John Boyne’s first novel for young readers, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is a
gripping tale that will without doubt linger in your memory for a long time
after you read the last line.

Set during the time of the holocaust, it is the story of Bruno, a cheerful
German nine year old young boy living in a luxurious home in Berlin with his
parents and his 12 year old sister Gretel.

They receive an order from “the Fury” to move to a scaled down house in a remote
country. Unsurprisingly, Bruno is opposed to the idea of moving, as he will be
without his friends and his huge house. However, the Nazi Commandant, “a puppet
on a string”has to obey the “Fury’s” orders. And the family moves into a smaller
dwelling, next to a concentration camp.

Unfortunately, left behind are their grandparents, who participated with the
children in their playacting, helping them with their dress up costumes.

John Boyne has painted  Bruno’s and Gretel’s characters in bold tones while the
rest of the story is happening in a hushed grey background. Bruno and Gretel
know nothing of what’s happening in the camp behind the fence.  In fact, Bruno
believes that they have cafes and restaurants just like in Berlin. But when
Bruno asks his father, the Nazi Commandant: “Who are these people?” He answers
curtly “They are not people!”

Bruno and Gretel  and their mother live in an uneasy atmosphere to say the
least. Bruno senses that something is wrong so he does not divulge the fact that
he has befriended Schmuel, a little Jewish boy behind the fence.

Lonely Bruno often walks  to the fence to talk to  his friend Schmuel, an
emaciated Jewish little boy. He brings him food, sometimes eating part of it on
his way to the fence.  When Schmuel is brought to his house to help out with
cleaning Bruno’s mother crystal dainty glasses, Bruno denies knowing Schmuel. He
feels guilty and the next day goes back to the fence to apologize to Schmuel.
Bruno dresses up in a striped  pajamas and the boys go looking for Schmuel’s
father who has disappeared. However, they are swept into the gas chambers. The
Nazi parents are devastated. But who cares, “These are not people!

The author, John Boyne is a masterful storyteller, keeping a sustained suspense
throughout the story and concluding it with a heart wrenching ending. His
language is very simple and sometimes repetitive and his power of suggestion is
unbelievably powerful.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is certainly a very difficult story to be read by
young adults or adults for that matter. But the truth has to prevail and we have
to learn and discuss this dark period in our history.

I suggest that we send a copy of this book should be sent also to the Iranian
president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  and all the holocaust deniers.

 The above review was contributed by: Lily Azerad-Goldman: Artist:  CLICK TO VIEW

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