The War That Saved My Life

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s exceptionally moving novel, The War That Saved My Life, is about ten-year-old Ada, confined to a one-room apartment on account of her club foot. After an opportunity arises for Ada and her little brother to escape their abusive mother, a new life unfolds. Bold, feisty and resilient Ada journeys from brokenness to triumph under the deeply compassionate watch of Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take them in. The feel-good appeal of the rescue fantasy combines with the increasingly tense World War II backdrop to make this an engaging page-turner for middle-graders and adults alike.