After
by Morris Gleitzman
The fourth installment in Morris Gleitzman's unforgettable series beginning with Once, tells the story of what happened to Felix in the final, agonising stages of the Second World War.
Having lost his parents and his best friend Zelda, Felix is hiding from the Nazis in an underground bunker, protected by the kindly Gabiek and with his favourite Richmal Crompton books to help him pass the time. But when Gabiek's farm is torched by the Nazis, and Gabiek is badly injured, the two fall in with a group of reckless partisans living a dangerous existance in the forest. Felix finds himself becoming assistant to the camp surgeon, Doctor Zajak, as well as making both allies and enemies amongst the partisans. Yet in spite of the many new horrors that he must face, Felix retains his matter-of-fact pragmatism and natural optimism, even when it seems all is lost.
Morris Gleitzman approaches the profoundly difficult subject of the Holocaust with sensitivity in this powerful, beautifully-written and deeply affecting book, which will be accessible to a wide range of readers. Although there are many dark moments here, there is hope as well as despair, and humanity as well as horror. The conclusion may be bittersweet but those who have followed the whole of Felix's journey will be uplifted by the final optimistic note on which this story ends.
Publisher: Puffin Books
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Morris Gleitzman
Morris was born in 1953 in Sleaford in Lincolnshire. His family moved south to the London suburbs when he was two. Then, in 1969, when he was a teenager, they emigrated to Australia. It was a big change and the shock was so great Morris stopped reading books for nearly a year. Though when he started again he found he wanted to write as well.
Beginning his literary career as a promotions writer, Morris was soon writing comedy scripts for the top rated Norman Gunston Show. His first novel for children – The Other Facts of Life – was published in 1985, followed by the hugely successful Two Weeks with the Queen for which he won the Children’s Book Award. He is a bestselling author of more than 27 books for children. From the humour of Bumface and the Toad series to the poignancy of Boy Overboard and Girl Underground, Morris’ stories have a struck a chord with young readers in over twenty countries.
Morris says ‘I’m interested in exploring a heroism that’s about perseverance, not escaping or denial or bitterness or bigotry. It’s the heroism of staying optimistic and continuing to struggle. Heroism for me is striving to overcome problems in the knowledge they will never be overcome.’
Morris Gleitzman, photo: Tim Keefe
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Reading Age: 10+
Interest level: 11+
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