Scan barcode
saraellenme's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cassandramclean's review against another edition
5.0
I was always fond of reading but this book is what turned me into a book worm at the age of 8. The story is so beautifully written. It follows the events of the Holocaust from 10 year old Felix’s point if view and was both captivating and educational to read. Even though this is a children’s book I still read it now as an adult and am engulfed in the story every time. Beautifully heartbreaking.
nanbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I always loved stories that begin with "once" as a child and when reading aloud to my own children. This book goes way, way beyond the magical fantasy of a Grimm's fairytale and drops you into the horror of experiencing the Holocaust as a child. A sad, serious, poignant and terrifying story.
kiwikathleen's review against another edition
5.0
Customers frequently ask if we have this series in the bookshop, and we always carry it. Until now though, I hadn't read it myself.
I have, of course, read many novels and much non-fiction about the Holocaust. What makes this one so striking is the beautifully written naivety of Felix who is both a storyteller and the teller of this story. He begins believing himself to be pretending to be an orphan, and he feels sorry for the other orphans because they don't have anything to hope for. This hope carries him as he runs away to find and help his parents, and as he falls in with other lost and hidden children.
Not only is he naive, but he is also a person who can find hope again, even when all hope seems to have been dashed. This characteristic is what makes Felix a survivor emotionally, and what gives the reader a way through the horror and misery of these terrible times.
I have, of course, read many novels and much non-fiction about the Holocaust. What makes this one so striking is the beautifully written naivety of Felix who is both a storyteller and the teller of this story. He begins believing himself to be pretending to be an orphan, and he feels sorry for the other orphans because they don't have anything to hope for. This hope carries him as he runs away to find and help his parents, and as he falls in with other lost and hidden children.
Not only is he naive, but he is also a person who can find hope again, even when all hope seems to have been dashed. This characteristic is what makes Felix a survivor emotionally, and what gives the reader a way through the horror and misery of these terrible times.
robinshtulman's review against another edition
4.0
A kid's-eye view of Poland during the Holocaust. What do children understand? How do they keep themselves alive through misplaced hope and magical thinking? Felix's parents' efforts to shield him from the truth result in him making some bizarre, childish, and heroic choices.
lratkinson's review against another edition
5.0
Once by Morris Gleitzman has been said to be similar in theme and style to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Personally, I found Once to be a much better book and Felix a much more believable character.
amyhampton's review against another edition
5.0
Once I read a book that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Once I read a book so moving that it made me sob.
Once I read a book that I think everyone should read.
Once is the heartbreaking story of Felix, a young Jewish boy living in Poland during WW2. The juxtaposition of his pure innocence set against the backdrop of atrocities committed by those in power really wrenches the heart. On his journey to be reunited with his bookseller parents, Felix displays such unwavering love and compassion for those around him. As he begins to understand the truth of the Holocaust, his world is changed forever.
Morris Gleitzman will forever have a place on my bookshelf. In writing ‘Once’, Gleitzman wove a tapestry of raw human emotion, combining hope, humour and hurt throughout. I will never stop recommending this story. After all, everybody deserves to have something good in their life at least once.
Once I read a book so moving that it made me sob.
Once I read a book that I think everyone should read.
Once is the heartbreaking story of Felix, a young Jewish boy living in Poland during WW2. The juxtaposition of his pure innocence set against the backdrop of atrocities committed by those in power really wrenches the heart. On his journey to be reunited with his bookseller parents, Felix displays such unwavering love and compassion for those around him. As he begins to understand the truth of the Holocaust, his world is changed forever.
Morris Gleitzman will forever have a place on my bookshelf. In writing ‘Once’, Gleitzman wove a tapestry of raw human emotion, combining hope, humour and hurt throughout. I will never stop recommending this story. After all, everybody deserves to have something good in their life at least once.
awriterslament's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as a class with my LA teacher, and let me just say: brilliant.
I absolutely adored this. It had very good humor in the first section of the book, probably to just let the readers "get into the mood", but as the book progresses, it takes a dark turn. A very dark turn, and as you get closer to the end, a tragedy happens.
Gosh, I can't quite grasp the words to describe this book, because it just is ... indescribable. It starts out with a very naïve young orphan, who goes on a journey to find his dead parents, and finds Zelda, a young girl, who was the only survivor in the fire.
All I can say is, I envy this man's writing, because he managed to shape a beautiful book, with light-hearted humor and then he adds more angst, tragedy, and very dark themes.
Read it. But you'll get that aching in your heart, when you want to read a sequel, and you want to find out what happens next, even though there is no 'next'.
[all my classmates enjoyed this; and that's saying A LOT]
I absolutely adored this. It had very good humor in the first section of the book, probably to just let the readers "get into the mood", but as the book progresses, it takes a dark turn. A very dark turn, and as you get closer to the end, a tragedy happens.
Gosh, I can't quite grasp the words to describe this book, because it just is ... indescribable. It starts out with a very naïve young orphan, who goes on a journey to find his dead parents, and finds Zelda, a young girl, who was the only survivor in the fire.
All I can say is, I envy this man's writing, because he managed to shape a beautiful book, with light-hearted humor and then he adds more angst, tragedy, and very dark themes.
Read it. But you'll get that aching in your heart, when you want to read a sequel, and you want to find out what happens next, even though there is no 'next'.
[all my classmates enjoyed this; and that's saying A LOT]
floatingbanana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nayelidsm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0