Book Review: The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
March 13, 2008 by xxxegxxx
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Written by John Boyne
Reviewed by Emma
In fact everywhere he looked, all he could see was two different types of people: either happy, laughing, shouting soldiers in their uniforms or unhappy, crying people in their striped pajamas, most of whom seemed to be staring into space as if they were actually asleep.
“I don’t like it here,” said Bruno after a while.
“Neither do I,” said Shmuel.
–from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Out of all the Holocaust horror stories one hears, perhaps the worst are those told through the eyes of a child. Such is the story of nine-year-old Bruno, whose happy and privileged life in Berlin is uprooted when his father’s job as a commanding Nazi forces the family to move to a lonely house far from the city. Behind the house is a fence.
It is along this fence that, in search of an adventure, Bruno meets something he wants even more. At a gap in the fence, he finds a boy named Shmuel, and their secret friendship begins.
As such a young child, Bruno doesn’t fully understand what the Holocaust is, or why he and Shmuel are on opposite sides of the fence. Yet his simple account, with its hidden messages, is more powerful than many other Holocaust stories. And the last few pages will haunt you even after you have finished reading them.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a powerful, touching story of friendship. Anyone who’s interested in the Holocaust should definitely read it. Having a little bit of background knowledge about Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and World War II will help you understand the hidden meanings better, but either way this is still a great story.
You’ve got me curious! I wonder what the fence is about…and what you mean by “hidden messages.” Why is this book “more powerful than many other Holocaust stories?” It obviously touched you, and I wonder how and why?
Without giving away any of the secrets, is there a way to give us a few more clues about why the book is powerful?
I might put the opening quote from the book in italics, to set it off from the rest of your story.
Your writing is always clear and enjoyable, Emma.
Wow Emma I need to read this book. I don’t usually like historical books, you know the books that take place during the Holocaust, WWI, WWII, etc. But anyways this was great, you writing is really easy to understand and insperational.
This looks like a good book! I can’t wait to read it!