I did not want to read this book. I don't like sad books, I don't like historical fiction, and I hate anything having to do with any war whatsoever. However it made it's way onto several award lists, and I just couldn't escape. 
 I settled down with a sigh, and opened the book. I'm not going to like this, I thought, I'll just push through. It grabbed me, though, right from the get-go. There was no wishy-washy introduction, no, Bradley threw me straight into London! I was in a dirty room with a stubborn girl, and her impertinent little brother. 
 Oh these characters! They're bright and vibrant, and fleshed out so that it's like they're sitting right next to you. Ada is so frustrating sometimes, but you can't be mad at her, because you know, you know what she's been through, and you know what she's living through right now, and you just want to reach in and hold her. Jamie is that little brother, or small child we've all encountered that we love but just can't understand completely because he's at that age you just can't reason with. This is good, you want to tell him, stop crying and look around and see that this is good! 
 Susan is this amazing adult that maybe the children won't relate to as well, but who I loved. She doesn't think she can, but she tries. She's sad in the winter, when the days are shorter, and she feels like she'll never be enough of a mother/caregiver to either of these evacuees. Oh, what parent hasn't been there a thousand times? 
 This is a family made whole, lives saved, by the war. A nice alternative to the book I thought I was going to be reading!