Well written and well researched.. - Rated 
although i felt it went a bit beyond the boundaries as it covers almost every aspect of suffering imaginable during world war 2. One small book should not contain such an immense amount of heartbreak, there is only so much we can take in one sitting. This book is meant to break your heart - and it manages it - over and over and over again. I do recommend it, it is a great little book, but be prepared to cry - a lot.
Once - Morris Gleitzman - Rated
I came to this book almost directly after reading The Book Thief and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and this book is definetly a recommendation for anyone who liked those books.
Similar to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in many ways, in that the story comes from the view point of a young boy in WWII - different in so much as Felix is a Polish Jew whereas Bruno was a child of a German Officer - but both short books play on the innocence of youth, and gives a heartwarming, moving and tragic story of war from the childs perceptives.
Clearly a childs book, and could be read in one sitting easy enough, that shouldn't be a deterrent as this is an enjoyable book and one which will bring about many a tear and thoughts from many an adult. Thought provoking insight into the war, and one which schools could do well to pick up on as would make an excellent insight into the War for Children. Well worth reading, and if you haven't check out the other books mentioned in this brief review.
Moving and believable - Rated
This was another special book by Morris Gleitzman. I always find that you can read his books quickly and they are easy to read, but they always have depth and a proper story and they always leave you thinking for ages afterwards.
This is a book about a boy called Felix who runs away from the orphanage that he is at during WW2. It is his tale of survival with the people that he meets along the way. The ending is sad. Possiby one of the saddest I have ever read. I was desperate to read it so I finished it during an English lesson at school and I was trying not to cry during the lesson!
A moving and uplifting introduction to the holocaust - Rated 
'Once' is one of the most moving, emotional and entertaining books I've read in a long time. It's about a 9-year-old Jewish boy who's in a Catholic orphanage, believing that his parents are off sorting out their bookselling business and will be back for him any minute. All the evidence points to his parents being dead, but the boy thinks up more and more elaborate (and humorous) explanations for his circumstances, and stays cheerful, because he 'knows' his parents are coming back for him soon. He runs away to find them and finds Nazis clearing the people out of his town and killing people. Even while the boy is trying to make sense of the horrific things he sees, the story remains uplifting, and there is humour in the most dire of circumstances.
Fantastic children's book that adults should read!! - Rated
My 10 year old read this book in two days and loved it. It's written in very simple language from the viewpoint of a young Jewish boy in Poland in 1942 who is trying to find his parents. The plot is simple but riveting and unusually is written in the present tense. For my son, the story was paramount and although the subject matter is harrowing for an adult, children seem to be able to detach themselves. When I read the book, I couldn't put it down!! It brilliantly captures the thinking of small boy in a frightening, violent world, and charts his journey from endearing naivety to crushing realisation of the truth. The book also highlights the humanity and resilience of the time without ever sentimentalising. The ending is very cleverly done, its ambiguity allowing the reader to complete their own story. For me, this was one of those books that leaves you thoughtful for days and has a profound effect, you feel that the subject matter will never be the same again! An exciting, thought-provoking read for children, a harrowing, but uplifting read for adults and a great book to discuss with your children after you've both read it.
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