Now
🔥🚒💔🩺
by Morris Gleitzman
★★★★★
Review
Written by the same author as Once, Now is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone story. Morris Gleitzman deliberately separates the timelines between books, making this a great entry point for new readers without giving away spoilers from the earlier stories.
Although the jump from World War II to present-day Australia was unexpected, Now is just as gripping as the previous books. Zelda’s narration is heartfelt and honest, capturing the same emotional depth that made Once so powerful. I especially loved seeing how Felix’s life had unfolded after escaping the horrors of his childhood, while also being drawn into the intense and devastating reality of the bushfires.
This book is filled with shocking moments, some of which were truly heartbreaking. It also has a few gruesome details that might make more squeamish readers squirm!
I would highly recommend Now for readers who are interested in learning about Australia or the impact of bushfires on the environment and communities. It’s an unforgettable story of resilience, survival, and the lasting effects of history—one that will stay with me for a long time.
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At a glance
Author: Morris Gleitzman
Cover artist: various
Release Date: 6th May 2010
Book type: Short chapter, 176 pages
Reader level: Confident reader (10+, sensitive content), Shared read 10+
Overview
Set in modern-day Australia, Now follows Zelda, a young girl who moves in with her grandfather, Felix (the same Felix from Once), while her doctor parents work abroad. But settling into her new life isn’t easy—she quickly becomes a target for bullies, and at the same time, Felix’s painful past begins to resurface. Meanwhile, Australia is facing one of its worst bushfire disasters in history, and Zelda and Felix find themselves in a race against time to protect the people, animals, and memories they hold dear.
Should I read this book?
You should read this book if you...
are interested in natural disasters
like books set in Australia
aren't squeamish!
Reader level: Growing
Content: 9+
Help me to read
- Australia - One of the most multicultural countries in the world
- Bushfire - a fire that starts and spreads through forests and bushland
- Surgeon - someone who performs surgery on patients
- Holocaust - the murder of groups of people, including Jewish people, by Hitler during WW2.
- Locket - a necklace which can hold small pictures
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