Shared Reading - Once - Morris Gleitzman

Chapter 1

1. ‘Once I was living in an orphanage in the mountains and I shouldn’t have been and I almost caused a riot.’ - What is the meaning of this sentence?

2. Describe your first impressions of Felix, Mother Minka and one other character introduced in the opening chapter (consider the traits they appear to possess and your response to meeting them).

3. What is the significance of the carrot and what are Felix’s plans for it?

4. Explore the theme - Living with others - how is this made explicit in this chapter?

5. Reflection: this question asks you to reflect on something inspired by that particular chapter. You are asked to reflect and analyse this, not in isolation but with the whole story in mind. Awareness of connections may enable a fresh perspective or interpretation of events - Hopes and Dreams. What sustains Felix? What “shelters” him at this point compared with mid-way through the story or at the conclusion of the novel?