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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"
Product Description
For three years and eight months Felix has lived in a convent orphanage high in the mountains in Poland. But Felix is different from the other orphans. He is convinced his parents are still alive and will come back to get him. When a group of Nazi soldiers come and burn the nuns' books, Felix is terrified that his Jewish, bookseller parents will also be in danger. After escaping from the orphanage, Felix embarks on a long and dangerous journey through Nazi occupied Poland, befriending a little orphan girl called Zelda and a kindly dentist, Barney, who hides and cares for Jewish children. But when the Nazis discover them, Barney makes the ultimate sacrifice for the children.
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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
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
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
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
84 of 89 people found the following review helpful
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.
35 of 38 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
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 1 month ago by STEVE
Touching
Once, is set in one of the world wars. It is the touching story of a boy called Felix who sets off on a journey to find his parents. Read more
Published 2 months ago by POPSTARYAS
Excellent
An amazing story that is full of innocents. It tells of tragedy and cruelty. Love and growing up in horrific times. This story has made 10 year old boys in my class cry. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ludo
Once
The Holocaust is a difficult topic at the best of times and never more so than when aimed at the young. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andrella
Once - Morris Gleitzman
Felix was a Jewish boy who escaped from a Catholic orphanage on the mountains in Poland. He was left there for 3 years and 8 months by his parents, so they could mend the family... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fatimah
A children's book which simplifies but gets across a terrifying story...
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Once, and from the first few pages felt that the naive prose of the young narrator could get quite irritating. It didn't. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Manda Moo
Charming
This book really makes an impact. Felix is so innocent and sometimes naive and this, juxtaposed beside the awful happenings, violence and brutality, makes for a really gripping and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stepping Out of the Page
Couldn't put it down.
I really enjoyed this book.It is a story that really got better as it went along.I started to get into the characters and then I couldn't put the book down. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Smatana02
Upsetting and powerful
I was looking for a book with a WW2 theme to read to my class of Year 5s. This was recommended to me in the course of my search. Read more
Published 13 months ago by SChubb
A GREAT BOOK !!
A great book about a 10 year old Jewish boy called Felix. The book is set during WorldWar 2 in Poland. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Rachel
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