The Boy in the Striped Pajamas [Audio CD]

 

 

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Story Description:

Random House Children's Books | October 23, 2007 | Trade Paperback

Berlin 1942.

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

My Review:

Bruno is nine-years-old when he arrives home from school one day to find the maid, Maria packing up the belongings in his room. He becomes very upset and demands to know what is going on when his mother comes into the room and asks him to meet her downstairs in the dining room. Bruno is so anxious that he speeds past his mother and his waiting for her downstairs before she even has a chance to step off the first stair. She tells Bruno that his father has received an important promotion and they must leave Berlin and move to another city and live in another house. Bruno, of course, is quite upset as he doesn't want to leave his beloved home nor his three best friends. His mother assures him that things will be alright and that the whole family including: Bruno; his twelve-year-old sister, Gretel; their father; the maid, Maria; the butler, Lars; and Cook will all be moving together.

When they arrive at the new house Bruno is very disappointed as it sat almost in the middle of nowhere with no other homes nearby nor markets or stores. All Bruno can see from the window of his new bedroom is a fence with barbed wire on top, some huts in the distance, and older men, younger men, and boys all wearing the same grey striped pajamas and grey striped cap with soldiers watching them. He doesn't even know what his father's job is.

What is this place and what could possibly be his father's job working with all these dirty, filthy people all dressed the same? He wants to be an explorer so decides to go for a walk. He follows the fence along for quite a distance until he comes to a piece of fencing where he sees a small boy. The boy approaches the fence and he and Bruno and make introductions and begin talking. The boy's name is Shmuel, he is the same age as Bruno and even shares the same birthday. During an entire year, naïve Bruno brings his new friend bread, cheese and cake most days as the boy doesn't have enough to eat.

One day Bruno is told by his father that his mother, Gretel and Bruno will be returning to Berlin while he stays and continues working at the same job. He tells Bruno that it is no place to raise children and he'd be much happier back in Berlin. Bruno is devastated, he doesn't want to go back to Berlin now because he doesn't want to leave Shmuel but they plan to have a last day together like no other bringing the story to a crashing end! I was totally taken aback at the ending and didn't expect it at all.

John Boyne has written a book about nine-year-olds that isn't for nine-year-olds as it says on the back cover of the novel. Don't miss this one people, it'll surprise you and break your heart so have some kleenex standing by. Beautifully and hauntingly written.

I reommend this book highly. It should be compulsory reading for everyone. A poignant story of a nine year old boy whose father is the commandant for the German army and lives next to the concentration camp, but doesn't really know what it is or what his father's real job is. He meets a boy the same age from the concentration camp and is a heartrending story of their friendship and family situations.

Words cannot describe how amazing this book is. A short read, but it has a huge impact on the reader. I had to read the ending twice, because I just couldn't believe it. I was shocked, and stunned. It should be a compulsory read, especially for young adults. This book should go hand and hand with "Night" by Eli Weisel. I wish I could give in 10 stars because it really deserves it. My local book store has it on the "16 books you should read before you die" list. Honestly, you want a fast read that is simply amazing...GO BUY THIS BOOK!

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4.0 out of 5 stars A story anyone who was once nine can connect with.
This book doesn't just introduce you to Bruno, it arrests your mind and places you into his world. Written from the perspective of a naive nine year old boy, the book drew me back... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Eternal Decree

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching children about a great evil
It's difficult to know how to explain to a child some of the most disturbing events of the twentieth century. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Michael W. Perry

1.0 out of 5 stars Cliched, Wrong and Poorly Written
A terrible book. It is Poorly written and impossible to believe. It also perpetuates many Holocaust myths. It seems to be written by a young adult, not for them. Read more

Published on Jan 27 2010 by Kirk R. Jones

3.0 out of 5 stars Moving, But Not Great
Bruno is nine years old. He is distraught when his family must leave their house in Berlin ' his father has received a promotion, and will now be in charge of a place called... Read more

Published on Dec 29 2009 by K. Edwards

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Criticisms are True ... and That's Why the Book Works
All the criticisms are true, and that indeed is why the book works.

The holocaust as a backdrop to this story is almost inconsequential. Read more

Published on Sep 24 2009 by B. Breen

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Book is very simple to read. Very touching story without being too vulgar for its topic. Author explicitly did not use any of the words that touched on the subject but was able to... Read more

Published on Sep 22 2009 by Anne Tang

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
This is an excellent book shedding a different light on the Holocaust. Narrated by an omnicient narrator but told from the perspective of a nine year old boy, the innocence and... Read more

Published on July 22 2009 by J. Silver

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to Holocaust for young readers
A good book for initiating discussion on the Holocaust. I bought it for intermediate students at my school, but after reading it, think it would be suitable for younger kids as... Read more

Published on April 5 2009 by Yoyo Mama

5.0 out of 5 stars Short but great!
Short read but excellent. I first got this book because i saw a movie preview and thought it was a good story that would make a better book then movie. Read more

Published on Mar 3 2009 by Valerie Christie

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Story, not History.
The author presents a good story in a lucid well written manner. The writing style starts off a bit awkward in terms of setting the scene and character introduction, but picks up... Read more

Published on Nov 18 2008 by hungarianjedi

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