by: Kimberly Bradley
Hello everyone, I apologize for the huge gap in time between my posts and I'm hoping to get on a regular schedule soon but to be honest preparing for tests that ensure my certification to teach and apply all of this in a classroom took up the time for posting blogs but not the time for reading books. I've been typing up blogs and am only now uploading them because I finally have the time to go back and edit them before releasing them into the public eye. ANYWAYS...this book without a doubt is an eye-opener and really jerks the readers emotions around once it gets you hooked. The story talks about a girl named Ada who is trying to survive not only thee bombings of WWI but also the cruel punishment her Mother puts her through every day of her life for having a club foot. As the bombers approached every child in London got sent out into London and Ada sneaked onto the train with her brother while her abusive mother was asleep. This book won the 2016 Newbery Award and without a doubt meets the qualifications of a Newbery winner because of how well witten it is and how well it explains to students the cruelties cripples went through (although I pray that scenarios like Ada's extremely rare because of how cruel it was).
I recommend this book with haste because this is a book that is meant for a mature elementary classroom (wow that's an oxymoron) where the teacher knows the students can handle the content of the book. It might even be a good reader for a student whose going through a similar struggle and needs something to relate to. This book, especially the beginning, has some very dark points where I found it hard to continue reading but in my opinion the payoff is worth it especially if a student relates to Ada or any of the other characters in any way.
Lexile Reading Score: 580
Reccomended Grade Level: 5
Teaching Suggestions: I recommend this book for an independent read where students get together as a whole class to discuss the reading.
Before the Reading
A great way to engage the students into the reading beforehand is to give them a questionnare to fill out which asks them about their opinions on the major concepts of the reading, this is a great way to get their minds focused on the content before they dig into the reading and it is a great thing for them to look back on once they finish their reading to see how the book changed their opinions if it did at all. These questions which I located from an article on Penguin.com titled "An Educator's Guide to the War that Saved my Life" are quotes from the book and include the following:
- Everyone deserves freedom and the right to make decisions about their lives
- A person who tells lies is a lier, no matter what
- There are different kinds of truths, not just one "real" truth
- Sometimes we start to believe what other people think of us.
During the Reading
As the children read each section of the text have them write their feelings in a journal every day about the section they read, tell them to explicitly point out what parts of the texts stirred their emotions with examples. The teacher will review the journals every night and give his/her response to the section as well. After the student's finish writing in their journals have them get together and have a whole-class discussion on the content of the book and their feelings of what took place. The benefit of the whole group instruction is the teacher can much more easily moderate the discussion and ensure that no one is being offended or hurt by what is said. After the students finish discussing the section introduce them to an image that relates to what happened in that section (for example: in the chapters where the children are all boarding the train to Kent show a picture from that time period of the mass of children boarding the train. Once the children have gotten a chance to look the picture over have them write in their journal how the image they see conveys what happened to Ada in that section, this is a great way to check in to make sure they are fully comprehending the book.
After the Reading
Once the children complete the reading have them write a letter to the local judge as Ada, Jamie, or Miss Smith requesting that he grant custody of Ada and Jamie to Miss. Smith. In the letter the students will need to give multiple examples which support their argument. You can even have them put it in an envelope as if they were sending the letter off. If you can get your principal or assistant principal to join in they can take on the role of being the judge and with the teachers help write a response letter to the children. Should the principal not be interested you can always take on the role of judge yourself or find someone else.
Great Electronic Resources
http://www.kimberlybrubakerbradley.com/
The Author's website, this has a great amount of detail and is simple to navigate, perfect for a research project for the children. They can aso look into her other majr novel "Jefferson's Sons"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2006/06/27/history_kent_during_ww2_feature.shtml
This is a great article which documents the history of Kent (where Ada stayed) during WWII and the important role it played during the British retreat from France.
http://www.penguin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/WarThatSavedMyLife_Guide_15_4p_LR.pdf
The website with teaching strategies for this book
Important Vocabulary Words to Go Over
Flat = an apartment
Impudent = Not showing due respect to someone
Shillings = The basic currency in Britain during WWII
Shivery = shaking as a result of cold
Barricaded = block with a stronger wall
Mollified = To help someone whose angry or anxious calm down and feel better
Requisitioned = To demand someone give you what you need in order to do something
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