The fourth book in Morris Gleitzmann’s series about Felix, After focuses on Felix’s experiences in 1945 during the final months of World War II.
I’m liking
In many ways, Felix is an authentic 13 year old – he’s idiosyncratic and wavers between self-absorbed and heroic. His voice is clear and Gleitzmann has obviously developed Felix’s personality over a number of years..
Although World War II fiction is a well-travelled genre for young people, this book does not feel derivative. Set in Poland and partly centered around partisan resistance fighters, the book is not your usual ‘hide-and-run’ World War II story.
Things that made me go hmmmm
Although Felix is 13, I did feel like the voice was more that of a slightly younger child. Perhaps this is a reflection of Felix’s recent isolation but there was a particular naivety to the voice that didn’t quite ring true to me, given his experiences.
***Spoiler Alert***
At the end of the book, Felix is briefly reunited with his mother, who has been in a camp. Sadly, she dies moments after he finds her. I found this moment both highly moving (I confess that I shed a few tears) but also a bit contrived – the nature of their reunion seemed just too fortuitous given all that had occurred. Still – it was a very emotional scene in the book.
The conclusion
Gleitzmann is a legend in children’s fiction and After is another great piece of work. I can see this as being the kind of book that teachers recommend to keen readers and the male protagonist would make it a good book for young male readers.
