The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Who would like this book? If you’ve read The Diary of Anne Frank and are interested in how the events of the Holocaust affected the children in Germany, this book is a must-read. If you’re interested in the point of view in writing, this book is also a must-read.
Why? Bruno is nine years old, the privileged and naive son of a commandant in Hitler’s forces. Bruno refers to Hitler as “the Fury,” and is upset that after a visit from the Fury and his beautiful blond wife, their family must move from the large, lovely house in Berlin to a small, isolated house in Out-With. Slowly, the reader realizes the true location of this place that Bruno calls “Out-With,” and the reader also recognizes the identity of the hundreds of people in striped pajamas that Bruno can see from his bedroom window. Bruno, of course, has no idea about what is going on or what his father’s important job entails. Bruno is mainly concerned about his lack of friendship, and he goes on an adventure with the hope of finding a friend. He does find a friend, and what unfolds with this friendship moves with depth, honesty, and poignant simplicity toward a climax that reveals the truth of the situation. This selection is a 2008-2009 YRCA nominee in the Intermediate Division; it would also fit in the Senior Division and be a worthwhile read for adults.
The details: 224 p. 2006