The Boy in the Striped Pajamas A Fable

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com What an incredible story! John Boyne has created innocent, naïve Bruno and given him a powerful story to tell. This moving book should be required reading for everyone. Set in the 1940's in Berlin, Germany, the story centers around a nine-year-old German boy named Bruno. His family leaves Berlin to move to...more

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com What an incredible story! John Boyne has created innocent, naïve Bruno and given him a powerful story to tell. This moving book should be required reading for everyone. Set in the 1940's in Berlin, Germany, the story centers around a nine-year-old German boy named Bruno. His family leaves Berlin to move to the country because his father has been reassigned by the "Fury." Bruno's youth and innocence has protected him from the harsh realities of Hilter and his reign of terror. Life in the country is dull and boring for Bruno. He doesn't understand his new home, "Out-With." He's left his friends behind and doesn't like the smaller house he's forced to live in with his parents and his sister. Missing the hustle and bustle of the city, Bruno begins to explore his new surroundings. Beyond the fence near his house, he sees people, but is confused by their strange striped pajamas and their sad demeanor. Bruno's loneliness is somewhat relieved when he becomes friends with a boy on the other side of the fence. They meet daily and exchange comments about their daily lives, but neither fully understands the circumstances of the other. Boyne presents a story about the Holocaust like none other before. He brings tragedy to life through the eyes of innocent children. Readers of all ages will be spellbound until the last page and beyond.   hide

This book was an xmas gift from my oldest, younger sister. What treat and a surprise. If you don't know the feeling of being a little boy growing up in a forbidding palce this book will sort you out. I really couldn't put this down. I bever watched the movie cause the book was emotional enough for me.

A very good book...all people should read this book as a reminder of the worlds heritage we are a part of...

Wow, what a story. It's hard to imagine Nazi Germany from such a naive place except in this book. Bruno is a kid who's father is a commandant in Nazi Germany and is sent, with his family, to oversee Aushwitz. Bruno neither gets explainations for anything nor does he ask obvious questions and so maintains innocence. In true kid fashion he doesn't "see" differences in people...more

Wow, what a story. It's hard to imagine Nazi Germany from such a naive place except in this book. Bruno is a kid who's father is a commandant in Nazi Germany and is sent, with his family, to oversee Aushwitz. Bruno neither gets explainations for anything nor does he ask obvious questions and so maintains innocence. In true kid fashion he doesn't "see" differences in people (in the case religion).   hide