the war that saved my life by kimberly brubaker bradley

Susan also offers to teach Ada to read and write and even massages Ada’s clubfoot to help her gain flexibility. Ada expects Susan to be livid, but Susan is calm and understanding, even offering to teach Ada how to sew. Ada’s anger at Susan increases when she learns that Susan has been neglecting Butter, although unintentionally, by not trimming his hooves.īutter makes a recovery, and the relationship between Susan and Ada begins to recover as well when Ada breaks Susan’s sewing machine. This is a turning point in the story, as Susan is elevated from caretaker to protector, a role that Ada is accustomed to playing for Jamie. Jamie is miserable at school, and Susan discovers it’s because his teacher has been tying his wrist to his desk in an attempt to make him right-handed. Jamie goes to school, but the teacher deems Ada unfit to attend school, and Ada spends her days riding Butter and learning to care for horses. Jamie wants to return to London, whereas Ada would rather remain with Susan.Īda teaches herself to ride Susan’s horse Butter, giving her the chance to go fast for the first time in her life without pain in her foot. As England and Germany officially declare war, tension between Ada and Jamie heightens. Susan provides clothing, food, shelter, and medical care for both children. Mam is physically and emotionally abusive toward Ada and her brother Jamie, so they escape to a rural village in Kent, where Susan Smith, a single woman living alone, takes them in. She has spent her life confined to a one-room apartment because her mother, Mam, is ashamed of her twisted clubfoot. Ada is 10 years old as World War II approaches London.

The war that saved my life by kimberly brubaker bradley