Okay..... Guys! This book has truly become one of my absolute favorite books of the year.

I fell in love with Bruno from the very beginning! The author, John Boyne, did an outstanding job. Every single scene that I read was like a vivid movie playing out in my mind.

Bruno was an amazing book character. His curiosity and innocence were so endearing. I also loved his sister Gretel. In fact, his whole family was amazing in their own unique ways. Bruno asked a lot of questions in this book, and it really reminded me of myself.

But....alas, the story took a turn that made me so sad.

WELL DONE JOHN BOYNE!!!!!! You managed to tug at my heartstrings and make me feel a whole range of emotions. (:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Controversial Novel

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has been the subject of much controversy. After being confronted with it multiple times, I finally decided to read it. I checked out the audio CDs and the book from the local library. My verdict was that it was good, except perhaps for the ending. I liked the novel as it didn't have to be strictly realistic, graphic, or abstract. The titular boy in the striped pajamas is a literary device that brings another reality into the protagonist's life, which is otherwise filled with ordinary concerns. The challenge is to get our minds above our daily worries. I wasn't sure if confronting death and mayhem or abstract ideas would have as much of an impact on today's children and teenagers. We need the art of the novelist for that. At first, I didn't like the ending because of the sudden switch in the literary device, but after a few days, I was okay with it as it went against cultural expectations. I also looked into the author's work and found that only this book had become a blockbuster. He had touched on something, and the book was a phenomenon, with attacks serving as publicity. I'm for free speech and against censorship. If you don't like a book, do better and make it about what you want to say. If you have to protest, consider going after Holocaust romance instead.

In the addendum of April 16, 2017, I framed the controversy over this book as one of power and free speech. I also discussed a related topic about teaching ten-year-olds. The controversy over what gets taught in public schools has long been a flashpoint. Last year, a teacher in the Atlanta metropolitan area used an interactive teaching method to teach about slavery, which led to a student complaining. The teacher was supported by her principal and fellow teachers, but the grandmother wasn't satisfied. I thought the education writer for The Atlanta Journa-Constitution was not objective in this case. The whole debate had become about the teacher's guilt based on who she was, rather than an exercise in reason. I don't know exactly what happened, but the outside specialist seemed to twist words to justify her conclusion. In this case, power was more clearly the issue than free speech, with the grandmother challenging the teacher's authority. We are asking teachers to teach difficult topics to ten-year-olds from a vulnerable position.

In the addendum of July 24, 2018, I mentioned a more nuanced discussion about the book. It's not just about whether it's reality- or fantasy-based but also whether the author is upfront about the difference. Ruth Franklin's article in The New Yorker discussed how children's books should deal with the Holocaust.