Books

TW: This article and the recommended book mention and address the issue of parental abuse.

A few weeks ago, I was in a reading slump, and even though I have a lot of books left on my reading list on Goodreads (don’t ask, that stresses me out too), I devoured a particular book that I wanted to recommend. As I was browsing the historical fiction section at my library, a librarian approached me and noticed my interest in the genre. The librarian pulled out a hardcover book called The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and, while acknowledging that it was below my reading level, suggested I give it a try.

I took it home that same day and started on page one. I found myself in the middle of a heartbreaking story about a girl named Ada who lived with her mother and brother Jamie in a small flat in London. Ada had a club foot that affected her movement and later became the reason for abuse by her mother, who convinced Ada that she was shameful and repulsive. Ada’s only comfort was Jamie, whom she cared for and helped at home, but when he began to turn his interest to the outside world, their relationship changed too.

When World War II reached England, the English feared a bombing of London and began evacuating children to towns in the countryside. Ada’s mother sent Jamie away, but Ada, afraid to be left alone with her mother and wanting to care for her brother, sneaked with him onto a train to a small town. There they were sent to live with a certain Miss Smith. From there, the book evolved into a story of growth, rooted in following passions and protecting those you love most.

I absolutely loved The War That Saved My Life, and although it was written at a lower level than mine, I really enjoyed it and found it extremely sweet and emotional. The way Ada’s adventures connected and intertwined was masterful, and the author was an expert at curating Ada’s unique perspective. The looming WWII throughout the book was an integral part of the plot, reinforcing the lessons learned by Ada, Jamie, and Miss Smith. The theme of found family is extremely prevalent throughout the story, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of tenderness. As mentioned at the very top, this book does contain some intense scenes of parental abuse that might be triggering or difficult for younger readers to understand, so I would recommend it for ages 10-12 and up, depending on maturity and reading level.