“I slipped my hand into hers. A strange and unfamiliar feeling ran through me. It felt like the ocean, like sunlight, like horses. Like love. I searched my mind and found the name for it. Joy.”
The War that Saved My Life is a incredible book. Written by acclaimed children’s author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, The War that Saved My Life is middle grade historical fiction with a poignant storyline, endearing characters, and stunning writing. While World War II rages outside, main character Ada struggles with her own inner battles in a refreshingly realistic, yet age-appropriate, way. Ada’s plight will move readers, so much that it will be nearly impossible to put the book down. Though readers will hate to see it end, The War that Saved My Life is a sensational story that can be read over and over again.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 3 religious exclamations, 3 mild obscenities.
Violence/Gore: Children are threatened with a beating; threats of bombings during the war; secondhand reports of violence include talk of World War I, battleships sinking, characters recalling being beaten, pilots dying in battle; a character is thrown from her horse and receives a non-life threatening injury; brief scenes of violence include bombings, a plane crash and characters being slapped or beaten; a house is destroyed by a bomb with no casualties.
Sex/Nudity: Some innuendo about a woman’s relationship with another woman friend, non-detailed
Mature Subject Matter:
Physical and verbal abuse of children, neglect, World War II, spies, bombings, death of family members and friends, anxiety, physical disability, name calling.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
A character’s mother works at a pub and mentions “getting a drink”; young characters serve wounded soldiers water in front of a pub.
