Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker The War I Finally Won, Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin), 2017. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”0; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
In this stirring sequel to “The War that Saved My Life” Ada and Jamie are back with Susan, but Susan’s house has been destroyed by a german bomb, so they are now living on the Thornton estate in the old game keeper’s cottage. World War II is making things difficult in England - rationing, blackouts, and the government has taken over the manor house, so Lady Thornton is living with Susan and the children. Susan has arranged for Ada to get the surgery to help her club foot, and Lady Thornton has agreed to pay for it, but there’s something about Lady Thornton that Ada just can’t seem to get along with. Now, Lord Thornton has sent a young Jewish German girl to be tutored in maths by Susan, and Lady Thornton is not having it! A German on her estate?
This poignant story of life on the home front is bitter sweet and tender without getting sappy. I loved how the reader’s understanding of the events of the war (the difficulty the Jews were facing in Germany and the horrors of being at war) are tempered by Ada’s innocence. So well written, I can recommend this to adults as well as to upper elementary and up. It’s best to read “The War that Saved My Life” first.
EL, MS - ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian
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