INF330 | Professional Development Blog – Censorship | 3 min read

“Everybody deserves to have something good in their life. At least once”
― Morris Gleitzman, Once

Censorship is a problematic and complex topic for our society but is especially fractious regarding library media and children. Censorship can be described as a government or an organization preventing people from consuming content that may by deemed harmful or dangerous (Fitzsimmons, 1945). Historically notable is World War II’s book burning, a mass burning of books that were considered ‘un-German’ based on political and moral grounds. Germany’s book burnings were a powerful statement and symbol of Nazi intolerance and censorship (Holocaust Encyclopedia, 2021).

‘Once’, is an excellent book unafraid of describing the harrowing events of World War II and Hitler’s heinous reign. Written by popular children’s author Morris Gleitzman, Once is a popular book that is unafraid to explore dark themes and censorship through children’s literature. Set in World War II the novel follows the tale of a Jewish child named Felix, who adventures from his catholic orphanage in a quest to find his book-keeper parents after witnessing the Nazi book burnings (Gleitzman, 2017). The story sends Felix across Poland as he meets many different people all with their own morals, good and bad. Likewise, it is a rare and daring narrative that is not afraid to retell the events of the war and the holocaust.

I first discovered this book during a class reading as a child, it was the beginning of a deep love for dark themes and World War II’s book burnings. After being read a few paragraphs I had immediately taken the opportunity to loan and read all the books available at my school library. Now as an adult I realize that the themes were darker than anticipated, and after re-reading all the series I now understand the complex adult themes presented daringly and thrillingly through children’s literature. Felix’s adventure through World War II is both heart-breaking and encaptivating, death is not an unwelcomed concept and characters are realistic and genuine.

The 2005 novel is followed by six sequels: Then, Now, After, Soon, Maybe and Always. Each book continuing Felix’s journey and survival against World War II. Gleitzman’s storytelling is brief, addictive and written exceptionally well. The Once series does not always have a comforting end and is an excellent choice for young readers seeking mature themes. I highly recommend this book for young readers and young adults alike, as it still stands as an excellent series even after sixteen years. Harrowing but well written and an excellent choice for all types of readers looking to read about World War II and the Holocaust.

5/5. An addictive and harrowing children’s narrative centred on censorship and World War II.

References
Fitzsimmons, R. (1945). Censorship intellectual freedom librarianship and the democratic state. Libraries books ideology during the
second World War. Lativa, Riga. https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/faife/lectures-papers/fitz96.pdf

Gleitzman, M. (2017). Once. Puffin Books https://morrisgleitzman.com/once.htm

Holocaust Encyclopaedia. (2021) Book burning. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/book-burning