Young Quills reviews

1. This book is the 4th published in a series about Felix, a Jewish boy in the Second World War. All of the books in the series (the others are "Once," "Then" and "Now") are very poignantly written and outline the dangers of being a Jew in Europe during the years of Hitlers regime. At the start of the novel, Felix is living in a hotel in the ground under stable, in a farm of a Polish man, Gabriek, who has been protecting him for two years. As the plot develops, Felix discovers that Gabriek is in league with some people called partisans, who are fighting against Hitler and the Nazis. A lot of the book is about Felix's experiences with the partisans, with whom he works as a doctor's assistant. The partisans do many things to fight back, from blowing up trains to stealing food. They have very strict rules and those that do not follow them are shot.

Later in the novel, Felix befriends some boys from the Hitler Youth. This part of the books shows how all the young boys were forced to be in it, whether they wanted to or not. One of the boys comments how "Adolf Hitler has ruined my life."

The war ends during the novel in 1945, but Felix does not feel hugely overjoyed at this. He knows that people who have died will still be dead, people who have suffered will still have suffered and nothing will be the same again. Even through all his own suffering, Felix is always selfless, brave and full of hope. He is a brilliant character, and I think these books are excellent. They are simple but full of emotion, and I very much enjoyed reading them.

Reviewed by Emma

 

2. This book is about the holocaust and is coming from the point of view of a 13 year old Jewish boy called Felix. It's part of a series, Once, Then, Now and After. The story takes place in Poland where Felix is hiding from the Nazis with a man called Gabriek. When Gabriek is taken away, Felix follows and ends up on an adventure where he searches for food and weapons and most importantly, hurts the Nazis. Along the way, he makes some unlikely friends.

I liked this book and would definitely read the rest of the series if given the chance. It was really sad in some places, but it was also funny. I like the ending because it was sort of happy, but it was realistic. I also like how every chapter starts with the word After. I would definitely like to read the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Hanna Year 9

 

3. After is a book set in the Second World War and the fourth book in its series.  I like how every chapter starts with the word "After". The storyline moves on swiftly enough to avoid boredom and the description whisks you away into a world of grief and suspicion and tension.  I like the Doctor's quirky attitude and the maternal feelings of Felix to the other children.  It might have been better if I had read the previous books.

8/10.

 

4. After was a very interesting story about a Jewish boy, Felix's life in Nazi occupied Poland during the last year of the war, 1945. Although it is a mainly fictional story there are very accurate references to the history during 1945. The story shows both Hitler Youth boys and Jewish children working together to defeat Hitler who ruined their lives. After gives you the view of some Nazi children as well to see an originally different perspective. I also learnt something new during After, which was about Partisans who fought the Nazis in the forests by attacking them and had to stay very hidden.

I thought After was definitely a very good book to read both funny and touching; it had an interesting storyline with accurate historical detail and taught me something new about WW2 which I didn't know before.

Reviewed by Richa

 

5. I really enjoyed reading this book as it was written in the point of a young Jewish boy called Felix. In this part of the Felix's story he faces the greatest challenges he has ever faced, as he is alone and has almost lost everything including his parents. He is helped by a new friend, but sadly loses her too. I really enjoyed the end as Felix survives the Holocaust. I would recommend this book to children ages 10 - 13 but not to people who don't like horror or historical genres, as there are some violent scenes in the book. I would rate this book 9 out of 10, as I thought the language was a bit too easy to read, and I also think that there was history in this book as it was based on the World War 2.

Reviewed by Sharukaa

 

6. Set in Poland and Germany, in world war two, it concentrates on Jewish and Nazis clashes. I read lots of books like this, so it didn't really teach me anything about the war, but it brings its own touch to history.

After describes the moving tale of a Jewish boy, whose parents were taken to a concentration camp. He is looked after by a man called Gabriek, who is a partisan (against the Nazis) but when the barn and house get burned, by the Nazis, can they survive together? Morris seems to kill off most of his characters; maybe this was to make an impression about the war. The ending was not what I expected as I thought there would be a happier ending.

I liked Felix, but it took me quite a while to work out he was a boy. Felix narrated the book with feelings and truth.

I loved this book, because it made me cry and when books make me cry, I know they are good! Also, I love war books. I would recommend it to a friend. Shame I read the last book first, but I think I might read the series anyway.  It was the right level, as it wasn't too heavy and it kept me turning the pages. I was up after my bedtime, sometimes, just to get to the end of the chapter. I would mark it 9.5/10.

Reviewed by Vicky