The War I Finally Won

You can know things all you like, and someday you might believe them.

The War I Finally Won. Sumber: goodreads.com

Title: The War I Finally Won
Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Number of pages: 387 pages
Series: The War That Saved My Life #2
Date of Published: October 3rd, 2017
Publisher: Dial Books

Ada and her younger brother, Jamie, now have a permanent home with their loving legal guardian, Susan Smith. Although Jamie adapts more easily, Ada still struggles with the aftermath of her old life, and how to fit into her new life. 

 World War II continues, and forces the small community to come together and rely on one another. Ada has never been interested in getting to know her friend’s family—especially Maggie’s mother, the formidable Lady Thorton. However, circumstances bring them in close proximity along with other unexpected characters.

Ada comes face to face with another German! This time she isn’t sure what she should do. How can she help the ones she loves and keep them safe?

***

This second book is still about Ada. Ada and her brother, Jamie. Ada and her legal guardian--now, as of her mam has death, Susan. Ada and her first friend ever, Maggie. Ada and her favorite horse, Butter. Ada and the World War II. Yeah, there's no much change in this second book. This book is slightly thicker than the first one but still have the first book's ambiance.


More complicated story

If the first book mostly talk about how Ada can survive the war inside herself, for now the conflict is more complicated. One of them is about how Ada has to deal with another person around her. Moreover with someone that she barely know like Lady Thorton. After the war in Britain that made Ada's mam dead, Ada and Jamie back to live with Susan. Susan assured both of them that she would take care Ada and Jamie no matter what happen. Therefore, Susan fought for Ada's foot operation. Yeah, this book is opened with the decision of Susan to operate Ada's foot.

"Religious beliefs are complicated. You can’t call someone else’s religion a mistake. There isn’t a right and a wrong. There are just different ways of thinking.” - Susan.

So, Ada now was no longer crippled. After the recovery, Ada could walk easily and did everything that couldn't she did when she still crippled. Ada started to ride Butter and help Fred--the horse keeper in the Thorton house, worked at stable. Ada felt that all of those experience were amazing. Moreover, she could stand by her own foot. She didn't need any help anymore.

But, now Ada has to face another challenge in her life. Start from Lady Thorton's decision to live at Ada's cottage, Maggie that couldn't get home easily from school, until the arrival of Ruth, a Germany girl that should be a suspicious person. So, how Ada could handle this condition? Could she survive again like before?

War was as complicated as religion, when you started to think about it - Ada.

Ada's reflection

Sumber: google.com, edited by me

Well, if I ever said that Ada was annoying, I assured you that in this book she still stubborn. She still couldn't accept the fact there were a lot of people around her that love her. Even, accepted her just like what she were. She couldn't believe if Susan could be her mam and if Lady Thorton was soft.

Words could be dangerous, as destructive as bombs. - Ada

“Love isn’t as rare as you think it is, Ada. You can love all sorts of people, in all sorts of ways. Nor is love in any way dangerous." -- Susan 

Even though Ada was stubborn, somehow I could understand the reason behind of it. After all, Ada had succeed to change her way of thinking, behavior, and all. So, I appreciated Bradley for making Ada still lovable. One thing for sure, Ada was really a definition of a brave girl. You should took an example from her.

From all of the parts, I should admit that some part is bothering me. Yeah, I think, in the last part, Bradley is too much rushing the ending. So, most of the important part, in my opinion, hasn't explained yet. One of them is about the relationship between Susan and Becky. I had assumption back then about their relationship, but seems like Bradley won't go any further to explain it. In another hand, I like the author's not part very much. At least, finally I know what work that Lord Thorton did together with Ruth and Ruth's father. No one would expect it will related to Enigma, right?

Conclusion

"Better to be miserable together than miserable apart. I suppose.”-- Ruth

Even though there are some part that couldn't make me satisfied, I still can feel the sweet part of this book. I like this book as much as the first one. So, you should still to read because you will know how Ada's life continue after the war that saved her life.

4 out of 5 stars for the author's not part. Hoho.

Sincerely, 
Puji P. Rahayu

The War That Saved My Life

"Saying something stupid doesn't make you stupid. Luckily for all of us." - Susan

Sumber: Goodreads.com

Title: The War That Saved My Life
Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Number of page: 316 pages
Series: The War That Saved My Life #1
Date of Published: January 8th, 2015
Publisher: Dial Books

An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars.  

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 of 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?  

This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making. 

***

The initial idea to read The War That Saved My life is when I want to finish one of categories from Balabala Reading Challenge 2020. This reading challenge has made by me and my so-called big sister, Zis from Zelie, the book-admirer. That category is books about special needs children. Without further thinking, I tried to search a book recommendation from Google. Then, this book appeared as one of the books that caught my attention.

The Newbery Book

We’d escaped. Mam, Hitler’s bombs, my one-room prison. Everything. Crazy or not, I was free. -- Ada

The War that Saved My Life is written by Kimberly  Brubaker Bradley. To be honest, I never heard of her name as an author. I only want to read this book because this is a children book. Since my reading mood hasn't being that stable, I though reading a children book can ease my feeling to some extent. When I want to add this book into my Goodreads account, I just realized that this book got a medal from Newbery. So, I expected this book could really offer an interesting story.

Ada was a crippled. She had a clubfoot and her mum was ashamed because of it. She never let Ada went out from home and always beat Ada whenever Ada made a mistake. Ada, herself, was only can see the world through the window. Because her mum rarely at home because she had to work, no wonder if Ada hadn't enough knowledge about word or language.

One day, when the war was gotten worse, all of children in London had to be evacuated.  So did Jamie, Ada's brother. Mum never bother to Ada's condition. She didn't register Ada to be evacuated. But, Ada knew that she had to fight for herself. So, without her mum noticed, everyday Ada tried to walk with her clubfoot. Of course it hurt her so bad but Ada never giver up. She had to walk no matter what.

On the evacuation day, Ada and Jamie sneaked out to the Jamie's school. That was the first time Ada felt free. During the trip, Ada never admitted that she had clubfoot and she didn't know where the train will go. The Iron Lady--the one who managed the distribution of the children, said that there will be a place for Ada and Jamie. Inside her heart, Ada was afraid that no one want take them. Then, in the end of the village, the Iron Lady marched them to the house. Here was a young lady that argued a lot to the Iron Lady, but seems the young lady has defeated. She had to take care Ada and Jamie.

"I never want to have any children," she said. "I won't care both of you."

Will Ada face another threatening life again? Will she and Jamie survived the war?

And then the hall was empty, save the teachers, the iron woman, Jamie, and me. Mam had been right. No one would have us. We were the only ones not chosen. -- Ada

***

Sumber: google.com, edited by me

As a book with the war setting, I should admit that this book was interesting. At least, I knew about the children's fate when Germany invaded England in World War 2. The character, Ada, wasn't a lovable character, to be honest. She was stubborn and quite. She never told anyone about what's she feeling. She afraid that everyone will only judge her by foot. Okay, I would like to blame her mum for that. Ada's depression and fear made her build her wall so high. She never want to be touched, even by Susan, her guardian. 

"I know you aren’t stupid. Stupid people couldn’t take care of their brother the way you do. Stupid people aren’t half as brave as you. They’re not half as strong." -- Miss Smith 

Jamie, in my opinion, most likely had the same attitude as Ada. He was more influenced by his mom, so she thought Ada shouldn't walk by her own foot. He thought that being a crippled was a sin. Yeah, after I read this book, I started to like Susan. How she managed to take care Ada and Jamie very nicely. Susan had a big role for Ada and Jamie's life. She feed them, took care of them, and also taught them how to behave and also about knowledge like reading and math. She acted like a parent.

I like when Ada started to change her behavior. She became more mature as a children, even though sometimes her stubbornness still very annoying. One thing that I realized when I read this book is when Bradley describe the war situation. I don't know if this is proper or not, but as a children book, this book has a quite detail for the war. It was about the Germany's invasion, how hard the situation to get food in the middle of the war, or when one ship full of injured soldier came to Ada's village and Ada tried to help Susan to help them.

Hero wasn’t a word I was used to hearing. The admiration was interesting, but the attention made me feel unsettled. -- Ada

Yeah, even though I still with an opinion that Ada is very annoying, I still can enjoy the story. Even, I started to curious with the second book, The War I Finally Won. Anyway, the title of this book is very relatable with the story. So, you should read it by yourself.

4 of 5 stars for Butter, Ada's pony and Susan's kindness.

Sincerely,

Puji P. Rahayu