The War That Saved My Life cover art

The War That Saved My Life

The War That Saved My Life, Book 1

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The War That Saved My Life

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $34.99

Buy Now for $34.99

About this listen

This number one New York Times best seller is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War II, from the acclaimed author of Fighting Words.

Ten-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—sneaking out to join him.

So begins a new adventure for 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?

Set during one of the most explosive periods in world history, this amazing story is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family, identity and the fire of self-worth that can, when fed, burn brightly in all of us.

©2015 Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. First published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. This edition published by arrangement with The Text Publishing Company. All rights reserved including (P)2015 Penguin Random House LLC Fiction Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction War

Critic Reviews

"Ada's voice is brisk and honest; her dawning realizations are made all the more poignant for their simplicity." (Kirkus Reviews)

Involving, poignant, nuanced.... This is a feel-good story, but an earned one...distinct and powerful in its own right." (The Horn Book, starred review)

"Achingly lovely.... Nuanced and emotionally acute." (The Wall Street Journal)
All stars
Most relevant  
Amazing book finished the same day I got it
War that saved my life is an eye opening read, it gives you a feel of how life was like for some people during ww 2 10 out of 10

Great read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved listening to the story of Ada and Jamie. It was truly amazing how Susan took them in and cared for them. The story was set in ww2 and in the end they lose a lot of things

Lovely story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book so much, the views of the WW2 from such a young age was just so eye opening. Thank you.

downloaded the sequel immediately

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My family and I are intrigued by this wonderful book. We are looking for a new story to listen to on road trips and more. We are looking forward to hearing the next book. The part where Ada is put under the sink was soooo sad but with Mis Smith there to help she was saved. My Mum was so enthusiastic with the part about Jamie in school and the teacher thinking that he had the mark of the devil, here’s the part where my Mum said “yes go Mis Smith go,” my brother writes with his left hand and I can’t even imagine him been touched like that. The part in the end was so beautiful when Jamie and Ada hade to go to a bomb shelter by themselves, and emerged to see Mis Smith looked for them made me feel so happy. When I saw that there Mam was waiting for Ada with Jamie and that she hade just jumped the wall made my mouth drop.

Thank you so much for a great story.

Incredible so good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I needed to read this book as it was chosen at the school I work at for year 7s to read. What an absolutely gorgeous story. Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. I didn’t want it to end.

A wonderful story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved the narrative from the reality of a child's mind. great realistic story, sad but uplifting too

great story line

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a gorgeous book, the characters were fabulous and beautifully written and the narrator's voice was perfect for the book. I didn't realise I was reading a children's book, but no matter it was great for an adult anyway. I couldn't wait to read the sequel and it was not disappointing

Very Special

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved the name and how it was written and set and when it was
Is such a good book❤️ is my new favourite book and I can’t wait to read book 2!!!!!!!!.

I loved it so much ❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.