The War I Finally Won
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Like the classic heroines of literature, Ada wins our hearts as she continues her World War II adventures after the Newbery Honor–winning The War that Saved My Life.
When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—crippled in her mind as well as in her body. But who is she, she wonders?
Ada and her brother, Jamie, are living with their guardian, Susan, in a cottage in the English countryside, on the estate of the formidable Lady Thorton and her daughter, Maggie, Ada’s dearest friend. Life in the crowded cottage is tense. Then Ruth, a Jewish girl from Germany, moves in. A German? Everyone is horrified. Ada must decide—where do her loyalties lie?
The War I Finally Won is the marvellous conclusion to Ada’s powerful, uplifting story.
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley reads from and talks about her new book, The War I Finally Won.
Read an interview on the Text blog with Kimberly here.
INTERVIEWS
4 questions with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley on Publishers Weekly
andThe War I Finally Won
‘With a satisfying yet realistic ending, The War I Finally Won is a great way to end Ada’s battle.’
‘This absorbing adventure, with its gentle humour and fearless characters, will captivate you. It is as exciting as it is poignant and wise and deserves to take its rightful place among the classics of children’s wartime literature.’
Ada’s voice is honest and authentic and true…A novel to curl up with on a rainy day; it took me back to the novels I read and loved as a child.’
‘Achingly lovely…Nuanced and emotionally acute, this vivid tale from the wartime home front will have readers ages 10-14 wincing at Ada’s stumbles and rejoicing to the point of tears in her victories.’
‘Heartwarming, realistic and ultimately moving…A brilliant read from start to finish, The War that Saved My Life explores themes of love, loss and hope and shows that sometimes the hardest battles are the ones fought within ourselves.’
‘An inimitable, robust, yet lyrically written bildungsroman. Its gentle humour is poignant and heartwarming.’
‘Ada’s transformation from an angry young woman into a confident lady is imaginatively drawn.’
‘Ada’s voice is brisk and honest; her dawning realizations are made all the more poignant for their simplicity…Ignorance and abuse are brought to light, as are the healing powers of care, respect and love. Set against a backdrop of war and sacrifice, Ada’s personal fight for freedom and ultimate triumph are cause for celebration.’
‘A story of courage and hope. Watching Ada’s transformation and seeing her relationship with Susan grow is a lovely journey.’
‘Proving that her courage and compassion carry far more power than her disability, Ada earns self-respect, emerges a hero, and learns the meaning of home.’
‘A moving and captivating story.’
‘A beautifully written and very moving book, bound to be an instant classic.’
‘Brubaker Bradley is unsparing in her rendition of the human toll that wars incur. But it is a book, like its predecessor, that teems with beauty…Both books leave a profound afterglow and establish themselves firmly as classics to be loved and revisited.’
‘A deeply satisfying novel.’
‘A fitting sequel.’
‘Heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time…Ada’s story tells us that there is hope, there are people of goodwill, and perseverance is always worth the struggle.’
