Historical Fiction: The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Bradley, K. B. (2015). The war that saved my life. New York: Penguin Group.

Review from School Library Journal:

Gr 4–6

“Bradley turns her keen historical eye from Monticello (Jefferson's Sons, Penguin, 2011) to the British home front during World War II. Ada isn't exactly sure how old she is; for as long as she can remember, she's been a virtual prisoner in her mother's third floor one-room apartment. She was born with a clubfoot and her mother uses her disability as an excuse to abuse her both emotionally and physically. Ada watches the world through the narrow confines of the apartment window, waves to neighbors in the street, and carefully gauges the danger of being beaten during each encounter with her hateful mother. She envies the freedom of her little brother, Jamie, who goes to school and generally roves the neighborhood at will. When her mother prepares to ship Jamie out to the countryside with other children being evacuated from London, Ada sneaks out with him. When the two fail to be chosen by any villagers, the woman in charge forces Susan Smith, a recluse, to take them in. Though Susan is reluctant and insists that she knows nothing about caring for children, she does so diligently and is baffled by the girl's fearful flinching anytime Ada makes a mistake. Though uneducated, Ada is intensely observant and quick to learn. 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.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ.” (Retrieved from Amazon.com 11/6/2017).

Lexile 580, Accelerated Reader Grade level: 4.1

Awards and Honors:

A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle School)
Winner of the Josette Frank Award

(Retrieved from Amazon.com 11/6/2017).

Considering the content and the Lexile level, I recommend this book to children in grades 3-5. This book is very moving. The terrible abuse that the children receive from their mother has led to a recommendation for older children than the reading level allows for, but I do not think this is too graphic for third graders.

Key Words:

Disabilities, Abuse, World War II, Bombs

Tie-ins:

This book can be used for units on WWII and on units on rights for people with disabilities, and for discussions of child abuse and neglect. 
It can tie in with the Primary academic standards for Social Studies 2.16 and 2.20. 
2.16: "Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups."
2.20 :"Students understand, analyze, and interpret historical events, conditions, trends, and issues to develop historical perspective."
Retreived 11/13/2017 from: https://education.ky.gov/comm/UL/Documents/Kentucky%20Academic%20Standards_Final-9%2011%2015.pdf