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Synopsis
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. Follow Morris Gleitzman on Facebook here...Reviews
Customer Review: 04 May 2011
Reviewer: Rockstar
'it''s a really good book, it was also really sad!!!!!'
Customer Review: 24 November 2010
Reviewer: Millie
'A very good book it is realy touching I am reading it in my class at school good book to read at school.'
Customer Review: 24 November 2010
Reviewer: Millie
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Customer Review: 07 September 2010
Reviewer: Emma
'verry engaging story it was amazing'
Customer Review: 31 March 2010
Reviewer: alan brown. 16 Scotland
'A very eyecathching and gripping book. story really hooks you and always holds ur attention. shows the best side of human nature in one of the worst periods of history. "quality"'
Customer Review: 27 March 2010
Reviewer: Annabel Cossin-Smith
'this is an amazing book. once i started it, i couldnt stop. i would recomend ONCE to anyone but it is very sad. i was shaking when i finished reading. it moved me. one of the best books i have ever read '
Customer Review: 21 March 2010
Reviewer: Jessica
'Once is a really moving book that makes you want to find out more about the holocaust. Morris Gleitzman captures the essence on how to make stories funny and emotional all in the same book. i would defiantly recommend it to people who want to read a touching story and something that will almost certainly move their hearts.'
Customer Review: 07 March 2010
Reviewer: anaa
'This book is a very emotional book, it give us an idea of what life was like for children in the war and how hopefull they were to find theyr parents that got taken away,'
Customer Review: 30 January 2010
Reviewer: hebrona
'hey,, well i read this book, its soo eyecatching and emotional,, i would reccomend this book to over 12 as some words under 12 might not understand :) '
Customer Review: 21 January 2010
Reviewer: abbie robson
'i think that once is a very good book its the best thing i have ever read ..... it also tell''s you about the holocaust it is a realy good book i would read it again and again YOU REALY WANT TO READ IT !!!X'
Customer Review: 14 January 2010
Reviewer: Melissa
'This book will grip you from page one! I just could not put this book down. I spent all my Saturday reading it and I can''t wait to read the follow on ''Then''. I think Morris Gleitzman is a very talented writer. I don''t particulary like reading but I think this book is actually the best I have read. I would reccomend this book to ages 9+ because it''s not hard to read but it''s sometimes hard to understand in places. '
Customer Review: 30 December 2009
Reviewer: Chloe Hannah Banks
'I think Once is a very eyecaching book for anyone who is intrested in world war two and whoever likes History it pulls you straight in to it and very easy to read,I wear glasses and it does make sense when they steam up from the hot food steams up his glasses. His parents are not realy dead and he is not very happy with the conditions he is living in at the orphanage like cold showers. Even though I am on chapter one I can not put it down.'
Customer Review: 18 December 2009
Reviewer: Alexis
'Just finished reading this book I found it to be a very moving and sad story which raises the question of WHY! must these terrible things happen,a thought prevoking good read I recommend it. '
Customer Review: 28 November 2009
Reviewer: ellie
'i loved this book and couldn''t put it down it makes you thinkabout life for the jews. i found this book very moving as my grandad was a jew and one of the last people on kindertransport, with his mum and dad taken away. i recommend this book to anyone and im going to read then (the sequel) very soon!!!'
Customer Review: 28 November 2009
Reviewer: ellie
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Customer Review: 26 November 2009
Reviewer: Jade Adams
'Altough shortish it was an amazing book very heartfelt i didnt think i would enjoy it but i definetly did! i recomend it .x'
Customer Review: 27 October 2009
Reviewer: Freya
'This was a fab book. I found it deeply moving and realistic. Please read it as it is a book you absolutely NOT put down! '
Customer Review: 25 October 2009
Reviewer: amanda
'This book was awsome! i loved it! i think they should create a movie about it, although it was upsetting but exciting!'
Customer Review: 25 October 2009
Reviewer: A.T
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Customer Review: 15 October 2009
Reviewer: Vonder Vollard Arshavin
'I really enjoyed reading this book and i found it really interesting to read. Very Good!'
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: Alexx<3
'this book was good it was qutie tense but fun (:'
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: sophie atkinson
'this book was pretty damn good it was well funny too. i really liked the end and can''t wait till i read then x'
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: Tyla, Amie, Kate, Lydia
'i found this book very interesting, every chapter made me want to read on and on, i cannot wait unil i have read Then (the follow on) i hope it is just as exciting and intresting. I like it becuase it was based on true life, and Morris Gleitzman is a very talented writter. '
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: sash
'i think that this book is an excellent read, even though i prefer the darren shan''s and horror etc, i still think that this book sets a good scene and is powerful in the way that it projects the way in which the Nazis behaved towards the Jews.'
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: Amy
'I like Once it is a very interesting book! I like how he makes things confusing but then they make sense after a while. I really like the stroy line of once its a fantastic book!'
Customer Review: 07 July 2009
Reviewer: Amiee
'I think that Once is a fantastic book and that Morris Gleitzman is a interesting auther! He adds very confusing things in his books but after a while they make sense.'
Customer Review: 27 June 2009
Reviewer: Eilis
'I think this is a very sad and moving book, I strongly recomend it to young readers. felix is a ver nice boy whos determinded to find his parents. Its a great book and i really liked it.'
Customer Review: 16 June 2009
Reviewer: Jenny
'Once is very similar to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, both in style and theme. It''s very easy to read, is told from the perspective of a young child, and is set during the events of the Holocaust. Felix is almost ten years old, and is living in an orphanage in Poland that his parents sent him to in 1939. Three years and eight months later, he receives a whole carrot in his soup, which he thinks is a sign from his Mum and Dad, and that they are finally coming back for him. This inspires him to escape from the orphanage, and journey across Poland in the hope of finding his parents. Along the way, he encounters Nazis (whom he thinks dislike Jews because of their love of books), an orphaned young girl, Zelda, and a dentist hiding a group of young Jewish children. Felix''s innocence and naivete is a big part of this story, as he often mistakes truly horrific events for mistakes or accidents. A child''s viewpoint is perhaps the most shocking way to depict the Holocaust, as children see so much more than adults, and see things in a different way. This story is funny in parts, especially with Felix and his childlike thoughts of carrots and nuns. It quickly becomes shocking and more difficult to read, and this is due to Felix experiencing the unspeakable horrors of war, and what was really going on in Poland in 1942. For anyone who likes war fiction, as I do, then this, along with its sequel Then, is a must read. Morris Gleitzman has succeeded in writing a story of friendship and desperation, and has managed to recreate the harrowing journey of a Jewish boy with his heart set on reuniting his family. '
Customer Review: 16 June 2009
Reviewer: Jenny
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Customer Review: 02 May 2009
Reviewer: Hannah
'I did love this book but im only young so this book did make m upset at times, i have written many assignments for this book so i have began to really like it!'
Customer Review: 14 March 2009
Reviewer: Tammy
'i think that wants is a exceptional book and morris Gleitzman is a fantastic writer he makes he makes serious writing finding and it gives you loads of information. Once is great and i can not wait to read Then. I do not read i hate it. But Morris is the first writer that i actually read his books. '
Customer Review: 05 March 2009
Reviewer: molly
'This book is a bit humorous because of the way Felix doesn''t understand anything and he thinks he does. I was suprised and sad to see that it was pretty realistic. All in all this book was sad, gripping and funny (sometimes). '
Customer Review: 04 March 2009
Reviewer: Lucy
'"This is a great book and I would of never of heard of it unless we had talked about it at school- this is a book that would make a great film!"'
Customer Review: 23 December 2008
Reviewer: Eva
'I really enjoyed this book-it was brilliant .After reading it with my school,I persuaded my dad to buy it for me.He only just finished last night,and he said it was sensational!!! When I first started reading it I thought it was ok but not amazing. I really wish they would bring out a film on it because it was probably the best book I have ever read! :) '
Customer Review: 08 November 2008
Reviewer: Curlywoo
'Wow- what a book! Incredible- had be on the edge of my seat throughout. One of the best books I have read- I couldn''t put it down! I loved Zelda- and the whole story.'
Customer Review: 07 September 2008
Reviewer: kim sung
'domai 4 life'
Customer Review: 18 June 2008
Reviewer: rosie
'We read Once at school and I liked it so much that i finnished it two lessons before everybody else. I found it funny how niave Felix is. It is a very emotional book.'
Customer Review: 04 March 2008
Reviewer: jess
I read this book with my class and all of us loved it. At some parts we were on the edge of our seats with worrying about what is going to happen next. This book is very touching and very well written!!!!!
Customer Review: 21 November 2007
Reviewer: B Ewles
Could not put it down till I finished it funny and very moving
Customer Review: 16 September 2007
Reviewer: shexiigurl.
I'm 12 and I read this book for a school assignment. The beginning in funny and the end is very sad. I deffinately recomend it to others.
Customer Review: 18 August 2007
Reviewer: houto
good
Customer Review: 20 June 2007
Reviewer: Abbie and abi
hey this book rocks it's the best gripping book I've read in ages i love it soo much Abbie&&Abi
Customer Review: 25 May 2007
Reviewer: natasha
i think once was a very touching book. it was a style of writing for morris because he normally uses more humour. i really loved this book and think there are no words to describe it!
Customer Review: 25 May 2007
Reviewer: natasha
i think once was a very touching book. it was a style of writing for morris because he normally uses more humour. i really loved this book and think there are no words to describe it!
Customer Review: 23 February 2007
Reviewer: Gemma
There is only one word to say to this book: 'Wow.'
Customer Review: 23 December 2006
Reviewer: Katya
This book is a gripping read. The beginning is entertaining and the end is very sad.
Customer Review: 08 December 2006
Reviewer: phoebe's mum
I read this out of concern to see if it was suitable for my 9 yr old to read and found myself hooked from the first page. Gripping, moving and sadly totally believable. It spoke volumes.
Customer Review: 02 November 2006
Reviewer: Emma
I think Once was a very touching & sad story my family and i are Jewish and we love this book
Customer Review: 03 October 2006
Reviewer: alexia and luisa
Dear Mr. Gleitzman, We really really really loved your book Once. It was extremely enjoyable and had a good balance of humor and seriousness.We can't wait till you release a sequel, (If you do) We love your books and we think you are a very talented writer. We too are writing a book called Cheese explosion. From Luisa and Alexia
Customer Review: 02 October 2006
Reviewer: Luisa
I loved this book, it was sad at the end but at the start it was so funny. I have read it once by myself and once with my whole class. Nearly everyone enjoyed too. We are going to have a comp in our class, we are going to write a new last chapter for Once and the best five are going to get sent to Morris Gleitzman.
Product details
Format :
Paperback
ISBN: 9780141320632
Size : 129 x 198mm
Pages : 160
Published : 23 Feb 2006
Publisher : Puffin
Once
£6.99
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