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LIVE CHAT with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Lisa Von Drasek

Below is our live chat the author of The War That Saved My Life, also archived on the Penguin Young Readers page. To join the program, sign up here.

Live Blog Live Chat with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE
 Live Chat with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE(11/19/2014) 
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Kim Bradley in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Meanwhile, here’s the cover of The War That Saved My Life…

Coming Jan, 8th, from Penguin/Dial

It will also be available in audio from Listening Library.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:45 
4:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Below is a spolier-free description of the plot:

World War II England is the setting for this moving follow-up to the acclaimed Jefferson’s Sons. Nine year-old Ada has never left her room because her abusive mother is so ashamed of her club foot. When Ada overhears that her little brother, Jamie is going to be evacuated out of London because of the approaching war, Ada sneaks out to join him.

Thus begins a new chance for Ada, as well as for Susan Smith, the reclusive woman who takes in the two children. Little by little, Ada opens up and starts to trust people, and Susan learns to nurture the kids and to love again after years of loneliness. As the story unfolds, Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, helps capture a German spy, and in a dramatic finale, saves herself and her brother once and for all from the tyranny of their mother.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:48 Nora - EarlyWord
4:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Here are some quotes from other authors about the book:

You are about to read an astounding novel. I was gobsmacked. Will you cry and rejoice and hold your breath? Absolutely. Will you find the book as exciting, touching, wise and profound as I did? Yes. Remarkable achievement, Kinberly Brubaker Bradley. Thank you. -- Karen Cushman, author of the Newbery Medal Winner, The Midwife’s Apprentice

I love Ada’s bold heart, keen wit and amazingly fresh point of view. Her story’s riveting. I was with her every step of the way. – Sheila Turnagh author of Newbery Medal book, Three Times Lucky

Not all wars are fought by nations. Some are fought in small rooms but for the same issues, justice, opportunity, respect. In Ada’s small war lies our large hope that love cannot, will not, be overcome. I read this novel in two big gulps. – Gary Schmidt, author of Newbery and Printz honor book, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy



Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:54 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering!

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to the author before the end of the chat.


Don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here’s our moderator Lisa Von Drasek. Say hi, Lisa!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
Hi, Nora! Hi, Readers!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
I am introducing Kim, our guest today who has published 16 books from picture books to YA, nonfiction and fiction.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
[Comment From Loves PoniesLoves Ponies: ] 
Hi Kim – looking forward to the chat
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Loves Ponies
5:02
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Happy to be here!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Deborah
5:02
[Comment From Sch. LibrarianSch. Librarian: ] 
Hi Kim. Loved the book!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Sch. Librarian
5:03
Kim Bradley: 
Hi, everyone! Glad to be here too!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Kim Bradley
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, Lets get started... where were you born and raised?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:03
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Kim – thanks for a thoughtful, enthralling book
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Sally
5:03
Kim Bradley: 
Fort Wayne, Indiana...very close to the place that was the setting for my first novel, Ruthie's Gift.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Kim Bradley
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
Thanks, Sally!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:04
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
Hello Kim – thanks for addressing so many important issues in this book.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Jo
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
Jo, you're welcome. What struck you as particularly important?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, and now you live...?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
I live in Bristol, TN, a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
Jo hasn't chimed back in , so I will interrupt by asking about the setting...England during WWII. can you say a few words about that...Deborah also want to know..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:06
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Deborah
5:06
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
So many things struck me as important -- how people try to put others down, how important community is to people and how bad it can be without it.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Jo
5:06
Kim Bradley: 
Sure...Let's see, I love England, I always have...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Kim Bradley
5:07
Kim Bradley: 
Researching the setting was a lot of fun for me because it required a trip to England...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:07 Kim Bradley
5:07
Kim Bradley: 
I'm trying to insert a photo here...Kent was so lovely, even though we were there in very early spring...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:07 Kim Bradley
5:08
Kim Bradley: 
Like most writers, I get ideas from everywhere, but this book seemed more organic than most...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:08 Kim Bradley
5:08
Kim Bradley: 
Looking at it now, I can see where all these little pieces came from, but writing it it seemed to come out of nowhere.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:08 Kim Bradley
5:09
Kim Bradley: 
Jo, I am a huge believer in community and relationships...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:09 Kim Bradley
5:10
Kim Bradley: 
and I really wanted that for Ada.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Kim Bradley
5:10
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Oh, poor you, having to go to England for :esearch!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Sally
5:10
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
I liked the way you used relationships in Jefferson's sons, too!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Deborah
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, I was struck by Ada's isolation. Can you tell us a little about writing that part?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
You really showed what it was like when Ada DIDN'T have that community.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:11 Jo
5:12
Kim Bradley: 
Ada's isolation was the hardest part to get right...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 Kim Bradley
5:12
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 
5:12
Kim Bradley: 
You walk a fine line between creating a sympathetic character and making a situation so bleak it's unreadable..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 Kim Bradley
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
Finally got a photo! That's Ada's Kent!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:13
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
Agree with Lisa about the isolation -- one thing I never thought about -- how someone like Ada, who grew up with only limited contact with people, wouldn’t understand a lot of words, and would feel isolated and exhausted when she had to talk to people. How did you come up with that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Jo
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
I think that without Jamie, and without her father who I conceive of as having been loving, she would have been a lot worse off...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
Remember that although he's not in the book except as a faint memory, she had her father until he was 4 years old...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:14
Kim Bradley: 
That's how she learned the songs she sings to Jamie...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:14 Kim Bradley
5:14
Kim Bradley: 
I once met a profound deaf young boy whose speech sounded completely normal. It was because he didn't lose his hearing until he was 18 months old.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:14 Kim Bradley
5:15
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Was this book inspired by someone's life experience?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Deborah
5:15
Kim Bradley: 
How did I come up with all Ada doesn't know?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kim Bradley
5:15
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Were you worried about opening the book on such a bleak note? That it might put off readers (it didn't me, however!)
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kathy
5:15
Kim Bradley: 
Honestly, lots and lots and lots of revision...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kim Bradley
5:16
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, yes, especially after my editor's comments on the first 70 pages of the first draft...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 Kim Bradley
5:16
Kim Bradley: 
She said, "This isn't REALLY going to be your next novel, is it?"
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 Kim Bradley
5:16
lisa von drasek: 
oh my
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 lisa von drasek
5:16
 Kim Bradley
Here's another photo. They're taking awhile to download
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 
5:17
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Ha! That's funny about the editor. You needed that set up, however.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kathy
5:17
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Ouch! Glad you stuck with it.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Deborah
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
Yeah, that wasn't good. :) But six revisions later I found Ada's voice..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
The thing is that Ada doesn't know all she's missing...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
She's frustrated, but she's not as angry (yet) as she should be...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:18
Kim Bradley: 
It's a characteristic of childhood that we accept whatever our life is as "normal." Ada's not based on a real person....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:18 Kim Bradley
5:18
Kim Bradley: 
...but she reflects some real experiences of abuse, neglect, and disability that I'm familiar with.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:18 Kim Bradley
5:19
Kim Bradley: 
I had to stick with this novel, Deborah. Ada wasn't going to leave me alone.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Kim Bradley
5:19
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
I like what you say about Ada not knowing what she's missing -- explains her reactions later in the story.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Sally
5:19
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Are there stories of actual children with a club feet who lived the way Ada did – hidden away, crawling from one place to another?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Sally
5:20
Kim Bradley: 
Sally, yes and no. Club feet have been successfully treated in most Western countries since the 1920s...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:20 Kim Bradley
5:21
 Kim Bradley
This is the smallest boat known to have been part of the Dunkirk evacuations. I think it's 17 feet long
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 
5:21
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Could you talk a little about how your writing and research process worked with this book?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Deborah
5:21
Kim Bradley: 
But there are still lots of children in developing countries whose club feet aren't treated, or are treated quite late, surgically, like Ada...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Kim Bradley
5:21
Kim Bradley: 
and lots of places where disabled children are shunned. Present-day Haiti would be a good example.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Kim Bradley
5:22
Kim Bradley: 
The Dunkirk boat, by the way, is on exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London, a great place for first-person research.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:22 Kim Bradley
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
I researched this book primarily by reading first-person accounts of wartime England...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
due to an organization called Mass Observation, there are literally hundreds of those...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:23
[Comment From Judith, MarylandJudith, Maryland: ] 
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Judith, Maryland
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
There are also many published memoirs of children who were evacuated...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
Seeing everything first-hand in London and Kent was important but not as much as all the reading, which took months...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
amazon.uk is my friend.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
Susan Smith is probably my favorite character ever...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
lisa von drasek: 
Loved Susan Smith, a “not nice” person who actually is. Did you base her on someone you know?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 lisa von drasek
5:25
lisa von drasek: 
That was from Judith
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 lisa von drasek
5:25
Kim Bradley: 
She's fictional--this whole book is--but some attributes are certainly based on friends of mine...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 Kim Bradley
5:25
Kim Bradley: 
especially those who weren't cuddly but whom my daughter instinctively loved and trusted, from an early age...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 Kim Bradley
5:26
Kim Bradley: 
Susan is trustworthy. That's her core.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:26 Kim Bradley
5:26
[Comment From Sch. LibrarianSch. Librarian: ] 
Is it possible for someone to teach herself to ride a horse?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:26 Sch. Librarian
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
Sort of. I did...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
The basics are very straightforward. The scene where she jumps Maggie's brother's horse--that would work because she's not thinking, she's just letting her body go with him...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
But then she gets real instruction from Fred...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:28
[Comment From Loves PoniesLoves Ponies: ] 
WHAT? Tell us more! How did you do that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Loves Ponies
5:28
Kim Bradley: 
without that she'd end up getting hurt, or hurting Butter.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Kim Bradley
5:28
Kim Bradley: 
I was just nuts for horses, growing up, but had very very few chances to ride them....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Kim Bradley
5:29
Kim Bradley: 
but when I did I wasn't going to waste them! Everyone else would be poking along, I'd be kicking and galloping....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:29 Kim Bradley
5:29
Kim Bradley: 
I would have jumped the wall. Too stupid to be scared!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:29 Kim Bradley
5:30
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
I have heard of the evacuations of kids from London during the war, but did they really just pack kids into trains to get them out of London, with no food, or bathrooms?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 JoBeth
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Eventually I did learn to ride, in college, but even then I lied and told them I had experience so I wouldn't be stuck with beginners....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
What make you interested in this period of history?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 JoBeth
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Had my first flat lesson on Tuesday, my first jumping lesson on Wednesday!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
JoBeth, yes, the evacuation pretty much when exactly as described...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Some of the trains had toilets, but they were using every train, and buses, that they could get...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
Typical of something organized by men, all the thought to the transportation and nothing to what would happen after they got there.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
I think the social implications of evacuation are fascinating! Talk about stories...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
Everything that could happen to those children, did.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:32
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
How did you research about the evacuation?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 Guest
5:32
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
How did most of the evacuated kids do later in life?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 JoBeth
5:32
Kim Bradley: 
So many of those evacuees grew up and wrote about their experiences...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 Kim Bradley
5:33
Kim Bradley: 
You don't copy any one person's experiences, but when you read a number of them you start to understand the possibilities...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Kim Bradley
5:33
Kim Bradley: 
Some of them were abused as evacuees, sadly, but many did well.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Kim Bradley
5:33
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
Is the book being published in the U.K.?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Judith
5:33
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
Did any of the evacuees write books? Can you recommend some?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 JoBeth
5:34
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
That had to make for difficult reading.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Deborah
5:34
 Kim Bradley
This is a recent photo of me and my horse Sarah
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 
5:34
lisa von drasek: 
ohh lovely
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 lisa von drasek
5:34
Kim Bradley: 
Tons of evacuees have written books. They're mostly published in England, not here...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Kim Bradley
5:34
Kim Bradley: 
but if you go to amazon.uk, you can search for them....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Kim Bradley
5:35
Kim Bradley: 
I'm sorry I can't remember titles offhand. Nella Last's War, though not about evacuation, is really good...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kim Bradley
5:35
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Did you begin by wanted to write about the evacuees, or did you have themes and characters in search of a story?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kathy
5:35
Kim Bradley: 
I don't know if TWTSML is being published in the UK.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, with this book I mostly had Ada to start with..not even themes, just her, and then her and Jamie, and then her, Jamie, and Susan...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
I had gotten interested in WW2 in England, and was reading all about it, but then I always start with a character...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
...and a problem, to keep things interesting, and we go from there....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:37
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Do you have some references you'd recommend for students who want to follow up after reading or hearing your book?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:37 Deborah
5:38
lisa von drasek: 
Kim...Websites that you would recommend for further information?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 lisa von drasek
5:38
Kim Bradley: 
Deborah, that's a great question....the best place for kids to start would be at the Imperial War Museum's website...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 Kim Bradley
5:38
Kim Bradley: 
They have lots of modules just for teaching children about the war, particularly its effects in England itself...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 Kim Bradley
5:39
lisa von drasek: 
http://www.iwm.org.uk

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 lisa von drasek
5:39
Kim Bradley: 
...I really should make a list and put it up on my website...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 Kim Bradley
5:39
Kim Bradley: 
many of my sources aren't great for kids, but there is some really cool stuff online...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 Kim Bradley
5:39
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
A list of resources would be awesome!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 NM Librarian
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
For Jefferson's Sons I posted sources online on my website, simply because I didn't have room in the printed book. I can do that again for this one.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:40
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
I have a Third Grade student who is devouring anything and everything in my library he can get his hands on. (I'm a School Librarian)
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Deborah
5:40
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
What was the best lesson you’ve learned from your editor?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Judith
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
I'd be glad to do that.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:40
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
A list would be awesome!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Deborah
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
AHHH..my editor loves me, and she never lets me quit until she thinks I'm done.,,,
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:41
Kim Bradley: 
I guess the main thing she's taught me is to not be afraid of going back and working on the very small details...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Kim Bradley
5:41
Kim Bradley: 
It's wonderful to have a really educated, smart, editor, and I've been lucky in Liz Wasnieski and Jessica Garrison, who edited this.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Kim Bradley
5:41
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
My favorite line -- "there are worse things than bombs' -- this story proves that.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Ben
5:42
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
How did you find your fabulous editors?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Deborah
5:42
Kim Bradley: 
Yes, Ben. I'm reminded of Andy Rooney's book My War, in which is says he came to realize that some wars were better than some forms of peace.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Kim Bradley
5:42
Kim Bradley: 
My publishers hire my editors, so it's all luck, Deborah....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Kim Bradley
5:43
Kim Bradley: 
My first novel by chance was given to Lauri Hornik, then a junior editor at Random House, now publisher of Dial...Lauri's passed me into very capable hands.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:43 Kim Bradley
5:44
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Really loved the feeling of hope. Even though Ada's life is so bleak, there's so much hope for something better!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 NM Librarian
5:44
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
What a good comment -- as great as peace and tranquility may be, they don't test you.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Ben
5:44
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Have you worked with the same editors for your other books?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Deborah
5:44
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
Argh! I find working on the details so hard -- at some point, I just get sick of the whole thing. Does that happen to you?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Judith
5:44
Kim Bradley: 
Again, NM, in the beginning Ada doesn't realize what she's missing..and to Jamie she's always been important and in charge...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Kim Bradley
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
If you reread the first chapter, she's actually quite capable, making tea, helping her brother...she never thinks she's helpless.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:45
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
The title is perfect. How did you come up with that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Ben
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
Deborah, no, because I've been, for complicated reasons, published by several different houses.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
Judith, I don't really get sick of going over it. I actually love revision.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:46
Kim Bradley: 
Ben, I wish I could take credit for the title. My editor came up with that. I'm notoriously bad at titles; for the longest time, I called this my England Book, and my editor called it my Ada Book.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:46 Kim Bradley
5:46
Kim Bradley: 
I'd love to know what you all think of the cover. Will it have kid appeal?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:46 Kim Bradley
5:47
Kim Bradley: 
There is a sequel in the works. It does have a tentative title that I like: The War I Finally Won.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 Kim Bradley
5:47
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
I think the cover is beautiful.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 NM Librarian
5:47
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Yeah, a sequel!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 Deborah
5:48
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
I can't say for kids -- I loved the subtle way the club foot is indicated.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 Kathy
5:48
Kim Bradley: 
I've never done a true sequel, but this story seemed to call for one.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 Kim Bradley
5:48
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Looking forward to discovering more about Ada!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 NM Librarian
5:49
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, I liked that too. You may know that authors don't get much say over covers. I wanted it to be clear that there was something wrong with her foot, but I didn't want photo-realism.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:49 Kim Bradley
5:49
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, have you had any book discussions with kids about TWTSML?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek
5:50
Kim Bradley: 
Not yet,
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Kim Bradley
5:50
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Haven't had a chance to show the cover to kids..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Deborah
5:50
Kim Bradley: 
Not enough children have actually read it...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
I did give out some ARCs to teens at a recent conference, and they promised to blog about it, but I don't think they have yet...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
Cassandra Clare was at the conference and they were much more impressed with her....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
let me look for a pony picture...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, do you have a picture of a pony for those of us who are urban and have not a clue?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
What age group do you see this appealing to?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 NM Librarian
5:52
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
digital ARC doesn't show cover :(
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:52 Deborah
5:52
Kim Bradley: 
I hope it will appeal to ages 8-14. Not sure about the upper age limit because she's younger, but I'm still hopeful.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:52 Kim Bradley
5:53
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 
5:53
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
I wanted to ask about the themes of neglect vs giving kids freedom to discover themselves. Can't [phrase it right, though. Somehow, to me, it's tied in with the pony -- neglecting his hooves was terrible, but letting him run free with Ada was great.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 Judith
5:53
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Great Historical Fiction for Middle Grades
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 Deborah
5:54
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
oh my
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:54
Kim Bradley: 
I do do classroom visits, though not tons of them. I like them but my schedule fills quickly. I haven't done Skype visits yet. I'd love to know what other experiences with this have been.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 Kim Bradley
5:54
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
And, a dumb question -- how do ponies survive in the wild if their hooves aren't tended to?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 Judith
5:55
Kim Bradley: 
The ponies are British--smaller than butter, but same idea--tried to bite me, the stinker!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 Kim Bradley
5:55
lisa von drasek: 
like the chincoteague ponies, Judith?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek
5:55
Kim Bradley: 
In the wild ponies' hooves wear down when they're on hard surfaces, or the ponies are born that way and their hooves adjust, or, to be honest...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 Kim Bradley
5:56
Kim Bradley: 
if they can't adapt, they die...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 Kim Bradley
5:56
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, we are almost out of time. Is there anything you would like to say about the book that we haven;t touched on?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 lisa von drasek
5:56
Kim Bradley: 
In the modern world, many domesticated horses and ponies can go without shoes, but very few can go without having their feet trimmed.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 Kim Bradley
5:57
Kim Bradley: 
Nora, I'd just like to say thanks for this opportunity. I love this book and I'm thrilled to be able to chat with readers.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Kim Bradley
5:57
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Thank you!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Deborah
5:57
lisa von drasek: 
Its is time to say good bye . Thank you Kim
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 lisa von drasek
5:57
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Thank you so much! Loved your book and can't wait to introduce it to readers!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 NM Librarian
5:57
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Would love to try a Skype visit.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Deborah
5:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Kim -- we loved every minute of it. Can't believe how fast the hour flew by!



Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Kim Bradley: 
Contact me through my website if you have further questions. www.kimberlybrubakerbradley.... Thanks!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:58 Kim Bradley
5:58
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
This program rocks!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:58 Deborah
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks to you, Lisa, for moderating and thanks to all our great program members for their thought-provoking questions!





Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The next title in our program is Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose, coming in March. Click here to read more about it.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

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