The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

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 meetings results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.


Review:

I remember watching the movie adaption in 2011 and being absolutely moved. It was officially my new favourite film and I was adamant to get the book. And so I sat down, pleasantly enjoying the plot and the writing which we'll talk deeper about later. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Then the plot took me away.

The emotions I felt as the 8 year old me who read this book cannot be described. I admit that I did not fully understand Nazi Germany as I do know and since then I have re read the book enough times to fully understand the concept but at the time the whole controversy was a bit bizarre in my head but I knew this; there was a boy who met another boy who were on opposite sides of an army and yet found peace within each other in a time of chaos. 

I found myself so invested in these characters and especially 'at the time' the incredibly playful, curious protagonist Bruno, who inspired me to lead an adventure. I would always choose his side on an argument, always think he was right and always think his ideas were genius. Looking back I kind of despise him. So pestering and insistent and immature (much like my sister...Oh I get it, I'm Gretel). 

Shmuel was by far my favourite character. His innocence and kindness despite the hard times he'd been through made him so endearing. He was so oblivious to the fact that there was a war behind him and Boyne's great writing captivated this moral message perfectly.

The pacing was definitely fast, which was suitable. Bruno was always up to something and his constant outings to feed Shmuel or to find the camp made the book so much more interesting, especially when he got caught, the intensity really flared.

 At such a young age reading such a dark book, I didn't understand the seriousness of the text that Boyne had created. However, looking back I realise that his work had been what revolutionised me as a person, learning about equality, rights and freedom, something that needs to be taught at a young age.

In conclusion, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was an insightful, moral compassed read that will surely impact me for life. John Boyne poignantly wrote how human beings are equals and a simple thing like discrimination and judgement can turn the tables of society.