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An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars.
Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
January 8, 2015 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781101890622
- File size: 219985 KB
- Duration: 07:38:18
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 580
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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Jayne Entwistle's narration enhances this bittersweet story of two poor children from London during WWII. Ten-year-old Ada has an untreated clubfoot and has never left home because her mother is ashamed of her disability. Nonetheless, when Ada realizes her precious younger brother, Jamie, is leaving London to escape the bombing, she decides to follow him. Entwistle movingly captures the children's sweet na•veté as well as their abusive mother's brutality. She deftly portrays country dweller Susan Smith, who is at first reluctant to take in the children. Along with a touching story, listeners will be rewarded with a fascinating history from the perspective of kids who lived through the war. With her skillful presentation of true-to-life characters, Entwistle's narration is totally compelling. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from October 27, 2014
Bradley (Jefferson’s Sons) examines WWII through the eyes of a disabled child eager to escape her life of neglect and abuse. With the threat of German bombs being dropped on London, most parents are anxious to get their children out of the city. But Ada’s mother, shamed by her daughter’s deformed foot, doesn’t seem to care. Ada takes it upon herself to board an evacuee train with her younger brother and, without their Mam’s knowledge, they arrive in a country village with a crowd of students. Malnourished and filthy, the siblings are placed with Miss Smith, a woman lacking any experience with children, who claims she isn’t “nice.” Nonetheless, she offers Ada and Jamie food, clothing, and security, and she owns a pony that Ada is determined to learn to ride. In this poignant story, Bradley celebrates Ada’s discovery of the world outside her dismal flat, movingly tracing her growing trust of strangers and her growing affection for Miss Smith. Proving that her courage and compassion carry far more power than her disability, Ada earns self-respect, emerges a hero, and learns the meaning of home. Ages 9–12. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown.
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