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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

55 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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book

Review by PancakeGirl

it was sad but sooooooooooooo good

Jul 02, 2026 05:35 PM
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Great book

Review by nbc17

Once I started it I couldn’t put it down

Jul 01, 2026 09:23 AM
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ONCE A SAD STORY

Review by SweetiePye

you do not want to be Felix or Zelda in 1942. Poland was invadid by the Nazis. Felix is in an orphanage and than......you will have to read the book!😲

Jun 06, 2026 02:49 PM
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Once

Review by Banana64

I like this book it is very interesting and sad I really hope you enjoy it It is so good I read the sequels they are just as good I recommend this book to anyone who anyone who loves historical books

Jun 01, 2026 08:17 PM
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great book

Review by GavrielSinai

This is a great book if you like historical fiction like I do and you are not scared of Holocaust stories. I like that the story tells it from a kid's view and there are some funny lines (don't you know anything?) but there are definitely some scary scenes in the book - even if they don't describe it in a lot of detail you experience people being killed. I know that's part of what happened in the Holocaust but it is still very sad so maybe don't read this right before bed. I can't wait to read the sequel "Then". When we go through tough things in life it makes kids have to act grown up. Felix definitely did.

Jun 01, 2026 03:36 PM