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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
“I love you,” I whispered. I buried my head against Susan’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before.” “Don’t be sorry,” she whispered back. “I know you love me. You know I love you too.”
Because several people suggested that I listen to the second half of Ada’s story, I tried the audio version of Bradley’s book, The War I Finally Won. The audio is good and I enjoyed it. However, listening always takes me longer than reading and so I was a bit anxious that it would all work out. Don’t ask me why I get concerned about stories, I should know that authors work for their characters’ best interests.
Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of Ada’s tale. This is a good novel, written for children, but anyone would enjoy it. I am especially glad that the characters stayed within their established personalities and that the adults continued as they were in the first novel. It would have been weird, for example, if Lady Thornton had had a complete change of heart.
I may have to look for more books by Bradley. She told me a wonderful story and taught me a lot as well.
Because several people suggested that I listen to the second half of Ada’s story, I tried the audio version of Bradley’s book, The War I Finally Won. The audio is good and I enjoyed it. However, listening always takes me longer than reading and so I was a bit anxious that it would all work out. Don’t ask me why I get concerned about stories, I should know that authors work for their characters’ best interests.
Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of Ada’s tale. This is a good novel, written for children, but anyone would enjoy it. I am especially glad that the characters stayed within their established personalities and that the adults continued as they were in the first novel. It would have been weird, for example, if Lady Thornton had had a complete change of heart.
I may have to look for more books by Bradley. She told me a wonderful story and taught me a lot as well.
This is a marvelous sequel to the award-winning The War That Saved My Life. Ada has just gotten her club foot surgically repaired in the beginning of this new novel. Due to their home being destroyed, Ada and her brother along with Susan, their guardian, must move into a small cottage on the land owned by Lady and Lord Thornton. As World War II continues, they face food shortages, hard work, and then are asked to house a German refugee while Susan teaches her math. Though her foot is fixed, Ada continues to wrestle with her disability and how it factored in to her mother’s abuse. Once again horses are on the scene to help with healing, both physical and mental, as unlikely friendships and bonds are formed in a small cottage.
Bradley writes books that don’t just draw you in, they captivate you. It was so wonderful to return to Ada’s story and find out what happens to beloved characters. In this sequel, more is shown of the stern Lady Thornton and Bradley demonstrates that with more knowledge comes more understanding. Ada continues to be a dynamic character, never easy with life or her own role in it. And yet as Ada is prickly and abrupt, she is also warm and inquisitive, looking for answers and asking questions.
Bradley wrestles with dark themes in both of the novels in this series. There is the physical and mental abuse that Ada suffered at the hands of her mother. There is the ongoing war that threatens everyone’s safety. There is the loss of beloved characters due to that war. Still, she also shines hope. Hope for progress forward, for learning more, for accepting differences and for building friendships. The tension between all of this is remarkably well-handled and creates a book that is riveting to read.
A sequel that is just as good as the first, get this into the hands of fans. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Bradley writes books that don’t just draw you in, they captivate you. It was so wonderful to return to Ada’s story and find out what happens to beloved characters. In this sequel, more is shown of the stern Lady Thornton and Bradley demonstrates that with more knowledge comes more understanding. Ada continues to be a dynamic character, never easy with life or her own role in it. And yet as Ada is prickly and abrupt, she is also warm and inquisitive, looking for answers and asking questions.
Bradley wrestles with dark themes in both of the novels in this series. There is the physical and mental abuse that Ada suffered at the hands of her mother. There is the ongoing war that threatens everyone’s safety. There is the loss of beloved characters due to that war. Still, she also shines hope. Hope for progress forward, for learning more, for accepting differences and for building friendships. The tension between all of this is remarkably well-handled and creates a book that is riveting to read.
A sequel that is just as good as the first, get this into the hands of fans. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
When an author announces a follow up to a book I really liked, I always get a little nervous. They're not going to ruin my book, are they? Not to worry. [a:Kimberly Brubaker Bradley|118639|Kimberly Brubaker Bradley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487779398p2/118639.jpg] has written another exceptional book about Susan and her wards Ada and Jamie. (*ahem* There are several discussions about the word ward in TWIFW which I adored.) Just as in [b:The War that Saved My Life|20912424|The War that Saved My Life (The War That Saved My Life #1)|Kimberly Brubaker Bradley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453342842s/20912424.jpg|40277782], I particularly admired the way Susan deals with Ada and others around her. She's empathetic but suffers no fools: quite a role model for all of us! Ada hasn't changed much either; she's grown and matured, but she's still on the prickly side and she still has a fierce loyalty and love for those she cares for. And her independent streak--give me ALL the Ada. Many other characters are back from TWTSML and it was fun reconnecting with them, as well as meeting the new people Bradley introduced. I don't want to spoil any of the fun by going into any plot details, but just know: if you loved book one, you're going to love The War I Finally Won as well.
Unexpectedly I loved this as much as the first. I love that the main character is believable and grows while also experiencing believable heartbreaks and failures. I certainly need to read more by this author.
I enjoyed this sequel more than I enjoyed the first book. The first books seemed a bit melodramatic, but this one hit felt more real and true. A great coming of age book set in the English countryside during WWII.
I was almost afraid to read this book, because I loved the first so much. This is the rare sequel that lives up to its predecessor.
Ada learns, and struggles, and grows, and struggles, and fights, and struggles, and meanwhile things fall apart and fall together over and over.
Ada learns to trust, and to let herself love and be loved, and she finds not only a home, but a family.
Loved the themes of forgiveness and mercy and hope and getting on with things even when that seems impossible. So much good to say about both of these books. Big-hearted and unflinching and gentle and wrenching and absolutely wonderful.
Ada learns, and struggles, and grows, and struggles, and fights, and struggles, and meanwhile things fall apart and fall together over and over.
Ada learns to trust, and to let herself love and be loved, and she finds not only a home, but a family.
Loved the themes of forgiveness and mercy and hope and getting on with things even when that seems impossible. So much good to say about both of these books. Big-hearted and unflinching and gentle and wrenching and absolutely wonderful.
It is not often I will finish a book in a few hours, but I was so caught up in the story of Ada that I did not want to put the book down. Brilliantly done, a wonderful continuation of the first story. These characters are real, they have faults, they are prickly, they hurt, they learn.
Well done on the historical aspects of the novel as well - there was a great sense of place and time, and no noticeable anachronisms.
Well done on the historical aspects of the novel as well - there was a great sense of place and time, and no noticeable anachronisms.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I knew about the part of the world I grew up in,” Lady Thorton said, looking directly at me. “You knew about the part you grew up in. Now we both know more.”
❤️
❤️
This book and the first in the series, The War That Saved My Life, are so incredibly meaningful and beautiful. I wish they’d been released when I was a child, but I know that there are elements I wouldn’t have appreciated if not reading them as an adult. The development of the main characters from the first book is slow and painful (Lady Thornton) and that makes it real. I listened to this as an audiobook and bawled like a baby over many of the bittersweet moments and the tragedies. Ruth and Ada becoming close was particularly heartwarming. I want to visit “home” at the game cottage with all the other characters who become family over the course of this book and the war. My only criticism is that Susan and Becky’s relationship could have and should have been talked about as plainly as the other issues presented in the book. THEY WERE IN LOVE. Ada and Jamie could have understood and accepted it, and Ada could have considered it in her narrative. I still thought the ending was beautiful, however, with the resolution that Ada helped Susan find with Becky’s family. JUST SAY THEY WERE LESBIANS IN LOVE.