The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: A Fable. by John Boyne (Definitions) (original 2006; edition 2007)

Llibre de to ingenu, tot i la cruesa de les coses que s'expliquen.

Disturbing and heartbreaking - but in such a way that makes children understand and adults think. ( )

Very gripping and emotional book. Excellent writing. I believe an important book for everyone to read. ( )

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a strong but touching book about the holocaust.The main character in the book is a nine year old boy named Bruno,he attends school and lives in Berlin. Bruno doesn't seem to have much friends throughout the book until he explores his surroundings and comes across a fence where he discovers a boy that has no shoes and just a striped outfit. Bruno later finds out what the little boy is doing behind the fence after asking several questions to the little boy. When Bruno hears that the boys father is missing he goes on the other side of the fence and gets a pair of striped pajamas to blend in and later gets led into the gas chambers where he dies.

The author John Boyne has a powerful way of writing in this book. He makes you feel that this event is happening around you and he makes it emotional. i found this book to be well written but in some parts of the book i got confused. I do recommend this book to other 7th and 8th graders ( )

Holocaust dramas are always gut-wrenchingly sad and John Boyne's The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is no exception, but what makes the sadness of this novel sting long after the final page is turned is the fact that, while it still displays some of the darkest days in human history, it is shown through the wide, blue eyes of an innocent eight-year-old German boy, named Bruno.

The novel follows Bruno and his family as they move from a secure and wealthy life in Berlin to the forlorn and desolate Polish countryside where his SS Officer father has been promoted to commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp. Bruno, who wants to be an explorer, is immediately curious when he sees a 'farm' out of his bedroom window. However, he is forbidden from investigating further by his mother, who is well aware of who the 'strange' children are that Bruno wishes to play with.

Of course, being a precocious eight-year-old, Bruno ignores her and ventures through the woods where he comes across Schmuel, an eight-year-old Jewish boy, with whom he forms an intense friendship that is not hindered by racial prejudices and hatred, despite many attempts by Bruno's anti-Semitic tutor to convince him otherwise. The dramatic climax to this heart wrenching tale is nothing short of amazing and will leave audiences both astounded and devastated.

Bruno, being eight, has a very innocent and naive perception of the world; however, throughout the novel after many short, but poignant exchanges with Schmuel and Paval, Bruno begins to understand more about the world around him and his innocent view begins to change. Bruno is lied to by many people in his life and in a way Schmuel is one of them. He has already faced some of life's harshest realities, and in some ways protects Bruno from having to confront these issues. Although, there are still many occasions where Bruno portrays his innocence and does not seem to comprehend the severity of Schmuel’s situation.

As the novel is centred around Bruno’s subjective view of the world there are many events which take place that he may not observe or comprehend. In some cases this limits what can be said and what must be implied to the audience. Sometimes Bruno’s information can be wrong; it is up to the audience to work this out. This invites the audience to feel sympathy for Bruno, Schmuel, Paval and Bruno’s mother who are all, along with millions of others, victims of one of the darkest and most brutal times in human history.

Bruno’s world is filled with secrets and lies; he is lied to by his parents who are lying to each other and, most of all, to themselves. Bruno’s father is forced to keep secret the real purpose of the camp and Bruno’s mother seems to be unaware, or unwilling to admit to herself, what is actually happening at the camp.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is a masterpiece; it is gripping, heartbreaking and teaches audiences that sometimes the things that divide us can also unite us. Do yourself a favour once you finish reading this: eat some chocolate, grab some tissues and watch the movie. It is one of the best movie adaptations I have seen in a long time with a cast that brings this marvellous, haunting novel to life. ( )