"The War That Saved My Life" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Call Number: J FICTION Bradley
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

Identity and Self-Worth: How does Ada's physical disability impact her sense of self-worth and identity? How does her journey throughout the novel contribute to her understanding of herself?
Family Dynamics: Analyze the relationships within Ada's foster family, particularly her bond with Susan. How do these relationships evolve over the course of the story? What role do they play in Ada's growth and healing?
Resilience and Survival: Discuss Ada's resilience in the face of adversity, including her abusive past and the challenges of wartime. How does she demonstrate strength and courage throughout the novel?
Themes of Love and Belonging: Explore the theme of love and belonging as depicted in the novel. How do Ada and Jamie find a sense of belonging in their new family and community? What does this sense of belonging mean to them?
War and Its Effects: Examine the impact of World War II on the characters and their lives. How does the war shape their experiences and relationships? In what ways do they cope with the uncertainty and fear brought about by the war?
Character Development: Trace the character development of Ada, Jamie, and Susan throughout the novel. How do they change and grow as individuals? What pivotal moments contribute to their development?
Friendship and Support: Discuss the importance of friendship and support in the novel, particularly Ada's friendship with Maggie and Stephen. How do these relationships provide comfort and strength to Ada during difficult times?
Themes of Freedom and Independence: Explore the theme of freedom and independence as Ada learns to navigate her new life outside of her abusive home. How does she discover her own agency and independence?
Historical Context: How does the historical setting of World War II contribute to the overall narrative? In what ways does the author effectively incorporate historical details into the story?
Closure and Healing: Reflect on the novel's ending and Ada's journey towards healing. How does the resolution of the story provide closure for Ada and the other characters? What lessons can be learned from Ada's journey?

Early Life and Education: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was born on June 24, 1967, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. She developed a passion for reading and writing from a young age and often found solace in books during her childhood.

Brubaker Bradley attended Smith College in Massachusetts, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French with a minor in Russian. She later pursued graduate studies in World War II history at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

Literary Career: Brubaker Bradley began her writing career by publishing articles and short stories in various literary magazines. In 1998, she published her first novel, "Ruthie's Gift," which was followed by several more novels for children and young adults.

One of Brubaker Bradley's most acclaimed works is "The War That Saved My Life," published in 2015. The novel, set during World War II, received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Newbery Honor, the Schneider Family Book Award, and the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production.

In addition to "The War That Saved My Life," Brubaker Bradley has written several other highly praised novels, including "Jefferson's Sons," "For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy," and "The War I Finally Won," the sequel to "The War That Saved My Life."

Themes and Style: Brubaker Bradley's novels often explore themes of resilience, family, identity, and the impact of historical events on ordinary lives. Her writing style is known for its emotional depth, vivid characterization, and meticulous attention to historical detail.

Personal Life: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley lives in Bristol, Tennessee, with her husband and two children. She continues to write novels for children and young adults, drawing inspiration from history, literature, and her own experiences.

Legacy: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is widely regarded as a talented and influential author in the realm of children's and young adult literature. Her books have touched the lives of readers around the world and have earned numerous awards and accolades for their literary merit and emotional impact. Through her storytelling, Brubaker Bradley continues to inspire empathy, understanding, and a love of reading in readers of all ages.

War and Millie Mcgonigle by Karen Cushman
Call Number: J FICTION Cushman
Millie McGonigle lives in sunny California, where her days are filled with beach and surf. It should be perfect--but times are tough. Hitler is attacking Europe and it looks like the United States may be going to war. Food is rationed and money is tight. And Millie's sickly little sister gets all the attention and couldn't be more of a pain if she tried. It's all Millie can do to stay calm and feel in control. Still--there's sand beneath her feet. A new neighbor from the city, who has a lot to teach Millie. And surfer boy Rocky to admire--even if she doesn't have the guts to talk to him. It's a time of sunshine, siblings, and stress. Will Millie be able to find her way in her family, and keep her balance as the the world around her loses its own?
Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott
Call Number: J FICTION Elliott
Bea wakes to Daddy's note in a hayloft, where he abandoned her with her little sister after the stock market crash took everything: Daddy's job at the bank, their home, Mama's health and life. How is Bea supposed to convince the imposing Mrs. Scott to take in two stray children Mrs. Scott's money and Virginia farm are drying up in a drought and the Great Depression, too. She might have to sell her beautiful horses, starting with a dangerous chestnut that has caused tragedy in the past and injures her stableman shortly after Bea arrives. But wrestling with her own hurts and fears, Bea understands the chestnut's skittish distrust. She sees hope in the powerful jumper--if he can compete at horse shows, they might save the farm, and maybe Bea can even win a place in Mrs. Scott's heart.
The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes
Call Number: J FICTION Grimes
Paris has just moved in with the Lincoln family, and isn't thrilled to be in yet another foster home. She has a tough time trusting people, and she misses her brother, who's been sent to a boys' home. Over time, the Lincolns grow on Paris. But no matter how hard she tries to fit in, she can't ignore the feeling that she never will, especially in a town that's mostly white while she is half black. It isn't long before Paris has a big decision to make about where she truly belongs. Nikki Grimes has created a portrait of a young girl who, in the midst of being shuffled back and forth between homes and realizing things about other people and the world around her, gradually embarks on the road to discovering herself.
The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet
Call Number: J FICTION Nesbet
With the United States on the verge of World War II, eleven-year-old Gusta is sent from New York City to Maine, where she discovers small-town prejudices -- and a huge family secret. It's 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta's life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. But in a family that's long on troubles and short on money, how can a girl hang on to something so valuable and yet so useless when Gusta's mill-worker uncle needs surgery to fix his mangled hand, with no union to help him pay? Inspired by her mother's fanciful stories, Gusta secretly hopes to find the coin-like "Wish" that her sea-captain grandfather supposedly left hidden somewhere. Meanwhile, even as Gusta gets to know the rambunctious orphans at the home, she feels like an outsider at her new school -- and finds herself facing patriotism turned to prejudice, alien registration drives, and a family secret likely to turn the small town upside down.
The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
Call Number: J MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION Blankman
On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work--Chernobyl--has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother's secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they've wished for: a best friend. But how far would you go to save your best friend's life? Would you risk your own?

City of Allen

Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles: "The War That Saved My Life" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

"The War That Saved My Life" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

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