Once – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Once

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2010Young Adult Fiction

92%

WISE Score

A Jewish boy in 1942 Poland tries to explain away the Holocaust using his own imagination, until the stories he tells himself finally run out of room.

Once

book

2010, Young Adult Fiction

92%

WISE Score

A Jewish boy in 1942 Poland tries to explain away the Holocaust using his own imagination, until the stories he tells himself finally run out of room.

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Screenwise Verdict

Morris Gleitzman’s Once is a gut-punch of a book that manages to be both devastating and deeply human. By telling the story through the eyes of Felix—a boy who thinks the Nazis are just librarians who are really, really into their jobs—it bypasses the 'history lesson' feel and goes straight for the heart.

It’s not an easy read, but it’s an essential one. It handles the horror of the Holocaust with a level of grace and even humor that makes the medicine go down, but it doesn't lie to the reader about the stakes. If your kid is ready to move past the 'good guys vs. bad guys' version of history and see the human cost, this is the book.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10 to 14. It’s a standard middle-grade or early YA choice for a reason. Mature 9-year-olds can handle it if they've already been introduced to WWII history, but be ready for some big, late-night questions.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Felix is an incredibly kind, optimistic protagonist whose love for his parents and his 'stories' provides a warm emotional core, even while the world around him is falling into the darkest period of human history.

Imaginative

The book is built on the power of storytelling as a survival mechanism. Felix reinterprets terrifying Nazi actions through the lens of a child's imagination, which is both a creative narrative device and a heartbreaking character trait.

Safe

It's a book about the Holocaust. While there is no 'inappropriate' content in a prurient sense, the thematic weight includes genocide, book burning, and the implied death of children and parents. It is emotionally heavy.

Enriching

This is a masterclass in building empathy. It provides a visceral, age-appropriate entry point into WWII history and the ethics of hope during times of extreme cruelty.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterful perspective that captures the naivety of a child who understands 'stories' better than he understands state-sponsored genocide.
Short, punchy chapters make it accessible for reluctant readers, even though the subject matter is profoundly deep.
Emotional resilience is the main takeaway; Felix never loses his capacity for hope or friendship, even in the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland.
Historical grounding that avoids being a dry textbook, instead making the stakes of the 1940s feel immediate and personal.

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What to Watch For

The 'unreliable narrator' effect means your kid might realize what's happening (like the 'foreign librarians' actually being Nazis) before Felix does, which can be distressing.
Violence is often off-page or filtered through Felix's confusion, but the reality of the ghetto and the transport trains is eventually made very clear.
It is part of a series; if they finish this, they will almost certainly want to read Then, Now, and After, which get progressively more intense.

Conversation Starters

"Why does Felix try so hard to find a 'story' for things like the carrot in his soup or the men burning books?"
"How does Felix's view of the world change from the beginning of the book to the end?"
"If you were in Felix's shoes, would you rather know the truth immediately or keep believing the stories for as long as possible?"
"What does the title 'Once' tell you about how the author wants us to think about this history?"

Deep Dive

The Power of the Naive Narrator

What makes Once work where other Holocaust books for kids fail is the 'gap.' There is a massive, painful gap between what Felix sees and what the reader knows. When Felix sees a group of children being marched toward a train and thinks they're going on a holiday, the reader feels a specific kind of dread that a more graphic, adult-oriented book couldn't achieve. This makes it a perfect 'bridge' book for kids who are starting to ask real questions about the world.

Not Just a History Lesson

While the book is set in 1942 Poland, it’s really about the psychology of hope. Felix uses his imagination as a shield. It’s a reminder that even in the most restricted, dangerous environments, the inner life of a child is still active and creative. It’s a literary achievement that doesn't feel like 'homework,' which is the highest praise you can give a book about a tragedy.

The Series Context

Parents should know that Once is the start of a long journey. Gleitzman has written several sequels that follow Felix through different stages of his life. While Once ends on a cliffhanger that is relatively hopeful, the later books don't shy away from the long-term trauma of survival. If your kid connects with Felix, they’re going to be in this for the long haul.

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