Skip to main content

The War That Saved My Life

The War That Saved My Life

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book dealing with special needs
Award: Newbery Honor
Grade: 4th grade and up


The story is set in World War II. Ada Smith is a 10-year-old girl who is born with a club foot. She only stays indoors and does not get out because her mother is humiliated because of her foot. An order came from the government so the children have to evacuate London. She saw this as an opportunity to leave the house and escape from her very mean mother. Miss Smith does not want any children but she ended up taking them anyways. Miss Smith took care of them, bathe them, took Ada to the doctor for her foot and even helped her with her crutches. She started making friends and her depression eased. Ada’s mother came back for her and his brother and they went back to their apartment. Ada’s mother does not want her to walk or even want to take care of them either so Ada and his brother left early morning to go back to Susan but a bombed went off and they got held back. Susan was looking for them and they all got reunited and they both thanked each other for saving each of their lives.

I really like this story because not only is it history based it is also relatable emotionally. Ada’s personality is really strong and courageous because she really wants to get better. She is a strong character because even though she limps, she has determination and perseverance. I would recommend this to students 4th grade and up because it is a chapter book. The story is very well written and I like how it is told in the first person so that the students will be able to understand and feel what Ada is feeling.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Magic Amber

The Magic Amber  (A Korean Legend) Author/Illustrator: Charles Reasoner Genre: Multicultural book Grade: 2nd grade and up Once upon a time, in a small farmhouse in Korea lived an old rice farmer and his wife. When winter came, they do not have much food and are worried they are going to starve, but an old woman appeared in their home. They still shared with the old woman of what little food they have, the woman then thanked them and gave them an amber stone. The wife was shocked and disappointed that she threw the stone into the pot. The next day when they opened the pot it is filled with rice and much more appeared. They are generous; therefore, they provided for those who do not have anything. When the debt collector, Lan Po heard the news, he then went to them and became suspicious. Once he found out about their secret he dressed up as a beggar and stole the stone. He lost the stone while in the river and got very upset and disappointed. The old couple worked ag...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dia De Los Muertos

Dia De Los Muertos Author: Roseanne Greenfield Thong Illustration: Carles Ballesteros Genre: Multicultural book Grade: 1st grade and up This book is about the Day of the Dead in Spanish. The children throughout the town are getting ready for this celebration. They are decorating with the Spanish vocab words such as sugar skulls, bread, etc. They design the altars with colors and patterns. They also present and play music and have festivals and parades. This is a fun book to read for the Spanish students and Spanish learners because it the story is mixed with Spanish vocab words. The illustration in this book is really colorful and it is graphic drawing. I will read this to the class to explain and show that people have different festivities around the world and that the Day of the Dead is one of them. It is a different cultural tradition and that the students will be excited for it is also celebrated during Halloween.
Post a Comment
Read more

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky Author/Illustrator: Susan Jeffers Genre: Multicultural book Grade: 2nd grade and up This book is a message from Chief Seattle. It starts with the story of Native American living and their way of life till the Europeans took over their land and wanted to sign off the new Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Chief Seattle started a speech talking to the European people about how can someone own the sky and the wind for it can not be bought. He states that we are part of the earth and that it is part of us. He explains how his ancestors said that us humans should give back to nature for it provides for us. The earth is our mother and the animals are our brothers. He says that the European settles brings misery to them and to the land and nature. He states in the end that what we do to the web we do to ourselves. We need to preserve the land and the air for it is for our children and to the next generation. This is an amazing book. I will def...
Post a Comment
Read more