Once is a 2005 children's novel by Australian author Morris Gleitzman. It is about a Jewish boy named Felix who lived in Poland and is on a quest to find his book-keeper parents after he sees Nazis burning the books from a Catholic orphanage in which had stayed at for 3 years and 8 months. He finds a girl, who is unconscious, called Zelda in a burning house with her dead parents—he takes her with him and protects her from confronting her parents' death by telling her stories. Although Once is a work of fiction, Gleitzman was inspired by the story of Janusz Korczak, the events of World War II, and Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe.

This is down as being a children’s book but it was easily the hardest book I’ve read so far this year and I’ve read quite a few in tough periods of our history.

The simplicity of the book is in stark contrast with the harsh realities children faced in Nazi occupied Poland. Found it both heartbreaking and beautiful.

Sending this books off to meet someone new that will hopefully enjoy it as much as I did!

Happy reading!

Thanks Claudia-Amorin for this light book.