Once I escaped from an orphanage in the mountains and I didn't have to do any of the things you do in escape stories. Dig a tunnel. Disguise myself as a priest. Make a rope from nun robes knotted together. I just walked out through the main gate. I slither down the mountainside through the cool green forest, feeling very grateful to God, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Pope, and Adolf Hitler. Grateful that after the Nazis left this morning, the nuns didn't lock the gate. Grateful that this mountainside is covered in pine needles rather than tangled undergrowth and thorns.
Felix is a ten year old boy who lives in an orphanage. All the other kids have parents who are dead, but not Felix, his parents are coming back… Felix tires of waiting for his parents to return for him, so he heads off across country to find them himself. His story is both heartbreaking and heart-warming as he searches for his family and discovers a whole world he never knew existed.
Each new chapter starts Once, Felix’s voice rings strong and true with a quirk and zeal that captures his age and innocence. A well crafted story that follows the persecution of the Jews through the eyes of a naive young boy. At times hard to read, Once is an amazing tale of adventure, courage and childhood innocence. Although this is a children's fiction book, given the content, I probably wouldn't recommend it for younger children, it’s more suited for 9-10 years+.
Once I went on my first train journey, but I wouldn't call it exciting - I’d call it painful and miserable. There are so many of us in this boxcar that most of us have to stand up. Every time the train lurches, we lurch too and squash each other.
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