I made the decision to read this book as a friend informed me that, in certain aspects, it reminded her of my novel, ‘Hitler and Mars Bars’. Thus, I was eager to discover what she meant by that.

The most evident similarity is that the protagonist in each book is a German boy who gets embroiled in the events of the Second World War.

Both books are written in a simple yet effective and moving style. Unlike my own work, Boyne’s novel is entirely unembellished. Nevertheless, it manages to capture the character’s emotions and the situation he finds himself in. Even though the reading level is elementary, the narration sucks you into the story. It doesn’t have to be overly complex as, with just a few words written plainly, he makes you care deeply about what happens to the characters.

Some reviewers have criticized Boyne’s main character, Bruno, claiming he is too naïve for his age. Bruno might be an exaggeration of a sheltered, middle-class child or perhaps he is typical of a child raised in a more innocent era. But, in either case, his naivety and his responses to events add a touch of poignancy to the story. His guileless perspective presents the concentration camp, where the story is set, in a stark and unflinching manner.

In my book, my main character, Erich, develops a greater awareness of the world around him compared to Bruno, but the story is told over a more extended period. Bruno doesn’t have the opportunity to learn and grow.

Even though Bruno is young and naïve, he forms a strong, caring friendship with Shmuel, a boy in the concentration camp. Friendship and human bonds are the central theme of the book. Unnecessary details are stripped away so that the friendship and interaction between the two boys are brought into sharp focus.

What impressed me the most about The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is the powerful ending. I wasn’t anticipating the twist the story took and was shocked when I reached the conclusion. Usually, I don’t prefer sad or disturbing endings, and maybe that’s why my novel ends on a hopeful note. However, such a raw, horrific ending was the perfect choice for this story. This book will make you pause and reflect. It offers a completely different perspective from which to view the Second World War, and Boyne has executed it masterfully.

Before the film, the stage play, and now the ballet, there came the original novel.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is a truly challenging story. At times, it is difficult to read due to its subject matter and the way it is portrayed. However, it is also a compellingly original, extremely well-conceived, and beautifully written book.

Without spoiling anything for those who haven't read it yet, this is the story of Bruno, a 9-year-old boy growing up in Germany during WWII. It is told from his very protected and naïve perspective, which is heartbreaking. While the film adaptation was good, it couldn't truly show us the story as seen through a child's all-too-believing eyes. As a result, it lacks the power and emotional impact that lies at the heart of this fine novel.

This is an excellent and important book that everyone should read. It offers a unique and poignant look at a dark period in history through the eyes of a child, making it a must-read for all.

How can one talk about Nazism, the Holocaust, and concentration camps without explicitly mentioning them?
Perhaps it was John Boyne's approach from the very beginning, based on protecting the recipient - who is assumed to be a child - which is both shocking and brutal. However, the truth is that the style he adopted stems from an original rationality, and the story he weaved for young readers is no longer a constraint on them.
I have always believed that when writing about major issues, about the inscriptions written in blood on the forehead of history, they should be dissected into details within the literary work, almost to the point of obsession, and this is what I found here.
John Boyne was excellent in representing the psychology of the child; the vulnerability, the uselessness, and his futile attempts to understand the world of adults, a world that he did not create but to which he is condemned to be one of its victims.
The work is so engaging that you finish it in one or two nights, tightly wrapped in a good way, and it is considered a successful model for those who wish to write a dramatic work without excessive drama, to write about violence without shedding a single drop of blood, and to write about history without getting bogged down in history.
Thanks to Ranim Al-Amri for the beautiful translation.

A heart-breaking and tragic historical fiction set during World War II.

We follow the story of a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. Bruno adores living in his magnificent house in Berlin. However, he is soon informed that his family has to relocate to a new house because of his Father's job. Once at the new house, Bruno quickly concludes that they were far better off living in Berlin. In Berlin, they didn't have large groups of people in striped pyjamas ruining their view from the window. He is strictly told that under no circumstances must he approach the fence that divides his family's garden from the dusty, barren land where the pyjama'd people reside. But don't children often have a propensity to disobey their parents' demands? Soon enough, Bruno makes a friend, a boy who lives just beyond the fence. What is happening to the people in the striped pyjamas? What will become of Bruno when his family discovers his secret friend beyond the fence?

I truly loved the subtle intensity of this book. Given that Bruno is a child, there are numerous things that he doesn't comprehend about his Father and the place they have moved to. He believes he is living in a place named 'out-with' - I'm certain you can now easily guess where his family has taken up residence. The horror and tragedy of this place, seen through innocent eyes, is executed fantastically - a real tear-jerker. It makes you think deeply about the atrocities of war and how they affect even the most innocent lives.

“And who decided which people wore the striped pajamas and which people wore the uniforms?”

Well, let's see. I have many issues with this book. First of all, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas tells the story of Bruno, a nine-year-old boy, the son of the great Commandant of Auschwitz during Hitler's regime in Nazi Germany, and how he meets and becomes friends with Shmuel, a Jewish boy who is inside the concentration camp.

My first problem is that throughout the book, I felt that the author portrayed Bruno as a stupid child. Many times, his attitudes are masked as innocence, but there is a limit to that. How is it possible that a nine-year-old boy, who has lived his whole life surrounded by SS soldiers and whose father is a great Nazi commander, doesn't know what "heil Hitler" means and confuses it with a friendly greeting? And that, coming from a family so close to the regime, he doesn't know what a Jew is? And what about those moments when he sees, through his window, how soldiers from the concentration camp shoot prisoners who fall to the ground, and in his mind he thinks "oh, they went to sleep"? And what about his inability to pronounce "Der Führer" correctly, even though it is repeated to him a thousand and one times and he sees it written, and still says it as "El Furias"? In short... it's all wrong.

And now, here comes my greatest indignation. I believe that if you want to write a novel that tells the horrors of the Holocaust and everything that happened during World War II, the least you can do is respect history and not take absurd liberties that can even be extremely offensive. I think historical novels should aim to make the contemporary public understand everything that happened, especially if you are writing something that is targeted at young people and children. I feel that if a child who has no idea about the Holocaust reads this book, he will finish it absolutely the same: not knowing anything about what happened during World War II.

For me, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is full of historical inconsistencies. First, it is physically impossible for Bruno and Shmuel to have met by the fence that marked the boundaries of Auschwitz. Why? The entire perimeter of the concentration camp was full of watchtowers, at fairly short distances, with soldiers constantly patrolling and trained to shoot first and ask questions later. Second, even if the two boys had managed to bypass security (which they didn't), it is impossible for them to have passed food, clothes, or even touched each other through the fences. Why? They were electrified! So even the incursion that ends in tragedy is impossible. No one could have passed through a "loose" piece of fence; they would have died before crossing to the other side. Third, even thinking that all that had happened, Shmuel could never have stolen a new uniform/pajamas for Bruno. All supplies were extremely well guarded. Fourth, in the book it is said that Shmuel has been in Auschwitz for approximately a year and a half and he is nine years old. Do you know what the Nazis did with most of the children under 13 years old who arrived? They killed them! They didn't survive for long. If they couldn't be useful and do heavy work, they got rid of them. It is extremely unlikely that a nine-year-old boy would survive so long in a concentration camp.

And you might tell me that it's a work of fiction. And yes, but it's a book based on real events, on a very real tragedy. And I don't think it's appropriate to "romanticize" and distort history in that way. I'm sorry, but no.

And okay, if The Boy in the Striped Pajamas left you with your heart in your hand, crying and reflecting on the cruelty of man, I might even overlook it... but I think it's the dullest and most emotionless book I've read in a long time. I'm being told the story of how a German boy became friends with a Jewish boy, found a way to enter the camp to play with him, and ended up locked in a gas chamber, but it could really be a normal day in a park. I don't know if it's the author's style, the translation, or what, but the narration is absolutely flat, the characters don't react, they don't transcend the pages. And when the great tragedy and the final discovery come, there is no explosion of nostalgia, loss, or any feeling at all.

I'm sorry, but at least the movie, with the same historical inconsistencies, was able to convey more emotions than this book.

A wonderful story that teaches you simply and from a child's perspective what war is and the terrible consequences it causes, everything that comes in its wake. It shows that hatred and discrimination are learned, while the value of friendship overcomes any obstacle and is given unconditionally. Bad acts always have to be paid for, sometimes at a very high price. It is a great lesson for all, undoubtedly unmissable.

This story takes you on a journey through the eyes of a child, allowing you to see the horror and destruction of war in a way that is both accessible and impactful. You witness the pain and suffering of those affected, and you understand the importance of friendship and kindness in the face of such adversity.

It also makes you realize that we have the power to choose love over hate, and that by doing so, we can make a positive difference in the world. This is a story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, and it is one that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

The story of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is truly a heart-wrenching one. \\n  “Very slowly he turned his head back to look at Shmuel, who wasn't crying anymore, merely staring at the floor and looking as if he was trying to convince his soul not to live inside his tiny body anymore, but to slip away and sail to the door and rise up into the sky, gliding through the clouds until it was very far away.''\\n

Nine-year-old Bruno has to leave his beloved home in Berlin and relocate with his family to a mysterious place called Out-With due to his father's new job. Bruno is extremely homesick and constantly wonders about the sad people in striped pyjamas he can see on the other side of the fence. One fateful day, he decides to embark on an adventure of exploration and meets Shmuel, who is sitting near the fence that separates the two worlds. They strike up a conversation, and as days pass by, Bruno's homesickness gradually disappears as they form a deep and beautiful friendship.

This is a story of childhood innocence that gets ensnared in the unforgiving grip of war. The simple words, effortless humor, and captivating narration of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" will fill you with a plethora of emotions. Although it is a work of fiction, the backdrop of the story, which is the real war and the Holocaust, adds a layer of darkness and poignancy. What makes the story even more touching is that it is told from a child's perspective. A child who is oblivious to the chaos and horror happening in the world around them, who befriends someone without any thought of their identity, religion, or race.

The book is written in such a beautiful and innocent way that it evokes a wide range of emotions within the reader. It is truly a wonderful piece of historical fiction that I highly recommend.

A powerful concept, but very poorly written (even allowing for the young adult target audience) - and one of a tiny number of books I can think of that was better in the film version.

Plot

Bruno is 9 and lives in Berlin in 1943 with his parents and 12-year-old sister. They are wealthy and his father is an important soldier who is promoted to be the Commandant at Auschwitz. The trick of the story is that Bruno doesn't realise the horror of what goes on behind the barbed wire, where everyone wears striped pyjamas, even when he befriends a boy of the same age at a corner of the camp.

Although his father can be strict and distant, Bruno is unfailing in his trust in the goodness of his father. In the film, there was at least a gradual, if reluctant, dawning of doubt about his father and all he stood for, but that doesn't happen in the book; the themes of family, friendship and trust are barely touched on.

Implausible Ignorance

The main problem is that it's told from Bruno's viewpoint, and he is ridiculously naive and ignorant for the son of a senior Nazi. He hasn't heard of "the Fatherland", thinks the Fuhrer is called The Fury (throughout), that Auschwitz is called "Out With" and that "Heil Hitler" means "goodbye"! Yet we're meant to believe that he's the 9-year-old son of a senior Nazi! His father had clearly been neglecting his duty to train the next generation of Hitler youth. And anyway, the puns wouldn't work in German. What is even more insulting to readers is that Boyne has responded to this widespread point of criticism by saying that anyone who thinks the boy is too naive is denying the holocaust!

Other Flaws

* Surely some aspects of Schmuel's plight would have been glaringly obvious (emaciated, shorn hair, possibly lice-ridden, ragged clothes etc)?
* There are several stock phrases that are trotted out annoyingly often ("a Hopeless Case", "mouth in the shape of an O", "if he was honest as he always tried to be").
* They talk of miles not kilometres and feet not centimetres, which might not matter were the rest of it more realistic.
* Just occasionally, and completely out of character, Bruno talks in an unnaturally adult way.

It might have worked better if Bruno had been 5 or 6, but I suppose the target audience would have been less willing to read it, so the result is a book that isn't really suitable for any age group. What a waste.

Postscript 1

Arising from Kelly Hawkins' review, Boyne says that Bruno is representing that blindness and that when he goes to the fence and asks questions, he is representing the rest of us trying to understand the Holocaust. He also says that naivety and complacency were two of the main reasons the Holocaust occurred. However, I find this defence very unsatisfying as it doesn't address Bruno's specific ignorance of common words related to the Third Reich.

Postscript 2, October 2015

His new book has a similar title and another Nazi theme - with Hitler himself this time. I won't be reading that, but I suspect it will cause similar controversy.

Postscript 3

See this excellent review by a survivor of Nazi concentration camps. Boyne responded to some of the criticisms.

Postscript 4, 14 May 2017

In today's Sunday Times, the Prime Minister Theresa May was asked if her thinking had ever changed because of a novel. She replied that The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas brought home the absolute horror of the Holocaust. Hmmm.

I added this to my To-Read list when a couple of students requested it. Then Boy began to read it.

Whenever he put it down, I picked it up because Buno is the perfect narrator to pull any reader right in. His charm lies in his blissful ignorance, which makes it impossible not to adore him.

Part of me wished he could live in his bubble forever, shielded from the harsh realities of the world. While another part of me wanted to explain exactly what was going down, to open his eyes and make him understand.

However, no part of me properly anticipated how the story would end. I was completely caught off guard by the unexpected twists and turns that awaited.

The author's masterful storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what would become of Buno and the events that surrounded him. It was a reading experience that I will not soon forget.

I did enjoy this book, although perhaps not to the same extent as some others that I have read.

It delves into a gruesome and sad topic, yet it does so through the point of view of an innocent little boy. This is a great concept that has been expertly executed.

The author truly does a wonderful job in capturing the voice of the young boy. The language and syntax are that of an adult, but there are enough smatterings of the child's perceptions, reflections, and word choice to make it feel real and engaging.

Excellent work here. The author also has the skill to avoid overwhelming the reader with excessive descriptions or facts. Instead, a great deal of credit is given to the reader to understand and figure out what is happening.

For example, calling the man "The Fury" and using the term "The Out With" is an excellent display of creativity. This creativity is, in part, what held my interest throughout the story.

I will definitely be reading more by this author and would highly recommend this book to others.

David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson Series.

I have actually sat for five full minutes, just staring at a blank page, completely at a loss as to what to say about this book. Usually, words come easily to me, but not this time!

This book indeed delves into a very painful and shocking aspect of our history. There have been some criticisms regarding certain alterations to the true facts. However, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is clearly targeted at the younger end of the young adult spectrum, and thus the presentation needs to be rather simplistic. Boyne himself describes it as a fable, a fictional story with a moral, and I believe that's an apt description.

Writing from the perspective of the extremely naïve nine-year-old Bruno is highly effective. It makes the reader exert a bit more effort to understand the events. I had read several pages before it suddenly occurred to me that the Fury was the Fuhrer, but I was a bit quicker to identify Out With.

That ending is just so incredibly sad.

And then there's the final paragraph, which reads like something from a fairy tale, yet it's the complete opposite:

\\"And that's the end of the story about Bruno and his family. Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again. Not in this day and age.\\" It's a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion that leaves the reader with a lot to ponder.

I just completed reading “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” penned by John Boyne.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My mind, emotions, and heart are in a whirlwind. I have never wept as profusely while reading a book as I did with this one. It will take me days to process this. My heart feels as if it has been shattered into a million pieces.

This remarkable story has touched me in ways I could never have imagined. The innocence of the main characters and the harsh reality they face is truly heart-wrenching.

I find myself constantly thinking about the events in the book and the impact it has had on me. It has made me more aware of the atrocities of war and the importance of kindness and understanding.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotional read. It is a story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.