The War That Saved My Life is a historical fiction novel by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. The story takes place in England during World War II. The main character, ten year old Ada, was born with a clubfoot and has never left her abusive mother’s apartment because her mother is ashamed of her disability. When her younger brother is sent away for his safety before the bombings of London, Ada escapes with him. The siblings are reluctantly taken in by Susan Smith, a young woman who is still grieving the death of her best friend. She tells the two right off the bat that she doesn’t want them and that she is not a nice lady. But as Susan’s actions continue to contradict her words, Ada starts to form a bond with her caretaker and settle into her new life. She struggles to break free from her past of fear and isolation and fully embrace her new identity amidst one of the worst wars the world has ever seen. The War That Saved My Life is a beautiful story that displays the cruelness, unpredictability and unexpected beauty of a world at war through a child’s eyes.