Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
By John Boyne
Publication Date: January 1st, 2006 (David Fickling Books)
Hardcover, 218 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction; Holocaust; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

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 sense 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 named Shmuel whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

First Thoughts: I'm heartbroken, but that wasn't completely depressing.

Second Thoughts: If Bruno is suppose to be nine-years-old, why does he act like he's five? :(

Bruno is not simply "naive" or "ignorant"—he's stupid and self-centered, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think nine-year-olds could be this ignorant. Shmuel, the Jewish boy, is also pretty ignorant, and if there is one nine-year-old who acts like a six-year-old who should know what's going on, it's Shmuel. Still, I pitied him more than being annoyed, because of...well, you know. :(

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is written in a sort of fairy tale style way, which contrasts with the horrible facts of what happened during the Halocaust. And even though the story takes place during WWII, violence is never described. Because it is from Bruno's "naive" perspective, nothing is ever bluntly said about the violence, but it's mildly suggested: bruises, cuts, soldiers pushing Jewish children around and laughing, some of which the reader has to draw their own conclusion on.

Final Thoughts: What a beautiful and heartbreaking story about the bonds of friendship and the boarders it crosses.

RATING: