The War That Saved My Life

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Why is social acceptance important? What factors may cause individuals to feel isolated from others? In what ways might acceptance be tied to self-worth?

Teaching Suggestion: Ada, the protagonist, is born with a clubfoot and wrestles with self-worth as a result of her abusive mother, Mam. Because Mam mistreats her, Ada feels as though she is socially unacceptable and blames herself for her physical disability. Once students have a chance to reflect on their own, they might discuss in small groups the importance of social acceptance and factors that may contribute to social isolation. The resources below may help further introduce these concepts with regard to the protagonist’s physical disability.

• This article explains social acceptance, why it is important, and how it is connected to self-worth.
• This 4-minute TED Talk by Alexander de Silva discusses the importance of social acceptance and considers the potential consequences of rejection. (Content Warning: The speaker references gun violence, including school shootings and suicide.)

Short Activity

Explore Britain’s role in World War II and the causes behind the war, then create an infographic using visual symbols to explain the impact of World War II on the British home front.

Teaching Suggestion: Ada escapes her mother’s abuse by leaving with the children evacuated from London. Students may find it beneficial to explore the sources below to understand on a cursory level the facts about World War II and Britain’s involvement before creating their infographic.

• This 2-minute video explains what caused World War II.
• This brief article explores why Britain joined World War II against Germany.
• This article describes the impact of World War II on the British Empire.
• This article explains some of the hardships experienced on the British home front.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge may find it beneficial to choose a particular area of focus (e.g., the evacuation of children, rations, the changing role of women, or the Blitz attacks) to develop a more thorough understanding of the British home front.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Consider a personal obstacle you have had to overcome. What made you determined to overcome it? What kinds of challenges did you face? Did you have support systems to help you achieve your goal?

Teaching Suggestion: Ada becomes determined to walk despite her clubfoot because she wants her mother to accept her. Before responding to the prompt, students could reflect on difficult personal obstacles, why individuals might determine to overcome them, and additional obstacles that may arise in the process. Responses could be completed in writing journals for the sake of privacy.