Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

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.

Paperback, 10th Anniversary Edition,

216 pages

 Published 2016 by Ember

 (first published January 5th 2006)

****

This review might be more of a spotlight, I am somewhat at a loss of what to say here. I probably shouldn't say that the ending is one that will stay with me for a long time (kinda like My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, but in that case, I wanted to throw the book across the room, here I just sat taken totally my surprise).  I read the author's book The Boy at the Top of the Mountain which made me a little apprehensive of starting this one. Where the Mountain had a bit more depth and drama into what was taking place Striped Pajamas had that air of mystery for anyone not familiar with the time, which would make sense for younger readers.

While some may find the writing juvenile and simple one must remember the target audience is children, with a subject matter that opens the door for discussion and a chance to talk about this dark period in history, which personally I feel by parent (vs teacher) who really knows what the child can handle at their age.

I will continue to read Boyne books, I like his writing style, his uniqueness and how he isn’t afraid to cross the line.