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Once (Once/Now/Then/After) [Paperback]

Morris Gleitzman
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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Book Description

23 Feb 2006 Once/Now/Then/After

Once by Morris Gleitzman is the story of a young Jewish boy who is determined to escape the orphanage he lives in to save his Jewish parents from the Nazis in the occupied Poland of the Second World War.

Everybody deserves to have something good in their life. At least Once.

Once I escaped from am orphanage to find Mum and Dad.

Once I saved a girl called Zelda from a burning house.

Once I made a Nazi with a toothache laugh.

My name is Felix. This is my story.

Once is the first in a series of children's novels about Felix, a Jewish orphan caught in the middle of the Holocaust, from Australian author Morris Gleitzman - author of Bumface and Boy Overboard. The next books in the series Then, Now and After are also available from Puffin.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin (23 Feb 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 014132063X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141320632
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 0.9 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Product Description

Review

"Like "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" (rev. 9/06), this Holocaust parable plays its main character's naivete against readers' likely knowledge of the historical realities, but here the juxtaposition is believable and not at all precious; like "The Book Thief "(rev. 3/06), the novel extols the power of storytelling in the face of tragedy, but "Once" pits Felix's stories against even deeper ugliness. ... Gleitzman manages to find a grain of hope in the unresolved (and likely dire) conclusion, but this is the rare Holocaust book for young readers that doesn't alleviate its dark themes with a comforting ending."--"The Horn Book, "Starred Review

"This gripping novel will make readers want to find out more"--"Booklist"

About the Author

Morris Gleitzman was born in Lincolnshire and moved to Australia in his teens. He worked as a paperboy, a shelf-stacker, a frozen chicken de-froster, an assistant to a fashion designer and more before taking a degree in Professional Writing at Canberra College and becoming a writer. He has written for TV, stage, newspapers and magazines but is best-known for his hugely succesful children's books including Two Weeks with the Queen, Bumface, Boy Overboard and Girl Underground.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Once I was living in an orphanage in the mountains and I shouldn't have been and I almost caused a riot. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book you have to read 14 Dec 2010
A Kid's Review
Format:Paperback
I asked my teacher if I could read Once.I'm only just 11.She said I could but it was quite sad and grownup.Its not rude but it could make people cry. I would say anyone over 8 years old could read it.The writing is farly big but dont be embarrassed to read it as I dont know ANYONE who does't like it. I think this is better than Michael Morpurgo's best books, better than all the Harry Potters but that is my opinion. Please read it as its not that famous but when you pick it up you will feel like your there in 1942. You may get a bit confused at the beginning but either carry on reading or read the paragraph again,whatever you do don't put it down or pretend to put it somewhere then loose it. You should try getting it from the library. It probably won't take that long to read it as I read it in 4 days. I'm not a bookworm but I really got stuck into this book. There are three of them in the series Once,Then and now.I'm about to start Then but everyone says Once is the best and you have to read it to read the next one.
PLEASE READ IT YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER CHRISTMAS PRESENT THEN THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE READ.PLEASE READ. PLEASE READ. PLEASE READ THE AMAZING, WONDERFUL INSPERING BOOK NOW.
Sophia age 11
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85 of 90 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
My 10 year old read this book in two days and loved it. It's written in very simple language from the viewpoint of a young Jewish boy in Poland in 1942 who is trying to find his parents. The plot is simple but riveting and unusually is written in the present tense. For my son, the story was paramount and although the subject matter is harrowing for an adult, children seem to be able to detach themselves. When I read the book, I couldn't put it down!! It brilliantly captures the thinking of small boy in a frightening, violent world, and charts his journey from endearing naivety to crushing realisation of the truth. The book also highlights the humanity and resilience of the time without ever sentimentalising. The ending is very cleverly done, its ambiguity allowing the reader to complete their own story. For me, this was one of those books that leaves you thoughtful for days and has a profound effect, you feel that the subject matter will never be the same again! An exciting, thought-provoking read for children, a harrowing, but uplifting read for adults and a great book to discuss with your children after you've both read it.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Once' is one of the most moving, emotional and entertaining books I've read in a long time.

It's about a 9-year-old Jewish boy who's in a Catholic orphanage, believing that his parents are off sorting out their bookselling business and will be back for him any minute. All the evidence points to his parents being dead, but the boy thinks up more and more elaborate (and humorous) explanations for his circumstances, and stays cheerful, because he 'knows' his parents are coming back for him soon.

He runs away to find them and finds Nazis clearing the people out of his town and killing people. Even while the boy is trying to make sense of the horrific things he sees, the story remains uplifting, and there is humour in the most dire of circumstances.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A great start to a great trilogy
Once, Then and Now make up a fantastic trilogy. I read the book as I teach 11 year olds and like to keep up with literature for that age group, but I think any adult could enjoy... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Hootie
3.0 out of 5 stars Extremely moving!
This book is one of most emotionally moving books I have ever read. It's about a Jewish boy desperate to find his parents in the middle of World War 2 . Read more
Published 12 days ago by whingecus
5.0 out of 5 stars My Dear Felix
Excellent! And very MOVING.
I've just finished reading this book and so pleased to have read such a fine story. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cas Allas Mazda
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read.
I liked this book even though it was along the lines of 'the book thief' by Markus Zusak. Well written and heart moving.
Published 1 month ago by iris smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Once
This is a great book,I brought it for my 10 year old daughter and she loved it.In some of the parts it can be a little sad as I cried in it! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Penful
5.0 out of 5 stars Once; A Teacher's Dream Text
Here is a book review written by a few pupils in my class. It is all their own work and expresses their own opinions about a book that I read aloud to the class as a serial while... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Krnhpkns
1.0 out of 5 stars Damaged Christmas gift
This book arrived damaged but as it was a Christmas present and could still be read I gave it to the 9 year old boy I bought it for- I have sent pictures of the damaged book at... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jane
5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Classic
This is a really great read and would be perfect for young teenagers learning about the atrocities of WW2. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Book Worm
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting style
The first in 4 books about Felix, as it follows his journey from Nazi Poland to modern day. Felix Salinger is a Jew, and his parents have sent him away to a convent school for... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Book chatter
5.0 out of 5 stars this is one of the best books i have ever read!
this book is brilliant for 8+,but just because its about the nazis. the story is about a boy called felix who is jewish and escapes from an orphanage to find his lost parents,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by STEVE
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