The War that Saved My Life was a very sad and interesting book. My favorite part of the book was the ending because the kids eventually left their mother and went with Susan. It was hard to get to Susan because there were explosions in the streets and fires almost everywhere. While they were walking around in the streets trying to find directions or something that’ll lead them to Susan, Ada was struggling to walk with her foot. Since her mother threw her crutches away Ada couldn’t walk as fast as she did. She’d also forgotten what it was like without them. Since there were fires everywhere they went to a shelter. The next day Susan found them and they were so happy they found each other again. When Susan explained how she found them and everything they eventually came home. Little did they know their house was destroyed because of the bombs. But in the end they realized all they needed were each other and that’s all that mattered to them.
I felt sad when Ada’s mother came to take Ada and Jamie away from Susan. Susan wanted to stop her mother but she couldn’t. The only reason their mother came back was because since they were gone she had to pay the government extra money and she didn’t like that. When they came home Ada’s mother threw Ada’s crutches away and told Ada that she’s nothing but a cripple and thats all she’ll ever be. When Ada’s mother told her and Jamie the truth about how she feels about them it made them cry more then ever. She said the only reason she had them was because her husband at the time wanted kids but she never did. Her husband was the only one who took good care of them; but when he died she was stuck with them. After that Ada then convinced her mother that she would make sure she’ll never have to pay for them again if they could leaving in the morning. Her mother agreed and left for work. In the morning bombs had crashed in their street and they left.
I think the relationship between Ada and Susan is interesting because at first when they meet each other Ada hated her but now Ada doesn’t want to leave her. When Ada first came with Susan she didn’t like her because she knew Susan didn’t want them. Also that Susan was stuck with them. But as time went on Ada learned to appreciate everything Susan did for her and Jamie. Susan bathed, feed, clothed, educated, and cared for them as much as she could. When Ada or Jamie would get scared by the bombs Susan would calm them down by reading to them or hugging them. All the children were being sent away from London for safety but Susan wouldn’t send them away and Ada felt like she could breathe again. Ada said that ” the wave inside her flattened out. I could breathe again.” I feel like Ada is finally happy and feeling loved because she’s not as stubborn as much anymore.
I can’t believe that Ada has to wait till her mother sends a letter to Susan approving that Ada can have her surgery to fix her foot. Susan has discussed having a surgery on Ada’s foot with doctors and surgeons but they said Ada can’t without her mothers permission. Ada is getting very frustrated because her mother won’t respond to Susan’s letters. She really wants to be able to walk but since her foot has gotten worse over the years she won’t be able to walk entirely. If she would’ve gotten the surgery after she was born she would be able to walk. But since she is much older, walking is going to be a struggle for her. Ada says she’s tired of the pain and being so helpless because even though the crutches help a lot she doesn’t want to use them all the time. So now Ada and Susan are just waiting for the letter to come from her mother approving that the surgery can proceed.
I really don’t understand the part when Ada screamed and cried when Susan (Mrs. Smith) made Ada a green dress for Christmas. They both had spent all week making each other gifts for Christmas. Ada had learned to sew so she made a scarf for Susan made out of white cotton. Susan had sewn Ada a beautiful green dress for her present. Then Christmas Eve came and Ada gave Susan her present first and Susan was very grateful for that. Susan then gave Ada hers and Ada started to scream very loudly. If I were Ada I would have thanked Susan for the present because that would’ve been the right thing to do. Then Ada started to kick and scratch Susan when Susan tried to comfort her. Susan then rapped Ada in a blanket to stop her from kicking. Then she finally fell asleep and the next morning everyone forgot about what happened and just celebrated Christmas with each other as a family.
I’m not sure that Ada is being completely honest about how she feels about everything going on in her life. Because I think she tries to be really tough and brave but deep inside she’s really scared about the war, Jamie, and herself. Ada has a caring personality but she is very protective of her feelings. She wants to be brave for her brother because he is very sensitive and she’s the only one who knows how to calm him down; but sometimes it’s hard for her. Another reason is when Mrs. Smith hugged Ada and Jamie, Ada pushed her away. Ada tries to be tough but really she just wants to be loved. She was never loved or comforted by her mother because her mother despised Ada.
It seems like Ada and Jamie don’t really know who they really are or anything about their family. They both had to go with Mrs. Smith to get I.D cards so the guards could tell if they were German or English. When they went up to the desk the man asked how old Jamie and Ada were and they didn’t know. Then he asked for their last names and they didn’t know that either. So Mrs. Smith told the man to put the dates that she suggested. She told the man to put Jamie on February 15 and for Ada April 5, 1929. Jamie was very happy that he now had a birthday because at school the kids would make fun of him. I would also feel happy as well because I wouldn’t feel that clueless about myself. Jamie was also happy because he could get presents and he’s never gotten those before. Ada and Jamie didn’t know their D.O.B because their mother didn’t really tell them anything about themselves or their family because she was really mean to them. I think Jamie and Ada are a little happy now that they have a birthday to celebrate and someone to celebrate it with.
I think Ada and Jamie (her brother) should start to get along with Mrs. Smith because she’s doing a lot for them. She is buying clothes for them, food, and making Jamie go to school while she teaches Ada manners at the house. Ada and Jamie don’t like Mrs. Smith but I think if they get to know her they will actually like her. One day Jamie came home from school and had blood on his wrist. Mrs. Smith asked him what happened but he refused to say. The next day Ada and Mrs. Smith visited him at school and his left hand was tied to his chair. Mrs. Smith came in and asked why his left hand was tied to his chair and his teacher said “its the mark of the devil”. Mrs. Smith said “theirs nothing in the Bible against people using their left hand”. Also that “Jamie will use whichever hand he prefers or I shall take action for the wounds he’s received.” Then she hugged Jamie and he cried on her shoulder hugging tightly as well. I feel like Jamie is finally started to like Mrs. Smith because he now knows she really cares about them.
I love the way that even though Ada’s foot is injured she still tries to do things that seem impossible for someone with a club foot. She taught herself how to ride a horse and she tries to walk without her crutches, but she struggles a lot because of the pain. Ada also takes care of her brother by feeding him and clothing him. She’s always taken care of him because their mother wasn’t a caring person. Ada’ mother loved her brother more but she still wouldn’t take care of him. I also love the way that Ada is correcting her grammar every time she speaks, because before she didn’t know how to say things correctly. Ada is becoming a very bright and intelligent person and I hope that by the end of this book she learns how to walk.
If I were Ada at this point, I would be a little more confident in myself. Ada is a very shy, caring, and protecting person. With the help of Mrs. Smith the woman taking care of Ada and her brother, sent Ada to a doctor and got crutches. I think if I were her I would be more confident in myself and have faith that I will walk one day. She is getting strength in herself and for her foot to heal faster. If I were Ada I would believe in myself more because she doesn’t have her mother putting her down anymore. Telling her no one would want her and that she’s an embarrassment. I would be sad and hurt if my mother did that to me but I would be grateful that my brother loves me and I would be brave for myself. I am thankful that my family loves me for who I am and who I am to be.