Maybe

  At least he’s got me.

  My name is Zelda too.

  This is our story.

  ‘Now is an edifying and tender, nuanced novel from an exceptionally compassionate author.’

  The Age

  ‘Gleitzman has a special way of seeing the world through the eyes of a child, and generations of readers are grateful to him for it.’

  West Australian

  ‘Gleitzman’s trademark fine balance of tragedy and comedy is as sure as ever.’

  The Guardian

  AFTER

  After the Nazis took my parents I was scared.

  After they killed my best friend I was angry.

  After they ruined my thirteenth birthday I was determined.

  To get to the forest.

  To join forces with Gabriek and Yuli.

  To be a family.

  To defeat the Nazis after all.

  ‘To say After is one of the finest children’s novels written in the past 25 years or so is no idle statement.’

  Saturday Age

  ‘At its heart, After is about love and we are edified by reading it.’

  Sydney Morning Herald

  ‘Morris Gleitzman is a writer who has moved generations of children . . . After does this and far more besides.’

  Hobart Mercury

  SOON

  I hoped that soon the Nazis would be defeated.

  And they were.

  I hoped that soon the war would be over.

  And it was.

  I hoped that soon we would be safe.

  But we aren’t.

  ‘An amazing story . . . it is Felix’s indomitable optimism that shines through . . . making us believe that trust, goodness and love will prevail.’

  Magpies

  ‘ . . . an awesomely epic adventure . . . It is the best book I have ever read!’

  The Guardian, young reviewer

  ‘ . . . unexpectedly beautiful in its balance of hope and despair.’

  Mostly Books

  ‘I’m crazy about this series. I recommend it to everyone I know – young, old, teachers and reluctant readers.’

  Goodreads

  BOOK OF THE YEAR – YOUNGER READERS

  CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS

  About the Author

  Morris Gleitzman grew up in England and came to Australia when he was sixteen. After university he worked for ten years as a screenwriter. Then he had a wonderful experience. He wrote a novel for young people. Now, after 39 books, he’s one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors.

  Visit Morris at his website:

  morrisgleitzman.com

  Also by Morris Gleitzman

  The Other Facts of Life

  Second Childhood

  Two Weeks with the Queen

  Misery Guts

  Worry Warts

  Puppy Fat

  Blabber Mouth

  Sticky Beak

  Gift of the Gab

  Belly Flop

  Water Wings

  Wicked! (with Paul Jennings)

  Deadly! (with Paul Jennings)

  Bumface

  Adults Only

  Teacher’s Pet

  Toad Rage

  Toad Heaven

  Toad Away

  Toad Surprise

  Toad Delight

  Boy Overboard

  Girl Underground

  Worm Story

  Aristotle’s Nostril

  Doubting Thomas

  Grace

  Too Small to Fail

  Extra Time

  Loyal Creatures

  Give Peas a Chance

  Pizza Cake

  Snot Chocolate

  Once

  Then

  After

  Soon

  Now

  VIKING

  UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia

  India | New Zealand | South Africa | China

  Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies

  whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

  First published by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2017

  Text copyright © Morris Gleitzman, 2017.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Cover and text design by Tony Palmer

  © Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Cover photography: boy – Lyn Randle/Trevillion Images; upper sunrise – Pavel Kilmenko/Shutterstock; lower sunrise – foxaon/Shutterstock; parachute – ScandinavianStock/Shutterstock; windmill – Rob d/Shutterstock; flight helmet – Michal Chmurski/Shutterstock

  Inside cover art: newspapers – Grafnata/Shutterstock;

  old paint peeling – Akarapong/Shutterstock

  penguin.com.au

  ISBN: 978-1-76014-259-9

  THE BEGINNING

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