The War That Saved My Life: (Newbery Honor Award Winner)

I am a 4th and 5th grade teacher and I read this aloud every year to my students, as well as the sequel, The War I Finally Won. I understand the "concerns" you may have regarding the abuse that takes place- that's a real world problem and discussion you should have with your students. Now, the "undisclosure of sexuality" of Susan, however; the author does this in such a beautiful, tasteful way by offering it in a way that there is no "indoctrination" to our kids. When I got to the word "slut", I simply changed it so it wasn't read aloud, and I did not have to address what that was. Be smart people, you can change words. About Susan, being gay, my students have never figured it out, they just know that Susan's bestfriend was named Becky, and Susan was very sad, and became extremely depressed when she died. Clearly, I feel this is a "normal" way of displaying grief. I have read this book aloud to my 4th and 5th grade students for the past 5 years, and not one "figured out" that Susan was gay-they only know if you tell them. And I have never had that discussion with them-- There are subjects that you do not have to discuss as a teacher, use your own discretion. This book is amazing. I WANT to read it every year because it truly holds the interest of everyone of my students and they never want me to stop reading it. To be fair, if these subjects do come up, know your audience, yet use wisdom and discernment on how to approach these subjects. It's not the bulk of the story, it's subliminal. If you want to control of the story, read it aloud like I do. If you decide to let your child read it, have those discussions with them if its warranted. Honestly, this age is too young to understand "Susan", but as they get older, have the discussion. It doesn't mean you are going to ruin them. It's a beautiful story. The author does an amazing job with all of the characters- and Ada is a true warrior! As a teacher, you can do an amazing novel study with this book. It's a YES in so many ways!

The setting starts in the summer of 1939, in England, before England declares war on Germany. In a small single room flat, lives a crippled girl named Ada, with her young brother Jamie, and her abusive mother. As the book begins, Ada is describing her life and the horrible verbal and physical abuse by her mother. Since Ada can remember, her only contact with the outside world is looking from the window to the street. Confined to the prison of one room, Ada is forbidden any association with people. Ada's mother leads everyone to believe that Ada is mentally retarded. After a bitter fight with her mother, Ada decides she is going to teach herself to walk. Day after day, she pushes herself and struggles with the pain to stand upright and walk. When Ada learns that Jamie and the other children from his school are going to be sent to the country for safety from German bombs, she devises a plan to runaway with Jamie. On the day the train is to leave London, Jamie helps Ada make it to the nearby school, and another boy piggybacks Ada to the train. When the train stops in the country, all the other children are taken in by families. But no ones wants a cripple, so the lady in charge takes Ada and Jamie to the fine house of an unmarried lady named Susan, and tells her she must take the children. Susan does not want Ada and Jamie because she is deep in grief for her dead friend. Susan believes she is unfit to care for the children, but she begins the long process of cleaning up the children and furnishing them with food, clothing and medical care. Jamie soon adjusts and develops a caring relationship with Susan. But Ada only loves Jamie and Susan's pony, Butter. She is angry because she feels unloved by her mother, and never forgets that Susan didn't really want children. When Susan tries to contact Ada's mother to get permission for Ada to have surgery to fix her clubfoot, Ada is certain that Susan is writing for her mother to come and take them home. But Ada's and Jamie's mother never responds. With Susan treating the children well, Ada begins to make new friends. But, Ada is always aware that Susan's home is only temporary. Ada feels unworthy and uneasy at any kindness, always remembering the words of her mother, that she is nothing but a cripple. Over time, things begin to change and Ada begins to feel the stirrings of hope of surgery to correct her foot, and to have a normal life with two usable feet that can wear shoes. Then, suddenly Ada's mother arrives. Ada and Jamie are once again under the cruel clutches of their mother. As Ada and Jamie begin to realize that home is really with people who care for you, and not with someone who has legal rights to you, the German's begin to bomb London. Will Susan be able to find them? Will Ada and Jamie be able to escape from a mother who does not love, or want them? Don't miss this wonderful story about what real love is, or the exciting conclusion of this powerful story.

2016年ニューベリー名誉賞。尖足で左脚の不自由な少女アダは母親に不自由な生活を強いられていた。第２次世界大戦のロンドンで空爆の危険から疎開する弟ジェイミーにこっそりついて二人はスーザンの元で暮らす。スーザンの優しやや毅然とした態度を見てアダは成長していく。いつかは母親の元に帰る運命の二人なのだが、３人はどうなるのか。 歴史(時代)小説には史実に重点をおいた話と、時代設定を踏まえつつ人間ドラマやストーリに重みをおいた作品がありますが、後者の方ですね。現代ではありえな設定ですが、この時代では不自然を感じません。印象に残ったのはスーザンの毅然な態度と優しさですね。アダは心に傷があることから、スーザンを誤解していますが、だんだんと打ち解けていきます。３人で暮らしていく時の雰囲気がいい。聡明で優しく毅然として、社会的にも活躍するスーザンとアダに読んど人は共感を覚えるのかな。身体障害、迷信、嘘、家族とは、について考えさせられる作品。児童文学はタメになって面白い、しかし説教臭くなってないのがいいですね。 ピーターパン、不思議の国のアリス、スイスの家族ロビンソン、たのしいかわべが本作に登場してて読んでみたくなりました。

A raw and beautiful tale. A must read!

This book was recommended in a children psychology podcast I listen. And I was blown away by the awesome storyline, the great easy to read and understand language used. The language is simple enough for a 8 years old but the story can be read by adults with joy. This grapple with theam that are very important for foster and adoptive children as for parents. Me and my son got hooked on the first book so we purchased the second one and loved it. You will not regret it.

Nachdem sie das Buch schon mehrmals von der öffentlichenBibliothek ausgeliehen hatte, haben wir ihr das Buch zu Weihnachten geschenkt damit sie es in ihre Bibliothek aufnehmen kann.

My kids enjoyed reading this and so did I.