User:Stephpolancoe/sandbox5 Start article

The War that Saved My Life, written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, is a 2015 children’s middle grade historical book published by Dial Books. The War that Saved My Life was a Newbery Honor Book in 2016 and was Bradley’s first Newbery Honor Book.

Plot
Ada is a ten-year-old girl that has never left her apartment in London. Her mother is too embarrassed to let her go outside because of her twisted foot. Ada is forced to spend her days inside a one-bedroom apartment with only a window that lets her see the outside world. She spends her entire life crawling and can barely stand up. She cooks and takes care of her little six-year-old brother Jamie. The year is 1939, World War II has started. The government begins to ship out the kids from London to escape the war and sending the to the countryside. Ada's mother does not know if she will send Jamie but does not want to send Ada. Her mother tells Ada that nobody will want. Refusing to send her away. Ada has spent all summer teaching herself how to walk. And decides to leave with Jamie without their mother knowing. When they arrive at the countryside, nobody wanted Ada and Jamie. So they are sent to live with women named Susan Smith. Susan lives alone in a two-floor house and makes it very clear that she does not want to or think she is fitted to take care of kids. Ada's experience in the countryside is very different to her life in London. She is able to go outside, learn new things and be taking care of. In compassion to her life in London where she was abused physically and mentally. This two different experiences created an inner conflict inside of her that does not let her appreciate everything that Susan is doing for her. In the countryside, Ada teaches herself how to ride a pony, learns how to read and write. After months of Susan trying to contact Ada's mother, for a permit to operated Ada's foot, she appears to take Ada and Jaime away. She brings them back to London where she has moved to a new apartment. Her mother continues abusing Ada and refuses to let Ada outside. Her mother is not interested in taking care of her or Jaime and only move them back home because it was going to be cheaper for her. Ada confronts her mother and finds a way for her and Jaime to move permanently with Susan.

Main Characters

 * Ada Smith—The protagonist of the story. Ada is a ten year old girl with a clubfoot. She was abused by her mother physically and mentally. She learns how to walk, write and ride horses after running away from her mother to the countryside
 * Jamie Smith—Ada's brother. He is six year olds and discovered his passion for planes when he move with Ada to the countryside.
 * Susan Smith—Ada and Jamie designated guardian. She is not a nice person but learns to love and take care of both Ada and Jamie.

Secondary Characters

 * Ada and Jamie's Mother—
 * Stephen White— Ada's friend. He helps Ada in the train station and carry her to the train.
 * Billy White— Jamie friends. He is Stephen younger brother and leave the countryside shortly with his mother and sisters.
 * Lady Thorton— "Iron Face". She is the head of the Women's Volunteer Service.
 * Becky— Susan's Best Friend. She died three year before from Pneumonia.
 * Dr. Graham— Ada and Jamie's doctor in Wales.
 * Butter— Susan's pony. He was a gift from Becky to Susan but Ada quickly felt in love with the pony.
 * Colonel Robert Mcpherson— Stephan's new guardian. He is British Army retired.
 * Margaret— Ada's friend in wales. She is the daughter of Lady Thorton.
 * Fred Grimes— He is in charge of taking care of Lady Thorton's horses.

Recognition
=== Awards ===
 * Newbery Honor Book HONOR 2016
 * Odyssey Award AWARD 2016
 * Schneider Family Book Award AWARD 2016

Praise

 * Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle School)
 * Winner of the Josette Frank Award
 * Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2015
 * New York Public Library’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
 * Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2015
 * Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2015
 * Kirkus Best Books of 2015
 * Horn Book Fanfare Book 2015

Critical Reception
The War that Saved My Life receive very good review. The Horn Book Magazine claim "This is a feel-good story, but an earned one". School Library Journal talks about the emotional connection readers will have "Readers will ache for her as she misreads cues and pushes Susan away even though she yearns to be enfolded in a hug. There is much to like here-Ada's engaging voice, the vivid setting, the humor, the heartbreak, but most of all the tenacious will to survive exhibited by Ada and the villagers who grow to love and accept her". Thom Barthelmess in The Horn Book Magazine stated "Bradley’s novel is exceptional for the characters’ deep humanity".