The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

ISBN: 978-0-385-75106-3
David Fickling Books, NY
2006
216 pages

Plot Summary

Nine-year-old Bruno moves to Auschwitz during World War II because his father is a German officer. He is upset that he had to move away from his grandparents and friends and doesn't understand they are living in a time of war. He befriends a boy his age, Shmuel, he is interned at Auschwitz. Shmuel is more realistic about the times they are living in but really neither boy understands the great dangers ... until it is too late.

Critical Evaluation

This is a powerful book - told from the point of view of a German boy living during the war - so a very different take on the Holocaust, and maybe even more frightening because of it. This book should be required reading alongside Anne Frank's diary. I did not forsee the tragic ending until a few pages before.

Reader's Annotation

Bruno, a nine-year-old German boy who is the Nazi officer in charge of Auschwitz, befriends Shmuel, a Polish boy his age who is interned there. The boys friendship crosses over cultural boundaries but cannot shelter them from the realities of war.

Author Info

John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971 and studied at both Trinity College in Dublin and the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He is the author of novels The Thief of Time, Crippen and The Congress of Rough Riders. He lives in Dublin.

Genre

YA realistic Holocaust novel

Curriculum Ties

Definitely can be used for world history or required reading lists.

Booktalking Ideas

1. Bruno meets Hitler and Eva Braun.

2. Bruno meets Shmuel for the first time.

Reading/ Interest Level

middle school through adult for both - the book even has a caveat on the jacket that this is a book about 9-year-olds but not for nine-year-olds.

Challenge Issues

The author was surprised that some people thought the book was too sad! That was his point - to jar people into reality.

Excellent depiction of the horrible realities of war and the fact that it should not be read by children younger than about 12 or 13. Good book for parents and teens to read together and discuss.

Why I Included This Book

There was a lot of buzz about this book - unusual protagonist - excellent for high school and learning about the holocaust.