Age rating and parents' guide:The War That Saved My Life
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages 12–14
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is best for children aged 12–14. It has mild violence, some scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Parental abuse (recovering), war.
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room London flat because her cruel mother is ashamed of her clubfoot. When children are evacuated to the countryside during World War II, Ada sneaks away with her little brother Jamie. In a quiet seaside village, they are taken in by Susan Smith, a reluctant guardian dealing with her own grief. Ada learns to ride a pony, read, and trust adults for the first time. It is an emotional, empowering story about resilience and found family.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Moderate
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Parental abuse (recovering), war
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Some emotionally heavy moments
Great for kids who like
- Action & Adventure
- Historical Fiction
Reading mood
- Adventurous
- Thoughtful
- Suspenseful
Good to talk about
- Family
- Survival & resilience
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