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Once #5
Soon
After the Nazis took my parents I was scared. After they killed my best friend I was angry. After I joined the partisans and helped defeat the Nazis I was hopeful. Soon, I said, we'll be safe. I was wrong.
Soon continues the incredibly moving story of Felix, a Jewish boy still struggling to survive in the wake of the liberation of Poland after the end of World War Two.
Soon continues the incredibly moving story of Felix, a Jewish boy still struggling to survive in the wake of the liberation of Poland after the end of World War Two.
179 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2015
162 people are currently reading
3021 people want to read
About the author
Morris Gleitzman
120 books975 followersMorris began his writing career as a screenwriter, and wrote his first children's novel in 1985. His brilliantly comic style has endeared him to children and adults alike, and he is now one of Australia's most successful authors, both internationally and at home. He was born in England in 1953 and emigrated to Australia in 1969 so he could escape from school and become a Very Famous Writer.
Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as paperboy, bottle-shop shelf-stacker, department store Santa Claus, frozen chicken defroster, fashion-design assistant and sugar-mill employee. In between he managed to gain a degree in Professional Writing at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Later he became sole writer for three award-winning and top-rating seasons with the TV comedy series The Norman Gunston Show.
Morris wrote a number of feature film and telemovie screenplays, including The Other Facts of Life and Second Childhood, both produced by The Australian Children's Television Foundation. The Other Facts of Life won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original Children's Film Script.
He also wrote live stage material for people such as Rolf Harris, Pamela Stephenson and the Governor General of Australia. Morris is well known to many people through his semi-autobiographical columns in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald magazine, Good Weekend, which he wrote for nine years.
But the majority of Morris' accolades are for his hugely popular children's books. One of his most successful books for young people is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international bestseller which was also adapted into a play by Mary Morris. The play had many successful seasons in Australia and was then produced at the National Theatre in London in 1995 directed by Alan Ayckbourn, and also in South Africa, Canada, Japan and the USA.
All his other books have been shortlisted for or have won numerous children's book prizes. These include The Other Facts of Life, Second Childhood, Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Belly Flop, Water Wings, Bumface, Gift Of The Gab, Toad Rage, Wicked! and Deadly!, two six-part novels written in collaboration with Paul Jennings, Adults Only, Toad Heaven, Boy Overboard, Teacher's Pet, Toad Away, Girl Underground, Worm Story, Once, Aristotle's Nostril, Doubting Thomas, Give Peas A Chance, Then, Toad Surprise, Grace, Now, Too Small To Fail, and his latest book, Pizza Cake. Morris' children's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia and Czechoslovakia, Russia and China.
Before realising that dream, he had a colourful career as paperboy, bottle-shop shelf-stacker, department store Santa Claus, frozen chicken defroster, fashion-design assistant and sugar-mill employee. In between he managed to gain a degree in Professional Writing at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Later he became sole writer for three award-winning and top-rating seasons with the TV comedy series The Norman Gunston Show.
Morris wrote a number of feature film and telemovie screenplays, including The Other Facts of Life and Second Childhood, both produced by The Australian Children's Television Foundation. The Other Facts of Life won an AWGIE Award for the Best Original Children's Film Script.
He also wrote live stage material for people such as Rolf Harris, Pamela Stephenson and the Governor General of Australia. Morris is well known to many people through his semi-autobiographical columns in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald magazine, Good Weekend, which he wrote for nine years.
But the majority of Morris' accolades are for his hugely popular children's books. One of his most successful books for young people is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international bestseller which was also adapted into a play by Mary Morris. The play had many successful seasons in Australia and was then produced at the National Theatre in London in 1995 directed by Alan Ayckbourn, and also in South Africa, Canada, Japan and the USA.
All his other books have been shortlisted for or have won numerous children's book prizes. These include The Other Facts of Life, Second Childhood, Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Belly Flop, Water Wings, Bumface, Gift Of The Gab, Toad Rage, Wicked! and Deadly!, two six-part novels written in collaboration with Paul Jennings, Adults Only, Toad Heaven, Boy Overboard, Teacher's Pet, Toad Away, Girl Underground, Worm Story, Once, Aristotle's Nostril, Doubting Thomas, Give Peas A Chance, Then, Toad Surprise, Grace, Now, Too Small To Fail, and his latest book, Pizza Cake. Morris' children's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia and Czechoslovakia, Russia and China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
July 26, 2022
WWII is over and Felix is trying to stay alive in the jungle that Poland has become.
I read it in one sitting. What a wonderful series.
I read it in one sitting. What a wonderful series.
July 13, 2015
‘Soon’ is the surprise (at least it was to me!) fifth book in Australian author Morris Gleitzman’s incredible ‘Once’ series of books for younger readers … though, as Gleitzman says in a letter to readers at the end, he prefers to think of these as a ‘family of books’ rather than a series, because they can be read out of order or stand-alone.
When we left young Felix in fourth book ‘After’ (way back in 2012) World War Two was drawing to a close. Our young Jewish protagonist had lost much to this war and the Nazi’s – his mother and father, dear friend and faithful companion Zelda and too many acquaintances along the way. When we meet up with Felix and his protector, Gabriek, again in ‘Soon’ the war is indeed over … but danger still looms for Poland.
I’m crazy about this series. I recommend it to everyone I know – young, old, teachers and reluctant readers – Morris Gleitzman’s ‘Once’ series is among this prolific author’s best work, which is really saying something when many of his books have been turned into stage plays and won countless prestigious awards. I know that all the primary school teachers in my family and friendship group (and there are a lot of them!) are particularly grateful to this series, for allowing them to tackle these incredibly difficult subjects in the classroom in a way that kids can both understand, be deeply affected by and still utterly consumed by the story.
Through Gleitzman’s books, these teachers have broached the subject of war, Holocaust, death, persecution and prejudice with very young children for whom this is the first they’re finding out how awful the world can be, and has been in humanity’s dark past. In all my dealings with youth literature, I find that I live by one rule above all others, which Morris Gleitzman said at Melbourne Writers Festival 2012 – “If it’s in the world, it’s for them.”
Because it’s important that kids know these stories, no matter how awful and tragic. I visited Japan last year, and when I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum I found this amazing bookshop that sold picture books, graphic novels and chapter books for all ages, across many languages, aimed at children on the topics of World War Two and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in particular. Because children, even very young children, have to know these stories so that future generation don’t repeat mistakes of the past.
And that’s really what ‘Soon’ is about. The Soviet Red Army pushed out Nazi German forces from occupied Poland, and readers find Felix and Gabriek at the beginning of Soviet communist dominance at the end of the World War Two, over what had become the Polish People's Republic. Gleitzman is glimpsing the periods of social unrest in the country that was trying to heal the scars of war – and Felix starts to comprehend how nothing takes so long to heal as the horrors of war.
Readers have witnessed the traumas that shaped Felix into the strong, kind man of ‘Now’, and in ‘Soon’ we’re still witnessing that transformation unfold. For Felix in this book, it’s really a push-pull of doing the right thing and still struggling to survive.
‘You want to change the world,’ says Gabriek. ‘That’s natural at your age. But only dreamers try to change things when the world’s in this state. Sensible people know it’s as much as we can do to look after ourselves.’
I don’t argue.
I know how lucky we are, surviving this long. How lucky I am to have Gabriek’s protection.
‘How do you spot a sensible person?’ says Gabriek.
I sigh. Gabriek says this at least once a day.
‘They’re alive,’ says Gabriek. ‘Sensible people stay alive because they don’t get involved in other people’s business and they don’t take risks.’
And there is a lot of violence in this book - don't be fooled that just because the war is over, this is going to be any less a harrowing story. One event in particular happens concerning a woman, so teachers/parents out there may want to read this book so they can have conversations with children afterwards about what happened. I don't think that means children shouldn't read this book - and I'm not advising that "gatekeepers" keep it away from kids, not at all - it absolutely has place in the story because it is speaking to a very true history of war (past and present, sadly).
This book is Felix coming to the realisation of how wars get started in the first place, when good people who know better stand by and do nothing in the face of other’s suffering. And that’s such a big truth that Morris Gleitzman is presenting to young readers in the tender, beautiful ‘Soon’ that fits so perfectly into this family of books.
When we left young Felix in fourth book ‘After’ (way back in 2012) World War Two was drawing to a close. Our young Jewish protagonist had lost much to this war and the Nazi’s – his mother and father, dear friend and faithful companion Zelda and too many acquaintances along the way. When we meet up with Felix and his protector, Gabriek, again in ‘Soon’ the war is indeed over … but danger still looms for Poland.
I’m crazy about this series. I recommend it to everyone I know – young, old, teachers and reluctant readers – Morris Gleitzman’s ‘Once’ series is among this prolific author’s best work, which is really saying something when many of his books have been turned into stage plays and won countless prestigious awards. I know that all the primary school teachers in my family and friendship group (and there are a lot of them!) are particularly grateful to this series, for allowing them to tackle these incredibly difficult subjects in the classroom in a way that kids can both understand, be deeply affected by and still utterly consumed by the story.
Through Gleitzman’s books, these teachers have broached the subject of war, Holocaust, death, persecution and prejudice with very young children for whom this is the first they’re finding out how awful the world can be, and has been in humanity’s dark past. In all my dealings with youth literature, I find that I live by one rule above all others, which Morris Gleitzman said at Melbourne Writers Festival 2012 – “If it’s in the world, it’s for them.”
Because it’s important that kids know these stories, no matter how awful and tragic. I visited Japan last year, and when I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum I found this amazing bookshop that sold picture books, graphic novels and chapter books for all ages, across many languages, aimed at children on the topics of World War Two and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in particular. Because children, even very young children, have to know these stories so that future generation don’t repeat mistakes of the past.
And that’s really what ‘Soon’ is about. The Soviet Red Army pushed out Nazi German forces from occupied Poland, and readers find Felix and Gabriek at the beginning of Soviet communist dominance at the end of the World War Two, over what had become the Polish People's Republic. Gleitzman is glimpsing the periods of social unrest in the country that was trying to heal the scars of war – and Felix starts to comprehend how nothing takes so long to heal as the horrors of war.
Readers have witnessed the traumas that shaped Felix into the strong, kind man of ‘Now’, and in ‘Soon’ we’re still witnessing that transformation unfold. For Felix in this book, it’s really a push-pull of doing the right thing and still struggling to survive.
‘You want to change the world,’ says Gabriek. ‘That’s natural at your age. But only dreamers try to change things when the world’s in this state. Sensible people know it’s as much as we can do to look after ourselves.’
I don’t argue.
I know how lucky we are, surviving this long. How lucky I am to have Gabriek’s protection.
‘How do you spot a sensible person?’ says Gabriek.
I sigh. Gabriek says this at least once a day.
‘They’re alive,’ says Gabriek. ‘Sensible people stay alive because they don’t get involved in other people’s business and they don’t take risks.’
And there is a lot of violence in this book - don't be fooled that just because the war is over, this is going to be any less a harrowing story. One event in particular happens concerning a woman, so teachers/parents out there may want to read this book so they can have conversations with children afterwards about what happened. I don't think that means children shouldn't read this book - and I'm not advising that "gatekeepers" keep it away from kids, not at all - it absolutely has place in the story because it is speaking to a very true history of war (past and present, sadly).
This book is Felix coming to the realisation of how wars get started in the first place, when good people who know better stand by and do nothing in the face of other’s suffering. And that’s such a big truth that Morris Gleitzman is presenting to young readers in the tender, beautiful ‘Soon’ that fits so perfectly into this family of books.
October 4, 2018
A wonderful series of books. We read the first one for our adult book club and found it one of the most moving books I had read in a long time. Very good for children who are starting to learn about this period in history.
He is now 13, with a heart set of becoming a doctor and a conscience that keeps his values intact, despite his circumstances. This is the story of Felix taking more people into his trust and watching the growing yet moral boy not let the destruction and desperation around him drag him down.
We know from a previous book where Felix is destined to end up, but that doesn't stop this being tense, upsetting and surprising.
There are a couple of moments and scenes that may distress young children (to do with wartime / post-war atrocities), there is violence and racist references - so I would recommend ages 9 and above, if not older.
He is now 13, with a heart set of becoming a doctor and a conscience that keeps his values intact, despite his circumstances. This is the story of Felix taking more people into his trust and watching the growing yet moral boy not let the destruction and desperation around him drag him down.
We know from a previous book where Felix is destined to end up, but that doesn't stop this being tense, upsetting and surprising.
There are a couple of moments and scenes that may distress young children (to do with wartime / post-war atrocities), there is violence and racist references - so I would recommend ages 9 and above, if not older.
April 5, 2017
It's 1945, the end ofthe second world war, and against literally all odds Felix (a Jewish boy in Poland) has managed to survive. His troubles aren't over yet, though, as Poland has descended into chaos. Somehow he manages to not let the misery and destruction around him rob him of his spirit.
This series has been amazing. I wrote the dissertation for my degree on the Holocaust, so I actually know a bit about this period in history, but fictional stories like this make the atrocities that were committed so much more real than textbook accounts.
This series has been amazing. I wrote the dissertation for my degree on the Holocaust, so I actually know a bit about this period in history, but fictional stories like this make the atrocities that were committed so much more real than textbook accounts.
June 1, 2017
This was the one book in this family of books that I hadn't read. I love Felix and his unwavering courage and hope in a place and time that that was fearsome and horrible. You would think that with the war over things would be better, but in Poland it has still not settled. Morris Gleitzman's research of this time has enabled him to write an extraodinary, heart wrenching set of books.
August 12, 2022
A heartbreaking yet beautiful series. This book deals with post WW2 Poland where there is still bloodshed to survive the aftermath of war. It still amazes me how simple the book is yet has a powerful impact!
August 21, 2018
A guerra acabou. Félix sonha com um mundo melhor. É a chegada de um bebé na sua vida que lhe traz esperança. Este livro cruza passado e presente. Nele o jovem decide o seu destino e tenta seguir em frente. Mas as sombras e os traumas do passado não o deixem descansar...
Desejosa de descobrir com acaba esta encantadora saga!
November 10, 2015
It's 1945 and the war is over but not the danger. Felix, now 13, and Gabriek are hiding out in a relatively safe albeit rather wrecked building, and have one simple rule - Stay quiet and out of sight. There are roving bands of men wearing badges that say Poland for the Poles and never hesitate to shoot anyone who is Polish, and that includes Felix, who is Polish, but he's also Jewish.
The war was hard on Gabriek and Felix who lost quite a few people they loved very much, and now Gabriek spends most of his time sleeping off the cabbage vodka he makes in his still, when not doing repair work to get food for the two of them.
Felix, who wants to become a doctor, goes how on the streets with his "medical bag" and the skills he learned from Doctor Zajak, when he and Gabriek joined the partisans before the war ended. While out looking for people to help, Felix runs into two people - Anya, a mysterious girl wearing a filthy pink coat and carrying a gun, and Dimmi, who threatens the lives of Felix and Gabriek because the lock they fixed for him has broken.
Felix isn't out on the street long before he is kidnapped by the Poland for the Poles thugs who require his "medical services." Luckily, Felix escapes and back on the street, a woman throws her baby to him just before she is shot to death. Felix is immediately smitten by the baby and brings him home to an unhappy Gabriek.
It turns out that Anya is living in an orphanage with other kids under the care of Dr. Lipzyk, who invites Felix to visit his medical library anytime he wants to. But things happen that make Felix uncomfortable about the doctor. First, nothing seems to be done about Anya constant vomiting, then, Felix makes a deal with Anya for an endless supply of powdered milk and other baby needs for Pavlo (yes, Felix and Gabriek name the baby a nice Ukrainian name, since his mother was from the Ukraine), and lastly, the doctor cold attitude toward him when he sees Felix without pants on.
In the post-war danger and chaos in Poland, where hate and bigotry still seem to rule the day, will Felix be able to retain his hopeful spirit that the world will someday be a safe and happy place?
I wasn't expecting a 5th book and I may have jumped the gun a little in my need to find out more about Felix's experiences during World War II when I ordered it from The Book Depository. It's out in Australia, New Zealand and Britain, but I don't know when or if it will be published in the US. But is is do worth reading, even though I didn't get any sense of closure when I finished it - but perhaps that is as it should.
Soon is an action packed novel, partly because Felix is able to go out among people in a way that he hasn't been about to for a long, long time. And amazingly, Gleitzman has managed to keep Felix a consistent character in Once, Then, After, and now Soon even as he matures, and despite some of the horrific things he has witnessed (I don't count Now because it is about Felix at 80 year old and not told from his point of view). Felix is a character who seems to understand human behavior instinctively even if he does still read some behaviors incorrectly at first, but that is just because he is an optimist. And readers can't help but care about what happens to him.
Soon can be read as a stand alone book, but it would be a much richer experience if readers at least read the first three books. And like all of the Felix and Zelda family of books there is violence, but not sex or bad language.
Once again, Gleitzman has explored themes of family and friendship in the worst of times and written a powerful, appealing novel and now I would really like to know what happens to Felix next, but I have a feeling it's not going to happen this time.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
The war was hard on Gabriek and Felix who lost quite a few people they loved very much, and now Gabriek spends most of his time sleeping off the cabbage vodka he makes in his still, when not doing repair work to get food for the two of them.
Felix, who wants to become a doctor, goes how on the streets with his "medical bag" and the skills he learned from Doctor Zajak, when he and Gabriek joined the partisans before the war ended. While out looking for people to help, Felix runs into two people - Anya, a mysterious girl wearing a filthy pink coat and carrying a gun, and Dimmi, who threatens the lives of Felix and Gabriek because the lock they fixed for him has broken.
Felix isn't out on the street long before he is kidnapped by the Poland for the Poles thugs who require his "medical services." Luckily, Felix escapes and back on the street, a woman throws her baby to him just before she is shot to death. Felix is immediately smitten by the baby and brings him home to an unhappy Gabriek.
It turns out that Anya is living in an orphanage with other kids under the care of Dr. Lipzyk, who invites Felix to visit his medical library anytime he wants to. But things happen that make Felix uncomfortable about the doctor. First, nothing seems to be done about Anya constant vomiting, then, Felix makes a deal with Anya for an endless supply of powdered milk and other baby needs for Pavlo (yes, Felix and Gabriek name the baby a nice Ukrainian name, since his mother was from the Ukraine), and lastly, the doctor cold attitude toward him when he sees Felix without pants on.
In the post-war danger and chaos in Poland, where hate and bigotry still seem to rule the day, will Felix be able to retain his hopeful spirit that the world will someday be a safe and happy place?
I wasn't expecting a 5th book and I may have jumped the gun a little in my need to find out more about Felix's experiences during World War II when I ordered it from The Book Depository. It's out in Australia, New Zealand and Britain, but I don't know when or if it will be published in the US. But is is do worth reading, even though I didn't get any sense of closure when I finished it - but perhaps that is as it should.
Soon is an action packed novel, partly because Felix is able to go out among people in a way that he hasn't been about to for a long, long time. And amazingly, Gleitzman has managed to keep Felix a consistent character in Once, Then, After, and now Soon even as he matures, and despite some of the horrific things he has witnessed (I don't count Now because it is about Felix at 80 year old and not told from his point of view). Felix is a character who seems to understand human behavior instinctively even if he does still read some behaviors incorrectly at first, but that is just because he is an optimist. And readers can't help but care about what happens to him.
Soon can be read as a stand alone book, but it would be a much richer experience if readers at least read the first three books. And like all of the Felix and Zelda family of books there is violence, but not sex or bad language.
Once again, Gleitzman has explored themes of family and friendship in the worst of times and written a powerful, appealing novel and now I would really like to know what happens to Felix next, but I have a feeling it's not going to happen this time.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
December 15, 2016
He did it to me again. Tears as I was driving, listening. Should have been more prepared by now.
I've read each of Felix's 'Once' stories with increasing admiration, and was thrilled to see a new episode, set in an era that is rarely, if ever covered in children's books - post-war Europe. There is a wealth of WWII fiction, but the dark period just after is, in my mind, not somewhere authors visit.
And it's a shocking place to view. Our Felix, who we have seen survive chaos, brutality and deprivation has made it through the war and is still struggling, working as a team with a friend, avoiding those who blame Jews and non-Poles for Poland's problems.
He is now 13, with a heart set of becoming a doctor and a conscience that keeps his values intact, despite his circumstances. This is the story of Felix taking more people into his trust and watching the growing yet moral boy not let the destruction and desperation around him drag him down.
We know from a previous book where Felix is destined to end up, but that doesn't stop this being tense, upsetting and surprising.
There are a couple of moments and scenes that may distress young children (to do with wartime / post-war atrocities), there is violence and racist references - so I would recommend ages 9 and above, if not older.
Gleitzman narrates the audiobook himself, and does it well. The music at the end of each chapter is evocative, the 'Soon I hope...' that begins each is powerful.
There are some wonderful characters here, some that remind me of Zelda, some you really really hope have a happy ending.
And there is hope at the end, a bittersweet ending. This at be the last Felix story and this did, for me, make it feel complete. A very sad and moving saga, beautifully composed and suitable for a primary audience.
I've read each of Felix's 'Once' stories with increasing admiration, and was thrilled to see a new episode, set in an era that is rarely, if ever covered in children's books - post-war Europe. There is a wealth of WWII fiction, but the dark period just after is, in my mind, not somewhere authors visit.
And it's a shocking place to view. Our Felix, who we have seen survive chaos, brutality and deprivation has made it through the war and is still struggling, working as a team with a friend, avoiding those who blame Jews and non-Poles for Poland's problems.
He is now 13, with a heart set of becoming a doctor and a conscience that keeps his values intact, despite his circumstances. This is the story of Felix taking more people into his trust and watching the growing yet moral boy not let the destruction and desperation around him drag him down.
We know from a previous book where Felix is destined to end up, but that doesn't stop this being tense, upsetting and surprising.
There are a couple of moments and scenes that may distress young children (to do with wartime / post-war atrocities), there is violence and racist references - so I would recommend ages 9 and above, if not older.
Gleitzman narrates the audiobook himself, and does it well. The music at the end of each chapter is evocative, the 'Soon I hope...' that begins each is powerful.
There are some wonderful characters here, some that remind me of Zelda, some you really really hope have a happy ending.
And there is hope at the end, a bittersweet ending. This at be the last Felix story and this did, for me, make it feel complete. A very sad and moving saga, beautifully composed and suitable for a primary audience.
August 11, 2016
The war has ended but there's still lots of cruelty and fighting for food going on. This book shows that even though the war is over, the fight for survival isn't.
In this book Felix has to look after a little baby, when the mother hands the baby to him shortly before she is killed. I adore Felix, he is such a sweet soul even when the world around him is full of evil and horrible people. Even after all he's been through he is still so kind and caring.
I was so excited when I find out that Morris Gleitzman had written another book in the series. These books have been so emotional, but I didn't get that same feeling with this book. There are a couple of truly horrible things that happen in the book, but they seemed brushed over and didn't affect me as much as they should have. Or maybe I'm just heartless. I will continue to love this series, hopefully Morris Gleitzman keeps writing them.
In this book Felix has to look after a little baby, when the mother hands the baby to him shortly before she is killed. I adore Felix, he is such a sweet soul even when the world around him is full of evil and horrible people. Even after all he's been through he is still so kind and caring.
I was so excited when I find out that Morris Gleitzman had written another book in the series. These books have been so emotional, but I didn't get that same feeling with this book. There are a couple of truly horrible things that happen in the book, but they seemed brushed over and didn't affect me as much as they should have. Or maybe I'm just heartless. I will continue to love this series, hopefully Morris Gleitzman keeps writing them.
September 1, 2016
The war is over now but the fighting and killing carries on, day to day life is still a fight to stay alive. We follow a now more mature but just as wonderful 13 yr old Felix. It's rational to think that after a war has ended things will get better, this book shows all the violence, disorder, starvation and lawlessness of a country in turmoil. By the time I had read this book I felt I had been on a long journey with Felix, starting with that carrot in his soup back in book 1. Much as I was sad to leave him and do hope there will be another book I felt a relief to leave the constant threat and disaster that Felix has endured during his life. This book is more distressing than the others and personally feel they are not suitable for the 8 -12 age range they say they are aimed at.
September 19, 2021
An eagerly awaited sequel to After but Gleitzman must have presumed his readers have grown up. The early books deal with the trauma of the holocaust but in terms which younger children can understand with the help
Of an adult but Soon deals with more adult issues of rape and alcoholism. The plot seems a little more rushed than earlier books. So be careful if giving to tweens to read.
The stories are quite sad so probably not ideal for very sensitive readers.
Of an adult but Soon deals with more adult issues of rape and alcoholism. The plot seems a little more rushed than earlier books. So be careful if giving to tweens to read.
The stories are quite sad so probably not ideal for very sensitive readers.
July 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book, the most recent in the 'Once' series but not as much as I enjoyed 'Once', 'Then' and 'After'. It does, however, give a good perspective on life after the war.
February 17, 2022
"Just because civilisation is in ruins, doesn't mean we can't be considerate of other people."
Soon, when the war has ended, things will get better. But no. Now, with Nazi's gone, lives didn't get smoothly all of sudden. There were 'patriots' who chasing non Polish, just like Nazi. Food were scarce, and people still living in a hideout, included Felix and Gabriek. But Felix, who had a dream to be a doctor, couldn't stay still. He would sneak out and tried to help people. But most of the day, it only brought bad luck to him. For he had to face the 'patriot' and a girl with a gun.
Reading Gleitzman books is hard. It's a dilemma. You really want to read it, but you are too scared to know what will happen. And war never brought happiness nor good things. Some people were bad, and some were dying. And Once series is full of both.
I kept trying to remember the things mentioned in Now, but failed. The series is coming to an end and I'm not ready to break my heart (again and again).
This book, though not bringing an onion cry, succeeded in making my eyes watery. That's Gleitzman for you.
Lovely book, lovely characters, and of course, Gabriek. It's a wonder someone could still be kind and generous when he had nothing left anymore.
Can't wait to read the next book! Or can I?
Soon, when the war has ended, things will get better. But no. Now, with Nazi's gone, lives didn't get smoothly all of sudden. There were 'patriots' who chasing non Polish, just like Nazi. Food were scarce, and people still living in a hideout, included Felix and Gabriek. But Felix, who had a dream to be a doctor, couldn't stay still. He would sneak out and tried to help people. But most of the day, it only brought bad luck to him. For he had to face the 'patriot' and a girl with a gun.
Reading Gleitzman books is hard. It's a dilemma. You really want to read it, but you are too scared to know what will happen. And war never brought happiness nor good things. Some people were bad, and some were dying. And Once series is full of both.
I kept trying to remember the things mentioned in Now, but failed. The series is coming to an end and I'm not ready to break my heart (again and again).
This book, though not bringing an onion cry, succeeded in making my eyes watery. That's Gleitzman for you.
Lovely book, lovely characters, and of course, Gabriek. It's a wonder someone could still be kind and generous when he had nothing left anymore.
Can't wait to read the next book! Or can I?
February 3, 2021
Válka skončila, válka o přežití ale pokračuje dál. Felix dospívá, bylo mu už třináct, prožité válečné časy přidaly jeho myšlení roky. Stále je to ale on, spravedlivý a úžasný Felix, jehož posláním je ochraňovat a zachraňovat. Alespoň když to jde. Rád by, aby to šlo bez potíží, ale těm se nelze jen tak jednoduše vyhnout. Doba není vyrovnaná, na světě zbylo spousta dětí bez rodičů, které si teď musejí poradit. Zároveň ale zbylo dost dospělých, kterým sice jde o dobro, ale leckdy jen to vlastní, někdy možná i o to společenské - jenže ve společnosti pořád z jejich pohledu zůstávají tací, co tam nemají co dělat.
A mezi tím kličkuje Felix a potkává ve všech těch vedlejších uličkách další postavy, zlé i dobré. Ty, které vypadají, že moc dobré nejsou, ale v jádru třeba ano. A naopak, ty hodné, co v jádru... kdo ví. Brzy se to ukáže. Brzy by mohla být pohádka, ale není, běžný život nekončí vždy dobrým koncem. Ale i běžný život v těžkých dobách může mít naději.
A mezi tím kličkuje Felix a potkává ve všech těch vedlejších uličkách další postavy, zlé i dobré. Ty, které vypadají, že moc dobré nejsou, ale v jádru třeba ano. A naopak, ty hodné, co v jádru... kdo ví. Brzy se to ukáže. Brzy by mohla být pohádka, ale není, běžný život nekončí vždy dobrým koncem. Ale i běžný život v těžkých dobách může mít naději.
October 10, 2025
Book 5 in the Once family. Each book may be short and quite simple in style but they are hard hitting stories about European ww2 experiences from a child’s perspective. None of this series I would recommend to anyone younger than 11 because of the history involved. They are very tasteful and take some comprehension of the stories to really understand. This particular story went much deeper and darker especially in the last quarter. We re now post war but there are different atrocities happening and Felix realises that just because the war is over life isn’t getting any easier. This is my second favourite of these books after Once.
July 17, 2025
When I reviewed the book for After, I thought it was much too gloomy. The author has heeded my call and added a baby into the story. It made the book much more interesting to read. Soon is a top example of that. As Felix travels around the town after the Holocaust, another war has risen. A wild war for food and supplies. In a world where a carton of milk is rarer than a gold mine, Felix must survive through gangs and former Nazis in another war of its own.
September 13, 2021
Just when you think these books can't get any darker, Gleitzman hits you with another story of heartbreak, which is all the more poignant when you're reading the words and the true stories of the Holocaust survivors keep popping up in your head. I should caveat this to say the books are not gratuitously dark, but they reflect dark times.
January 2, 2022
The fifth Story in the once series Soon, in my opinion is as good as once. Felix is older and more capable now and soon takes place just after the war has ended showing how men and women coped with life with crime and desperation. The concept is extremely interesting and the story itself is perfect.
April 15, 2018
I really like this 'family of books' (that's what Morris Gleitzman calls it).
Morris's writing is amazing and all of his war books are amazing and he needs to write more.
I also like the subtle humour. And Felix is just such a great character.
I think these books are a great way for young people to learn about World War 2. I still enjoyed it eventhough I think they are written for kids a little younger than me.
Morris's writing is amazing and all of his war books are amazing and he needs to write more.
I also like the subtle humour. And Felix is just such a great character.
I think these books are a great way for young people to learn about World War 2. I still enjoyed it eventhough I think they are written for kids a little younger than me.
April 3, 2025
Soon, the 4th book of the series ONCE
This book will blow your head around, it is so fascinating!!
Felix, Anya, Gebriek and Pavlo are on a mission to survive and protect each other, Can they do that??
So, prepare ur selves for tears and shock
SOON!!!
This book will blow your head around, it is so fascinating!!
Felix, Anya, Gebriek and Pavlo are on a mission to survive and protect each other, Can they do that??
So, prepare ur selves for tears and shock
SOON!!!
April 3, 2024
Harrowing story to end Felix's journey through the atrocities of war 😢
July 31, 2024
World War I is over and Felix just trying to stay alive in the jungle Poland has become
May 26, 2025
This author really knows how to write tragedy
August 29, 2018
It was pretty interesting as I read the previous series.
January 20, 2019
Read the entire thing in one go. Couldn't put it down. So deep and heavy and heartbreaking, but light and full of innocence all at once.
January 19, 2022
This book was amazing after I read it I read it again because it’s just that good and heart warming
January 3, 2023
4.5
gag twist omg
rip baby pavlo
anya u little icon u deserve everything
gag twist omg
rip baby pavlo
anya u little icon u deserve everything
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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