70 pages • 2 hours read
Once
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
192
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
2005
YA
10-14 years
640L
Super Short Summary
Once by Morris Gleitzman follows Felix, a 10-year-old Jewish boy hiding in a Catholic orphanage in 1942 Poland, as he embarks on a journey to find his parents amid Nazi occupation. Encountering a variety of dangers and forming bonds with others, including a girl named Zelda and a kind man named Barney, Felix faces the harsh realities of the Holocaust while holding onto hope and the power of storytelling. This book includes depictions of wartime violence and loss.
Emotional
Heartwarming
Suspenseful
Challenging
Hopeful
Reviews & Readership
28,707 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Once by Morris Gleitzman is widely acclaimed for its poignant narrative and deeply affecting portrayal of a young boy's Holocaust experience. Reviewers praise its emotional depth, engaging storytelling, and historical significance. However, some note its intense themes may be too harrowing for younger readers. Overall, it is highly recommended for its compelling and meaningful content.
Who Should Read Once?
A reader who would enjoy Morris Gleitzman's Once is likely interested in historical fiction, particularly narratives focused on World War II seen through a child's perspective. Fans of John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Lois Lowry's Number the Stars will appreciate the emotional depth and adventurous spirit found in this touching story.
28,707 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
192
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
2005
YA
10-14 years
640L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.