The War That Saved My Life

Miriam,

I have a great book to tell you about. I just finished reading it to the kids and a tragic girl's life became something we all felt warm and fuzzy about at the end. It's interesting that on Amazon it lists it under the category of "child dysfunctional relationships" or something of the sort. The main character, Ada, was raised in a super abusive home where her mom kept her locked in the house because she was ashamed of her club foot. The way her "Mam" treated her was even horrific for an animal. WWII in England pushed children from London out to the country to avoid bombings. Ada and her brother end up with a woman who wasn't prepared for children and had her own pain she was dealing with. The relationship becomes symbiotic as there is healing on both sides. Ada has PTSD (not stated in the book but pretty obvious) and it's beautiful the way that Susan (her caretaker) is able to love her regardless of her unpredictable and reactive behavior. The buildup to the end is really heart-wrenching and you wonder if the children will have happiness in their lives.

The story provided discussion points about poverty, abusive relationships, the history of WWII, sibling bonds and the sacrifices we make for those we love. It also opened up discussion about trauma and how it effects the way people form relationships. This literature was very enriching for me as well as K. The boys had limited understanding but did get glimpses here and there.

Also a bonus for a horse lover as I know you and your daughters are.

Happy Reading!

Love,
Hannah

Click HERE for the Amazon Link