The war that Saved my Life

Elisabeth Bontrager

** spoiler alert **
           Woah, this book is incredible. It's been a while since I've read a book that broke my heart for the MC like this one did. The sheer amount of abuse and neglect that Ada's mom gave her was awful. I'm not a sensitive person but this book made me cry reading about the effects that abuse had on her. It was awful how she shrunk from Susan so much. She was always ducking. And than her fear of the bomb shelter, her mom was so cruel to lock her in the cupboard like she did. I'm glad she finally started to trust Susan but it's still so sad that she doesn't think she can get anything nice. Her fear of wearing the green dress was sad. I think the biggest "shock" I had in this book was the fact that she didn't know what grass was. And the fact that her mom lied to people about her being "simple".

peyton 

renee badenoch

I really loved this book. It's about a brother and sister named Ada and Jamie who move from London to the English countryside in World War II when England is being bombed. Before moving to the country, Ada has never been allowed to leave the tiny one room apartment she shares with her abusive mother and younger brother Jamie. She also has an untreated club foot that causes her incredible pain to walk on. 

The book's title is the main theme of the book: though Ada and Jamie have to survive the many horrors of war including bombings, food rationing, and death, for the first time they are in a house with a woman who loves and supports them, an middle-aged spinster named Susan. Though it is never directly stated, Susan is most likely a lesbian whose life partner, Becky, has died. Becky seems like another character in the book, despite having passed before the book begins, and Susan's grief over Becky's loss gives Ada and Jamie a profoundly sweet role in comforting Susan and helping her to heal. Though the characters grow to love each other, it is not without hurt, miscommunication, confusion, and pain. Ada's particular reluctance to trust and rely on Susan feels refreshingly honest and realistic. 

The book deals with a lot of topics I hadn't seen before in children's literature, including what seems to be post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative disorder from Ada. I loved that Susan is never directly described as a lesbian, yet a knowing reader will be able to recognize her as such (as feels appropriate for the time period when queerness might not have been spoken about plainly). 

This was one of the best books I'd read in a long time. I loved every page, and would recommend both to children and adults--especially those who love a good cry.

Cassidy

Danika Walker

At first, I fond it highly enjoyable! Then I found it boring. Then near the e d it was great again! Pretty good book all in all.

Amanda Kordeliski

Amazing historical fiction book set in England at the beginning of World War II. Highly recommended.

Ana Cob

Gorgeous middle grade book. Excellent characterization, I really had a feeling for all three main characters. Ada's trauma and fear were particularly real. I think my students will love it.

Nadine 

#war #empathy #transformation lovely story of a young girls evolution during evacuation in WW2

Samantha Seeman

See my thoughts on this book @
https://modernwitchsbookshelf.wordpre...

Laura Nothstine

This book is an emotionally riveting book that kept me engaged the entire time I was reading it. It was funny at points, sad, and provoked anger and even fear within my own mind for the girl. I would highly recommend this novel.

Jacklyn O’Brien 

For a middle grade novel, this was very entertaining and heartfelt. I wanted to strangely their mother, but loved seeing the bond growing between Susan and Ada. I like books that explore the war through children's' eyes, because they often don't understand, but it also takes a huge toll on them. Well done.

The war that Saved my Life

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