The War I Finally Won

The War I Finally Won
By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2017. 385 p.

I loved The War that Saved My Life! (It was the Odyssey Award Winner for the year that I was on the Odyssey Award Committee. So I got to know that book very well.) So I was excited, yet a little apprehensive when I heard that this next book was coming out. Would I like it as much? Would it live up to the expectations and glory of the first book? How would it fair?

In this sequel, Ada’s clubfoot has been fixed. She is living with Miss Smith and her brother—yet the war is still going strong. Lady Thorton allows the family to move into a cottage on her estate, though Lady Thorton moves in with them when the government needs to use her house for the war effort. And not only that, but a German Jewish girl named Ruth has come to stay with them, which causes Ada to have to sort through feelings of if she trusts Ruth or not (she is a German…and Germans are who they are fighting—though Ruth had to flee Germany since she is Jewish).

There is so much in this book, and it is all handled so well. Ada is often frustrated and angry and confused (this book shows yet again just how much she doesn’t know due to her unfortunate upbringing). Yet, there is also kindness, love, and acceptance. Mostly, there is a girl who is trying to overcome her particular challenges while her life (and the world) is in a bit of chaos. This is a good sequel. One that will stick with me for a long while yet.

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