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Once upon a time, two small children were traveling through wartime Poland, hiding from Nazis and searching for their parents. Their names were Felix and Zelda. This is their story.
 
Ages 11+
Pages 192
Publisher Macmillan
Last Offered Aug 2025
Awards
Sydney Taylor Honor Award

Average Rating

20 Reviews

Featured Reviews

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Once by Sarah

Video review by Sarah
Once by Sarah
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Once Review by Emmy

Review by Emmy

Once is a beautiful story about a young boy's experience growing up secretly Jewish during the Holocaust. There are a lot of really interesting and intense moments in this book, and it makes it hard to put down! The protagonist Felix, is very easy to sympathize with, and so you care a lot about his feelings and his struggles. I really liked the way that the first person perspective was used, it was almost like you could see into Felix's brain. If you are a fan of intense stories with a lot of emotion in them, I can almost guarantee that you are going to love Once!

Reader Reviews

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Once

Review by Anassimi

I really like this book. I enjoyed the story because there were so many ups and downs.

Oct 20, 2025 10:03 AM
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Unbelievable book

Review by Suzykk

Amazing interesting a good read

Oct 17, 2025 03:26 AM
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Good and not Known

Review by koalagirl5

Super good but not known

Oct 10, 2025 03:17 PM
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Once

Review by Books4always

If I could give this book infinity stars, I would. Once is a sad story of a 10 year old boy named Felix who ran away from an orphanage to find his parents. In the three book series, Felix meets Zelda, a creative 6 year old. The story always keeps you on your toes with suspense and sadness. I recommend. If anyone knows where to find the other two books, Then and Now, please let me know.

Oct 09, 2025 10:29 PM
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ONCE

Review by Pipa2025

Review by Inbar This book is fun. It tells you about the life of a jewish child named Felix in the holocaust. He meets a girl named Zelda and I don't wanna spoil too much but he sneaks out of the orphanage he was in why he did that is because he wanted to go search for his parents because a long time ago they put him in that orphanage because they needed to travel to save their bookshop. If you like learning about the holocaust I think this would be a good book for you but if you like happy endings I don't think this is a good book for you because well it's not such a happy ending

Oct 09, 2025 06:12 PM