The War I Finally Won

97 pages • 3 hours read

The War I Finally Won

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Chapters 8-13

Chapters 14-19

Chapters 20-26

Chapters 27-34

Chapters 35-43

Chapters 44-50

Chapters 51-57

Chapters 58-63

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 27-34Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 27 Summary

Ruth accidentally burps at the dinner table. Lady Thorton rolls her eyes and sighs with derision. Ada leaps to Ruth’s defense, challenging Lady Thorton on her constantly mean and belittling behavior toward Ruth. Susan agrees.

At Susan’s insistence that the chores need to be shared, Ruth reluctantly helps Ada wash up, and Lady Thorton accompanies Ada to get groceries the next day. They buy beef shins, which Lady Thorton had no idea people ate. Later, she watches as Ada prepares the meal.

Lady Thorton asks Ada about her childhood and is shocked to learn that Ada and Jamie never ate beef shins growing up because they were too expensive. Ada also admits that she was kept in one room her whole life before living with Susan. As the household eats, Lady Thorton makes an effort to be polite to Ruth. She admits that there is a lot that she does not know.

Chapter 28 Summary

Lady Thorton is shocked and thrilled when Jonathan unexpectedly comes to visit. He brings a banana, which Ada is intrigued with, having never seen one before. Jonathan is polite to Ruth, asking about her studies and about life in Germany before her family fled. Ruth explains that her father lost his job lecturing at a university, that she was expelled from school, that their synagogue was burned down, and that they were no longer allowed at pools, parks, the beach, restaurants, movie theaters, or concerts. Ada is confused, and Ruth explains that Hitler perceives Jews as a separate undesirable race. Ruth tearfully tells them that they had to leave her grandmother behind, and they had not heard from her since.

The family now has two hens: Penelope and Persnickety. Lady Thorton uses all eight eggs they have in reserve to make a huge omelet. She gives half to Jonathan and splits the rest between Ada, Jamie, and Ruth.

Chapter 29 Summary

Lady Thorton brusquely tells Ruth that she is sure her grandmother is fine. Furious with her dismissive tone and ignorance, Ruth goes to her room. Lady Thorton is affronted, but Jonathan agrees with Ruth, telling his mother that they cannot imagine what Ruth has experienced.

Ada assumes that Susan will be angry about this decadent use of their reserve supplies, but she is overjoyed to see Jonathan and agrees with Lady Thorton that they should have a cake after dinner.

Ada asks Jonathan if he is afraid when he’s flying. After a while, he responds that he is not afraid of the flying part. Jonathan offers to take Ada riding; he had previously promised Maggie and Ada that he would take them out, but Ada notes that Jonathan looks exhausted and gaunt. She says they will ride next time.

Chapter 30 Summary

Ada does a fire-watching shift with Susan. Susan notes how terrified Ada still is of being up on the steeple and explains that she can find other wartime work. Ada does not articulate it to Susan, but she feels that her fear is a bargaining chip. If she takes on this job that scares her so much, it will keep Jamie and Susan safe.

Ada asks Ruth about her grandmother, but Ruth explains that she will become too emotional if she talks about it. Ada understands.

Chapter 31 Summary

The household gets a pig called Mrs. Rochester. Other members of the community pitch in to feed the pig with their uneaten scraps, hoping to receive one of her future piglets.

Ada asks Ruth about her family’s pets when she lived in Germany, then asks more questions about her family. Ruth reveals that she has received no correspondence from any of her family in Germany. Ada feels uncomfortable with the knowledge that Ruth’s uncle fought for Germany in the First World War.

Maggie comes home for Easter break. Susan organizes a Seder celebration with wine, parsley, and salt for the household for Jewish Passover. Ruth is moved by the gesture.

Chapter 32 Summary

Ada takes Ruth out to see the stars, explaining that they are the same stars that Ruth’s grandmother probably sees in Germany. Ada also tells Ruth that there are pictures in the sky called constellations. Ruth already knows this and is unimpressed by the gesture.

Ada celebrates her 12th birthday. She is given three new books and is overwhelmed by the attention. She thinks that Mam should have celebrated her birthday and feels upset. Susan reassures her that her mixed feelings are understandable. Ada invites Ruth to come with her to the stables.

Chapter 33 Summary

Fred is clearly hesitant when Ada arrives with Ruth, asking if Lady Thorton knows that Ruth is at the stable. Lady Thorton is out, but Ada insists that Butter is her pony and that Ruth can ride her.

Fred advises the girls to stay away from town. Ada notes that she has never seen Ruth so happy. From that day forward, Ruth goes riding with Ada whenever Lady Thorton is out. Ruth is a competent rider and helps Ada by giving her riding tips. Ada tells Ruth about her clubfoot and the surgery that corrected it. Ruth reassures her that it is nothing to be ashamed of, but Ada thinks this is easier said than done.

Chapter 34 Summary

Maggie comes home for two months over summer break, and she and Ada spend a lot of time riding together. Ada wants to bring Ruth, but Maggie is scared of getting on her mother’s bad side and will not allow it.

Mrs. Rochester (the pig) gives birth to eight piglets. Jamie happily tells Ada that Susan loves them both, as does Susan’s deceased friend Becky. Ada thinks this is ridiculous, but Susan gently reminds her that he should feel loved. They discuss whether Mam would be capacitated (as opposed to incapacitated) now that she is in heaven.

Chapters 27-34 Analysis

Lady Thorton’s shock at the fact that Ada and Jamie could not afford beef shins growing up is a testament to her privilege and ignorance. She was born into an aristocratic class and cannot conceive of a life characterized by scarcity and struggle. Living with Susan, Ada, Jamie, and Ruth, especially during wartime scarcity, forces Lady Thorton to confront her own privilege. She begins to appreciate the skills involved in running a household, acknowledging that there’s a lot that she does not know. This humility is unusual for Lady Thorton and illustrates that her experiences are teaching her empathy.

Lady Thorton’s rudeness toward Ruth has the effect of bringing Ruth and Ada closer together. Ada notices Ruth’s look of longing when Ada rides, and the two conspire to allow Ruth to go riding. This is a significant shift in Ada’s treatment of Ruth, which illustrates Ada’s growing maturity and empathy. She now sees Ruth as a person, not merely as a German, and worries about her well-being. As friendship develops between them, Ada discusses her clubfoot with Ruth. This is significant: Ada is very private about her foot because she was raised to be ashamed of it. This revelation shows that she trusts Ruth, marking a big departure from her earlier fear that Ruth was a murderous German spy.

Jonathan, who is also sympathetic to Ruth, represents a more worldly point of view than his closeminded mother Lady Thorton. He appreciates the enormous hardships faced by Jews in Germany. He admonishes his mother and points out that none of them can understand the incredible hardships Ruth has endured.

Jonathan’s appearance in the narrative emphasizes the pervasive effects of war. His hesitation when Ada asks if he is fearful when flying is indicative of the stress inherent in being an airman during war. He eventually responds that he is not afraid of the flying part, implying that his true fear is an enemy attack and suggesting that many of his colleagues and friends have died. Jonathan tries to put on a brave face in front of the children and his mother, but Ada notices how gaunt and exhausted he seems.

Susan continues to help Ada and Jamie to recover from a childhood characterized by abuse. Ada feels angry, overwhelmed, and upset at her birthday celebration, and tries to mask these feelings. Susan notices, though, and reassures Ada that her feelings are totally acceptable. Susan appreciates that being treated kindly reminds Ada of Mam’s relentless cruelty. Despite that cruelty, she consistently speaks of Mam with compassion. When she discusses Mam’s fate in the afterlife with the children, she uses the word “incapacitated” to politely describe Mam’s mental state, which led to her cruel and neglectful ways. Susan kindly and reassuringly agrees that perhaps in heaven their mother now is “capacitated,” illustrating her ongoing concern for and kindness toward Ada and Jamie.