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Once #7
Always
Always stay hopeful.
That's my motto.
You're probably thinking, He's a dreamer, that Wassim. What's he got to be hopeful about? He's ten years old and look at his life.
Thanks, but it's not so bad.
I've got a lot to be hopeful about.
Specially now there's a person who can help me.
A person called Felix Salinger.
That's my motto.
You're probably thinking, He's a dreamer, that Wassim. What's he got to be hopeful about? He's ten years old and look at his life.
Thanks, but it's not so bad.
I've got a lot to be hopeful about.
Specially now there's a person who can help me.
A person called Felix Salinger.
301 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2021
About the author
Morris Gleitzman
88 books939 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 121 reviews
November 17, 2021
This series really is fantastic. Yes, it's for young adults, but as an adult I loved them. This is the last in the series and it finishes it beautifully.
If you have read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
It's written in that style.
Little Felix in the 'Once' series is much like Bruno is the' Striped Pyjamas book', innocent, but has to witness some pretty deviating scenes. I actually think this series is much better, it would make a great movie and has a strong cast of characters.
If you like YA books based on WW2 and the Holocaust, this series has to be up there with the likes of
Operation Einstein and the The Book Thief
.
If you have not yet read the Once series, I suggest you take a look at book 1. You can buy the whole set now for under $22, its worth it. The author Morris Gleitzman has now become a favourite of mine. xx
If you have read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
It's written in that style. Little Felix in the 'Once' series is much like Bruno is the' Striped Pyjamas book', innocent, but has to witness some pretty deviating scenes. I actually think this series is much better, it would make a great movie and has a strong cast of characters.
If you like YA books based on WW2 and the Holocaust, this series has to be up there with the likes of
Operation Einstein and the The Book Thief
.If you have not yet read the Once series, I suggest you take a look at book 1. You can buy the whole set now for under $22, its worth it. The author Morris Gleitzman has now become a favourite of mine. xx
August 12, 2019
Absolutely loved every single book in this series. Although they are for young adults I’m an older adult who was totally captured. Highly recommended
October 2, 2021
I’m ashamed to say that after the months of waiting, both for the book to be finished and then for this to escape lockdown at the warehouse in Auckland, I read this in one evening because I couldn’t put it down. I knew it would be the last, and the whole series was one of the first more recently written children’s work I started when I got my first job as a school librarian. I’ve been promoting it ever since to anyone that will listen. Wasn’t disappointed by this final book, it’s been a pleasure to be on the journey.
October 1, 2021
I first read Once Once as a 14 year old child. It was so different from the comedic books that Gleitzman usually wrote that I was taken aback, but I was soon sucked in to the story of Felix and Zelda. I continued to follow their story through the years, telling my friends about them. Then I became a Librarian and told my students about them. And finally I became a Teacher who looked for ways to incorporate Felix and Zelda's story in tot he classroom.
To finally see the end of this story. is something very special, and I am glad to be here. A wonderful story that is often sad, and sometimes devastating, but is always hopeful.
To finally see the end of this story. is something very special, and I am glad to be here. A wonderful story that is often sad, and sometimes devastating, but is always hopeful.
September 9, 2021
waited two years for this book, after first reading the series in 2015 when i was only 10. good to see felix's story end on a good note. the series caused tears no matter how many times i re-read them.
March 11, 2022
This final chapter of Felix’s story leaves me both incredibly happy and incredibly sad. These are heartbreaking stories, not least this one, but also filled with hope. Felix has been through so much in his life and come out the other side with so much of himself left to give. I have loved every moment I have spent with Felix, even when my heart has been breaking. Morris Gleitzman is an incredible storyteller and I know that Felix and those whose lives he intertwined with will stay with me forever.
November 29, 2021
Perfect ending to one of the best series ever. Truly.
Thank you Morris Gleitzman.
Thank you Morris Gleitzman.
June 4, 2022
Ahh, I'm so sad I finished the series 😞
September 20, 2021
What a delight it has been to revisit Felix's story and re-read the entire Once series in chronological order. I was a little unsure and curious about what to expect in this final book and probably still need some time to process my feelings about it. Mostly, I enjoyed the final story with Felix, but there were some elements that surprised/disappointed me about the storyline. But still, definitely an all-time favourite children's series for me, and one that is always in high demand in our library.
January 7, 2022
This was a great series, I love how the author writes. You really should start off with book 1 'Once' and then progress and they tie into each other. Shame the series is over.
July 6, 2023
nope I'm done bye.
ugh I can't do this anymore.
that is not how it can end.
I have had enough.
why!
no!
nope!
I have had enough!
ugh I can't do this anymore.
that is not how it can end.
I have had enough.
why!
no!
nope!
I have had enough!
January 15, 2022
I have many feelings about Always, but I’ll start by saying it’s a worthy conclusion to Felix’s life. Not something easy to do, when each of the books of his life have deeply moved me in their own ways.
Always evokes heart-rending emotion and touches on terrible themes: racism, hatred, bigotry writ current in the 21st century. The overall themes and messages of this book were appropriately done, because as Soon also covered: reality means evil is never fully vanquished with the heroes living a happily ever after. Humanity is never so simple.
This book explores how despite the terrible cost of WWII, people are starting to forget the lessons of the past. That there are those who lived during periods of horror, and choose to frame their lives in its shadow and in a destructive way. That apathy, indifference, and corruption still live on in new generations.
It also touches on greed, hope and love. I enjoy how the memory of Zelda was woven throughout Always, and how the treasure was far more priceless than money. Yes it’s cliche, but fitting for this series.
There is also a healthy dose of ‘fan service’ for lack of a better term, with the most references to previous characters in Always than ever before. On one hand it was exciting to have those references sprinkled in, and I think the way the plot relied on them was done tastefully. On the other hand, I think there was more use of past characters as ‘things’ to move the plot with very little exploration on discovering new things about these earlier characters, and fleshing them out in that way. Without giving any spoilers, it makes sense due to the time, however I think exploring the spirit of earlier characters could have strengthened the novel.
However, this book didn’t make it to 5 stars because of two things:
1) I felt it was a little lengthy in some places. This is noticeably the longest novel in the series. Always follows a more classic storyline, in that there is an (apparently) clear goal the ‘heroes’ are racing towards, and they need to defeat the ‘villains’. There is nothing wrong with this narrative, and there were many thoughtful and touching moments throughout. However, the Once series hasn’t so obviously relied on this kind of narrative arc in the past, and I’ve found the subtle arcs of the other novels adds to their strength.
2) Point 1 links into how Always is reflective of a shift of the series to a more….cartoonish slant? I’m not quite sure how to define it, but I definitely noticed in Maybe that there was a much clearer element of break from reality/deus ex machina incorporated into the books where things didn’t reallyyyyyy make sense but things would work out mostly happily at the end for our heroes. There is still tragedy along the way, but there is really a sense that in the small scale of our heroes lives, they will triumph. Always continues this trend, although it was done more gracefully than Maybe (from memory, I haven’t read it recently, there was one very sudden jarring reality-lapse in Maybe).
This sense of a last minute rescue/solution wasn’t the case in Once, Then and After, and I suppose that reflects the particular nature of wartime that those novels are set within. However, I find it removes some of the nuance of the stories, and simplifies the messages.
***
To sum up, Always is a beautiful read with some subtle, but not hugely noticeable weak spots. I’m very sad to say goodbye to Felix, but happy to lay his life, in all its terribly beautiful glory, to rest. May those of us who read these books Always hold his messages of hope and love in our hearts.
Always evokes heart-rending emotion and touches on terrible themes: racism, hatred, bigotry writ current in the 21st century. The overall themes and messages of this book were appropriately done, because as Soon also covered: reality means evil is never fully vanquished with the heroes living a happily ever after. Humanity is never so simple.
This book explores how despite the terrible cost of WWII, people are starting to forget the lessons of the past. That there are those who lived during periods of horror, and choose to frame their lives in its shadow and in a destructive way. That apathy, indifference, and corruption still live on in new generations.
It also touches on greed, hope and love. I enjoy how the memory of Zelda was woven throughout Always, and how the treasure was far more priceless than money. Yes it’s cliche, but fitting for this series.
There is also a healthy dose of ‘fan service’ for lack of a better term, with the most references to previous characters in Always than ever before. On one hand it was exciting to have those references sprinkled in, and I think the way the plot relied on them was done tastefully. On the other hand, I think there was more use of past characters as ‘things’ to move the plot with very little exploration on discovering new things about these earlier characters, and fleshing them out in that way. Without giving any spoilers, it makes sense due to the time, however I think exploring the spirit of earlier characters could have strengthened the novel.
However, this book didn’t make it to 5 stars because of two things:
1) I felt it was a little lengthy in some places. This is noticeably the longest novel in the series. Always follows a more classic storyline, in that there is an (apparently) clear goal the ‘heroes’ are racing towards, and they need to defeat the ‘villains’. There is nothing wrong with this narrative, and there were many thoughtful and touching moments throughout. However, the Once series hasn’t so obviously relied on this kind of narrative arc in the past, and I’ve found the subtle arcs of the other novels adds to their strength.
2) Point 1 links into how Always is reflective of a shift of the series to a more….cartoonish slant? I’m not quite sure how to define it, but I definitely noticed in Maybe that there was a much clearer element of break from reality/deus ex machina incorporated into the books where things didn’t reallyyyyyy make sense but things would work out mostly happily at the end for our heroes. There is still tragedy along the way, but there is really a sense that in the small scale of our heroes lives, they will triumph. Always continues this trend, although it was done more gracefully than Maybe (from memory, I haven’t read it recently, there was one very sudden jarring reality-lapse in Maybe).
This sense of a last minute rescue/solution wasn’t the case in Once, Then and After, and I suppose that reflects the particular nature of wartime that those novels are set within. However, I find it removes some of the nuance of the stories, and simplifies the messages.
***
To sum up, Always is a beautiful read with some subtle, but not hugely noticeable weak spots. I’m very sad to say goodbye to Felix, but happy to lay his life, in all its terribly beautiful glory, to rest. May those of us who read these books Always hold his messages of hope and love in our hearts.
October 11, 2021
I wonder if Morris Gleitzman is really John Farnham in disguise? I feel like "the final book in the Once series" is becoming like Farnham's legendary farewell tours, that happened again and again! 🤣
Anyway, I was excited to get this, the latest in the series. In Always we meet Wassim, a boy from an unnamed Eastern European country whose family is in deep trouble. In true Gleitzman fashion, Wassim is a young, hopeful, innocent boy with crazy, unrealistic ideas of how he can solve his problems.
He meets a grown-up Felix Salinger and together they try to resolve the problems surrounding Wassim and his family, which end up being interconnected with Felix's own history. As we experience the story, we also experience a lot of Felix's memories and revisit parts of the Once story.
The one reservation I have with Morris Gleitzman's books generally is that the protagonist often has the same voice. There is very little to differentiate Wassim from the young Felix (or Ludo, or any of the others). This can lead to a feeling of "here we go again".
I am glad I read this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as others in the series. It felt a lot more unbelievable and some parts had a strange tone. However, fans of the series will enjoy reading it and will achieve some resolution.
Anyway, I was excited to get this, the latest in the series. In Always we meet Wassim, a boy from an unnamed Eastern European country whose family is in deep trouble. In true Gleitzman fashion, Wassim is a young, hopeful, innocent boy with crazy, unrealistic ideas of how he can solve his problems.
He meets a grown-up Felix Salinger and together they try to resolve the problems surrounding Wassim and his family, which end up being interconnected with Felix's own history. As we experience the story, we also experience a lot of Felix's memories and revisit parts of the Once story.
The one reservation I have with Morris Gleitzman's books generally is that the protagonist often has the same voice. There is very little to differentiate Wassim from the young Felix (or Ludo, or any of the others). This can lead to a feeling of "here we go again".
I am glad I read this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as others in the series. It felt a lot more unbelievable and some parts had a strange tone. However, fans of the series will enjoy reading it and will achieve some resolution.
December 20, 2021
Trigger warnings: Holocaust, death of a friend, death of a parent (in the past), antisemitism, racism, racial slurs.
4.5 stars.
This has been a long time coming, and I was really excited when I first heard about it because this brings the story full circle, with Felix's return to Europe. And I wasn't quite sure how I felt about having an 80-something year old man narrating a middle grade book. But it turned out to be a split narration with a precocious boy named Wassim. And through Wassim, Gleitzman also brings the series full circle in discussing the prevalence of racism and the rise of fascism in the modern world.
Wassim was an absolute joy from start to finish. Felix returning to Europe was heartbreaking and also full of nods to the previous books for long time readers. Ultimately, I cried far more than I expected to. It's a very fitting end to the series and I'm so glad we got to finally see how Felix's story ends.
4.5 stars.
This has been a long time coming, and I was really excited when I first heard about it because this brings the story full circle, with Felix's return to Europe. And I wasn't quite sure how I felt about having an 80-something year old man narrating a middle grade book. But it turned out to be a split narration with a precocious boy named Wassim. And through Wassim, Gleitzman also brings the series full circle in discussing the prevalence of racism and the rise of fascism in the modern world.
Wassim was an absolute joy from start to finish. Felix returning to Europe was heartbreaking and also full of nods to the previous books for long time readers. Ultimately, I cried far more than I expected to. It's a very fitting end to the series and I'm so glad we got to finally see how Felix's story ends.
January 7, 2022
A nice ending to a great series.
July 27, 2022
This whole series has been written beautifully while tackling a really horrible period in our history. It is so accessible to all ages giving them an insight into the horrors of the Holocaust without giving them nightmares. I devoured this in a couple of hours and found it a perfect finishing point to Felix’s journey. My only comment is that some of the situations in the story, as an adult, you think ‘as if that would happen like that or as easily as that’. However, it is a series that, as a librarian, I will continue to recommend to students of all ages again and again.
September 4, 2023
Rating: 3 stars
I read this book solely because I wanted to finish the series. When I was reading the previous books, several years ago, there were only six books in the series. Then Morris Gleitzman sprung this surprise seventh book on us! Anyway, Always was good, perhaps not as strong as the original stories of Felix and Zelda during WWII, but that might just be personal preference.
I read this book solely because I wanted to finish the series. When I was reading the previous books, several years ago, there were only six books in the series. Then Morris Gleitzman sprung this surprise seventh book on us! Anyway, Always was good, perhaps not as strong as the original stories of Felix and Zelda during WWII, but that might just be personal preference.
December 17, 2022
SO INSANELY GOOD AND AN AMAZING FINISH TO THE SERIES. Even just 25 pages in, I was sobbing. And I cried at the end too. So so beautiful and I love it so much. Thanks Morris for an amazing series. 100/10 must read.
August 29, 2023
Gostei muito dos primeiros livros desta saga que começou quando o Felix tinha apenas 10 anos e era um judeu órfão a escapar aos nazis em plena segunda guerra mundial. Depois vimos o Felix se juntar à resistência e fomos acompanhando todo o seu percurso durante a guerra. Um dos livros da saga é já com o Felix idoso e com uma neta. A sua casa arde nuns incêndios na Austrália. Por acaso até gostei muito desse livro.
Em "Sempre" o Felix já tem 87 anos e voltam a acontecer tragédias na sua vida. Há uma criança de raça negra que sofre nas mãos de um grupo racista e decide pedir ajuda ao Felix.
Achei que este livro foi uma continuação da saga desnecessária e forçada, que não acompanhou a qualidade dos primeiros livros.
Queria ter gostado mais desta leitura, mas não foi isso que aconteceu.
Em "Sempre" o Felix já tem 87 anos e voltam a acontecer tragédias na sua vida. Há uma criança de raça negra que sofre nas mãos de um grupo racista e decide pedir ajuda ao Felix.
Achei que este livro foi uma continuação da saga desnecessária e forçada, que não acompanhou a qualidade dos primeiros livros.
Queria ter gostado mais desta leitura, mas não foi isso que aconteceu.
December 28, 2021
Goodbye Felix 😢👋
March 5, 2022
I read this seven book series over the last year with my 10 and 12 year old nieces. Always is a worthy finale to both the series and Felix, our protagonist. What I appreciate most about the books is that they manage to be realistic about the atrocities and injustices in the world while still conveying positive themes about loyalty, problem solving, and working for good.
June 27, 2022
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
September 25, 2022
don’t mind me, just once again, sobbing over a children’s book
April 18, 2024
The best end to this family of books.
April 2, 2022
And here come the tears again ...
So sad that the journey is over😞
Highly recommend this series!
So sad that the journey is over😞
Highly recommend this series!
November 27, 2021
Even though this book is quite sad it is a really exciting adventure to go on. This series is worth reading because it is what happened in the past and it is important to learn about our past so that we don’t make the same mistakes in our lives. It is also very realistic. I give it a 5 out of five stars because it was amazing, definitely worth reading if you are looking for a historical fiction series. My favourite book in this series was the last book.
November 10, 2020
TW: judeophobia, violence
November 1, 2021
Felix is now in his 80’s, living a quiet live with his dog Jumble after an astounding career as a surgeon in Australia. His grandaughter Zel has just left for Syria to begin work as a Doctor herself and he’s missing her already.
At four thirty one morning, Felix hears someone in his backyard and then a hammering on his door. He opens it to see a stranger – a boy of ten years old called Wassim.
This boy asks him his name, making sure his trip from Eastern Europe has found the man he is looking for. Felix’s career and story has been in the Australian newspapers allowing Wassim to track him down on the internet. He passes Felix a note.
Dear Wassim
Your life won’t be easy. And I won’t be there to help you. So if you’re ever in big trouble, see a man called Wilhem Nowak. He’ll help you because of what I gave him at Speerkopf.
Good luck, from Grandpa Amon
Felix is sent back in time in his head for a moment. Wilhem Nowak was his alias in Poland when he was a child hiding from the Germans. Amon Kurtz was a Hitler Youth boy who befriended him over a love of books.
Felix soon learns that Wassim and his Uncle Otto travelled to Australia to avoid a vicious gang of thugs called the The Iron Weasels. They have made Wassim’s life difficult due to his dark skin and their hold over his Uncle. Uncle Otto has returned home alone and Wassim is worried for him.
When another message reaches Felix, this time by text, he knows he must try and help this young boy, just as others helped him at the same age nearly 70 years before.
He never imagined the same hate and prejudice that he faced back then would still be so rabid now. But just as the text came from someone decades before, another surprising message has been with Felix since he lost Zelda that terrible day. Can it defeat today’s monsters?
The final book in the hugely popular Felix and Zelda series, Always completes Felix’s life journey. As in the previous 6 books in the series Once, Then, After, Soon, Maybe, Now, each chapter begins with the word Always.
These opening sentences are often motto’s of Wassim’s learnt from his parents and uncle. Uncle Otto is a mechanic and entertaining car references are peppered throughout the story. eg. ….stop my worry cylinders from blowing a gasket.
Although the constant menace of a vicious gang hangs over the story, Wassim’s never-ending hope and optimism for something better, strikes a chord in Felix. Memories are stirred up, his losses sharp and raw all these years later, all the while as Wassim is etched into his heart.
As always, Gleitzman doesn’t sugarcoat the story, but tells it as it is. The gang behavior is confronting but no more than the rest of the series which children take in their stride.
Note: The original order of the series was:
Once 2005, Then 2008, Now 2010, After 2012, Soon 2015, Maybe 2017, Always 2021.
At four thirty one morning, Felix hears someone in his backyard and then a hammering on his door. He opens it to see a stranger – a boy of ten years old called Wassim.
This boy asks him his name, making sure his trip from Eastern Europe has found the man he is looking for. Felix’s career and story has been in the Australian newspapers allowing Wassim to track him down on the internet. He passes Felix a note.
Dear Wassim
Your life won’t be easy. And I won’t be there to help you. So if you’re ever in big trouble, see a man called Wilhem Nowak. He’ll help you because of what I gave him at Speerkopf.
Good luck, from Grandpa Amon
Felix is sent back in time in his head for a moment. Wilhem Nowak was his alias in Poland when he was a child hiding from the Germans. Amon Kurtz was a Hitler Youth boy who befriended him over a love of books.
Felix soon learns that Wassim and his Uncle Otto travelled to Australia to avoid a vicious gang of thugs called the The Iron Weasels. They have made Wassim’s life difficult due to his dark skin and their hold over his Uncle. Uncle Otto has returned home alone and Wassim is worried for him.
When another message reaches Felix, this time by text, he knows he must try and help this young boy, just as others helped him at the same age nearly 70 years before.
He never imagined the same hate and prejudice that he faced back then would still be so rabid now. But just as the text came from someone decades before, another surprising message has been with Felix since he lost Zelda that terrible day. Can it defeat today’s monsters?
The final book in the hugely popular Felix and Zelda series, Always completes Felix’s life journey. As in the previous 6 books in the series Once, Then, After, Soon, Maybe, Now, each chapter begins with the word Always.
These opening sentences are often motto’s of Wassim’s learnt from his parents and uncle. Uncle Otto is a mechanic and entertaining car references are peppered throughout the story. eg. ….stop my worry cylinders from blowing a gasket.
Although the constant menace of a vicious gang hangs over the story, Wassim’s never-ending hope and optimism for something better, strikes a chord in Felix. Memories are stirred up, his losses sharp and raw all these years later, all the while as Wassim is etched into his heart.
As always, Gleitzman doesn’t sugarcoat the story, but tells it as it is. The gang behavior is confronting but no more than the rest of the series which children take in their stride.
Note: The original order of the series was:
Once 2005, Then 2008, Now 2010, After 2012, Soon 2015, Maybe 2017, Always 2021.
September 5, 2021
Gleitzman's 15+ year-long dedication to his "ONCE" series has reached his "long-wished-for-destination with a mixture of feelings" (Dear Reader notes). And, that is how I, too, have ended my attachment to Felix Salinger and the characters Gleitzman so lovingly created to bring his Holocaust saga to younger readers. As an older adult, I too was drawn into the magic of Gleitzman's age - appropriate storytelling and into the masterful way he brought together important stories of horror with visions of kindness, humanity and hope to younger readers who needed to learn what had happened during the Holocaust so that they could work towards a future that would not allow it to happen again.
It made sense that in this last instalment, Gleitzman brought a now 87 year old Felix into our present world of refugees striving for tolerance in Eastern Europe, still the heroic figure he was throughout his youth. The poignant relationship between Felix and a young African migrant boy mirrors the humanity and love that had always been part of Felix's life as a partisan, as a devoted friend, as a doctor, and as a grandfather. And, although I needed to suspend my disbelief to a greater extent than in the earlier novels, the fast-paced adventure of Felix and Wassim reflected Gleitzman's astute insight into what his younger readers would respond to and, ultimately, how he could tailor his important messages to them.
I had recently reread the six previous novels in preparation for the final publication and found his connections tight between each of them. Gleitzman had written in the Author's Notes of each novel that they do not have to be read in order. However, for the reader to truly access the strength of his
series, I think that they need to be read sequentially. And, especially in this novel, Gleitzman's references to Felix's earlier heroism and resilience, what ultimately brought Wassim to contact Felix for help, are that much clearer when the reader is familiar with the earlier novels.
Gleitzman has left an indelible mark on YA Literature with this series. Importantly, he has enriched Holocaust education for a younger audience without condescending or minimising its impact. Conversely, he treats his younger readers with great respect for what they are able to comprehend about a period in time that we all find incomprehensible.
It made sense that in this last instalment, Gleitzman brought a now 87 year old Felix into our present world of refugees striving for tolerance in Eastern Europe, still the heroic figure he was throughout his youth. The poignant relationship between Felix and a young African migrant boy mirrors the humanity and love that had always been part of Felix's life as a partisan, as a devoted friend, as a doctor, and as a grandfather. And, although I needed to suspend my disbelief to a greater extent than in the earlier novels, the fast-paced adventure of Felix and Wassim reflected Gleitzman's astute insight into what his younger readers would respond to and, ultimately, how he could tailor his important messages to them.
I had recently reread the six previous novels in preparation for the final publication and found his connections tight between each of them. Gleitzman had written in the Author's Notes of each novel that they do not have to be read in order. However, for the reader to truly access the strength of his
series, I think that they need to be read sequentially. And, especially in this novel, Gleitzman's references to Felix's earlier heroism and resilience, what ultimately brought Wassim to contact Felix for help, are that much clearer when the reader is familiar with the earlier novels.
Gleitzman has left an indelible mark on YA Literature with this series. Importantly, he has enriched Holocaust education for a younger audience without condescending or minimising its impact. Conversely, he treats his younger readers with great respect for what they are able to comprehend about a period in time that we all find incomprehensible.
June 26, 2022
CW: burning building, police corruption, dementia, animal cruelty, Nazis, gun violence, Nazi stuff, poisoning, inter-racial couple vs. Nazis, holocaust stuff, dead children, whyohwhy are Nazis even relevant today.. why!!?
In this final chapter in the story of Felix and Zelda, we see the twilight of the life of a man who has focused his time on Earth on helping others, and fostering Hope. Just as he is left to his own devices, with his beloved grand-daughter off to be a doctor in Syria, he is found by a brown-skinned boy who has escaped Eastern Europe where his family has been victimised by a criminal organisation of neo-Nazi thugs .
Listening to this author-narrated publication means that the author's note is quite a personal experience. Gleitzman explains his conscious decision to set action in a non-specific Eastern European nation, as the events portrayed could happen anywhere. (I notice that this also avoids the stigma of tarring one particular country, and also means that we are asked to confront bigotry and violence, wherever we find it.)
Parts of this story give me a real Indiana Jones vibe. Whereas previous stories included such things as hiding, escaping, blowing up a military facility, and fighting wildfires, this one has international commuting, following clues from artifacts and notes, meeting a celebrity, gunpoint negotiations, being followed, and trying to find Nazi-treasure.
A couple of big twists at the end of the tale are rewarding for those who love the poetry of ambiguity. As a fan of wordplay and prophecy stories the ending was not at all surprising, but still beautiful, grotesque and poignant.
In this final chapter in the story of Felix and Zelda, we see the twilight of the life of a man who has focused his time on Earth on helping others, and fostering Hope. Just as he is left to his own devices, with his beloved grand-daughter off to be a doctor in Syria, he is found by a brown-skinned boy who has escaped Eastern Europe where his family has been victimised by a criminal organisation of neo-Nazi thugs .
Listening to this author-narrated publication means that the author's note is quite a personal experience. Gleitzman explains his conscious decision to set action in a non-specific Eastern European nation, as the events portrayed could happen anywhere. (I notice that this also avoids the stigma of tarring one particular country, and also means that we are asked to confront bigotry and violence, wherever we find it.)
Parts of this story give me a real Indiana Jones vibe. Whereas previous stories included such things as hiding, escaping, blowing up a military facility, and fighting wildfires, this one has international commuting, following clues from artifacts and notes, meeting a celebrity, gunpoint negotiations, being followed, and trying to find Nazi-treasure.
A couple of big twists at the end of the tale are rewarding for those who love the poetry of ambiguity. As a fan of wordplay and prophecy stories the ending was not at all surprising, but still beautiful, grotesque and poignant.
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