The War I Finally Won

Starred review from August 28, 2017
Bradley picks up directly after the events of her Newbery Honor–winning The War That Saved My Life, which introduced tenacious Ada who—after years of mistreatment from her mother because of her club foot—summoned the determination to carve out a better life for herself amid the onset of WWII. The war affects 11-year-old Ada more directly now, as she, her younger brother, and their guardian Susan reunite with the prim Lady Thorton, her daughter Maggie, and their family, and Ada undergoes a surgery that allows her better use of her foot. These familiar characters are joined by Ruth, a 16-year-old Jewish German refugee, who has been separated from her family, including a grandmother detained in a concentration camp. Ada and Ruth’s interactions, which begin warily and flourish into sisterhood and trust, portray a perceptive look into othering; it’s Ada who first sees Ruth is more than her German heritage. Bradley sensitively portrays Ada’s journey to accept selfless kindness and love after years of neglect in a poignant and satisfying story of found family that will stay with readers. Ages 9–12. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown.

Starred review from August 15, 2017
Ada returns in this sequel to Newbery Honor book The War That Saved My Life (2015).Shortly after the events that closed the last book, a successful surgery means overjoyed 11-year-old, white Ada no longer has a clubfoot. She can walk, run, and ride relatively pain-free, but pain returns in a different way: Ada's abusive birth mother has been killed in an air raid. Enough back story is provided that readers new to Ada's story won't be lost. Patient Susan, providing a home to Ada and her little brother, Jamie, during the Blitz, becomes their legal guardian, but Ada, damaged by 10 years of abuse, doesn't ever feel safe. Living in the midst of a world war only adds to Ada's constant worries, and from blackout screens to rations, the stress and strain felt in everyday Kent during World War II is plain. But Ada finds comfort in her horse, Butter, and her family, which grows to include privileged Lady Thorton and Ruth, a teenage, Jewish German refugee. Ada's struggles with her trauma are portrayed with such incredible nuance and heart-wrenching realism that readers are sure to empathize deeply and revel in the joy of watching thoughtful, introspective Ada heal and grow. When tragedy strikes, all suffer, but Ada is able to help another in greater anguish than herself thanks to lessons from her own painful past. Thoughtful, brave, true, and wise beyond her years, Ada is for the ages--as is this book. Wonderful. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

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Starred review from September 1, 2017
This sequel to Bradley's Newbery Honor-winning The War That Saved My Life (rev. 1/15) begins with high drama: surgery for London-slum-born Ada to correct her clubfoot; the news that abusive Mam has died; Ada's mistaken belief that she'll now be sent to an orphanage--and her complicated feelings about all of it. But once she, younger brother Jamie, and guardian Susan are back in their village, adjusting to the cavernous "cottage" Lady Thorton lends them after their own house was destroyed by a bomb, the story settles in, and we settle in with it. Details of life on the WWII home front? Check: food rationing; fire-watching; blackout curtains; pig clubs. Memorable characters? Plenty, including Jewish refugee and math whiz Ruth, whom Lady Thorton despises for being German. Lady Thorton herself becomes a much more nuanced character as she recognizes the limitations of her privileged upbringing, and grieves over the death of her RAF pilot son. Throughout everything, events both mundane and dramatic (and there are a ton; the book is packed with incident), runs the thread of Ada's emotional healing as she slowly, gradually, allows herself to trust the stability and love Susan offers and grows into the young woman she wants to be. Bradley sweeps us up in the story she's telling and at the same time raises hard questions and makes us think--even as she moves us to tears. Today's generation of readers is unlikely to discover Magorian's classic Good Night, Mr. Tom (rev. 6/82)--but the two volumes of Ada's story fill that void, with bells on. martha v. parravano

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2017
Grades 4-7 In this sequel to Bradley's Newbery Honor Book The War That Saved My Life (2015), Ada finally gets the surgery she needs to repair the clubfoot that limited her mobility and made her believe she was unworthy of love. Now she can walkeven run!better than ever, though she has other wounds to heal; namely, the trauma wrought by her neglectful, abusive mother. Meanwhile, a German Jewish refugee, Ruth, is living with Ada, Susan, and Jamie; Lady Thornton is pricklier than ever; and Ada finds herself struggling to fully comprehend the complex emotions of the adults around her. In an episodic structure, Bradley movingly narrates Ada's gradual emotional growth against the backdrop of WWII, as she comes to trust her friends and family and relinquish some of her need to be in control. Bradley is perhaps at her best when describing Ada's love of horses and the therapeutic effect the animals have on her and Ruth, who's facing prejudice in England and fearing for her family back in Germany. A bittersweet story with a triumphant conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from September 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Ada picks up her story shortly after The War That Saved My Life left off. She's in the hospital, nervously awaiting the surgery that will fix her club foot, when Susan receives a letter from Lady Thornton that obviously upsets her. Turns out, Ada's mother was killed in a bombing. Ada does not know how to feel about that, but, ever practical, she worries about where that leaves her and brother Jamie now that they are war orphans instead of child evacuees. Despite Susan's assurances that the three of them are family now, Ada remains prickly and irritable, particularly when Jamie falls easily into calling Susan "Mum." The three move into a cottage on the Thornton estate and are soon joined by Lady Thornton when the big house is needed for the war effort. Ada is leery of Lady Thornton, but living in close quarters brings out the best and worst in everyone, especially when Lord Thornton arrives with a German Jewish girl named Ruth whom he wishes Susan to tutor. Ada's unique voice helps evoke the novel's vivid setting and numerous complex characters. There is destitution but plenty of humor. There is also plenty of heartbreak and loss, so readers will want to keep a box of tissues handy. VERDICT Fans of the first book will love the sequel even more; truly a first purchase. While it stands alone, encourage readers to read both books to fully appreciate Ada's remarkable and wholly believable triumph.-Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
This sequel to The War That Saved My Life sees Ada's club foot finally corrected and she, younger brother Jamie, and guardian Susan back in their village. Throughout many WWII English homefront events, both mundane and dramatic, runs the thread of Ada's emotional healing as she grows into the young woman she wants to be. Bradley raises hard questions and makes us think--even as she moves us to tears.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)