Product Description

This story is set in 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 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 meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #878028 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-01
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–Boyne has written a sort of historical allegory–a spare, but vividly descriptive tale that clearly elucidates the atmosphere in Nazi Germany during the early 1940s that enabled the persecution of Eastern European Jews. Through the eyes of Bruno, a naive nine-year-old raised in a privileged household by strict parents whose expectations included good manners and unquestioning respect for parental authority, the author describes a visit from the Fury and the familys sudden move from Berlin to a place called Out-With in Poland. There, not 50 feet away, a high wire fence surrounds a huge dirt area of low huts and large square buildings. From his bedroom window, Bruno can see hundreds (maybe thousands) of people wearing striped pajamas and caps, and something made him feel very cold and unsafe. Uncertain of what his father actually does for a living, the boy is eager to discover the secret of the people on the other side. He follows the fence into the distance, where he meets Shmuel, a skinny, sad-looking Jewish resident who, amazingly, has his same birth date. Bruno shares his thoughts and feelings with Shmuel, some of his food, and his final day at Out-With, knowing instinctively that his father must never learn about this friendship. While only hinting at violence, blind hatred, and deplorable conditions, Boyne has included pointed examples of bullying and fearfulness. His combination of strong characterization and simple, honest narrative make this powerful and memorable tale a unique addition to Holocaust literature for those who already have some knowledge of Hitlers Final Solution.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
In this Holocaust novel, Bruno leaves his wonderful Berlin home with his parents because of "the fury." Boyne's depiction of time and place becomes real with Michael Maloney's characterization of this displaced 9-year-old, who rapidly goes from excited confusion to indignant anger. Maloney's narrative bits are a calm counterpoint to the bewilderment of the protagonist, who finds himself at "Off With," where he is surrounded by people dressed in striped pajamas. Maloney continues to dramatize Bruno's moods as he makes friends with a young prisoner and observes the cruelty of a controlling soldier. Making Bruno real is crucial to our acceptance of his innocent horror, essential to filling in all the author doesn't say, and necessary to establishing the emotional balance we need to hear this disturbing story. S.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. Some of the most thought-provoking Holocaust books are about bystanders, including those who say they did not know what was happening. This first novel tells the bystander story from the viewpoint of an innocent child. Bruno is nine when his family moves from their luxurious Berlin home to the country, where "the Fury" has appointed Bruno's father commandant. Lost and lonely, the child hates the upheaval, while his stern but kind father celebrates his success because he has learned to follow orders. Bruno can see a concentration camp in the distance, but he has no idea what is going on, even when he eventually meets and makes friends with Shmuel, a boy from Cracow, who lives on the other side of the camp fence. The boys meet every day. They even discover that they have the same birthday. It's all part of a poignant construct: Shmuel is Bruno's alternative self, and as the story builds to a horrifying climax, the innocent's experience brings home the unimaginable horror. Pair this with Anne Frank's classic diary and Anita Lobel's No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War (1998). Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Mrs. Q: Book Addict : Visit my blog for newest reviews.
Words cannot describe how amazing this book is. A short read, but it has a huge impact on the reader. I had to read the ending twice, because I just couldn't believe it. I was shocked, and stunned. It should be a compulsory read, especially for young adults. This book should go hand and hand with "Night" by Eli Weisel. I wish I could give in 10 stars because it really deserves it. My local book store has it on the "16 books you should read before you die" list. Honestly, you want a fast read that is simply amazing...GO BUY THIS BOOK!

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
I reommend this book highly. It should be compulsory reading for everyone. A poignant story of a nine year old boy whose father is the commandant for the German army and lives next to the concentration camp, but doesn't really know what it is or what his father's real job is. He meets a boy the same age from the concentration camp and is a heartrending story of their friendship and family situations.

Cliched, Wrong and Poorly Written
A terrible book. It is Poorly written and impossible to believe. It also perpetuates many Holocaust myths. It seems to be written by a young adult, not for them.
Starting with the unbelievable. We are expected to believe a nine year old that grew up in Nazi Germany does not know who Hitler is and can't pronounce Furher. Also he has never heard of Jews and does not even know what to call himself when he finds out about Jews. And this is not just any boy, this is the son of the Commandant of Auswitch, (but of course they never call it that it like many things is given a cute name because Bruno, the innocent, can't pronounce it) who has a Nazi tutor that foucuses on history. But even Bruno's teen sister can't answer the question, "If they are Jews what are we?" Really? In an SS house with a teacher that only teaches history "German" or "Aryan" never came up? Even at nine Bruno does not recognize the people on the other side of the fence are being mistreated. Yeah, yeah, we get it is for kids, it is symbolic, blh, blah. That is no excuse for the lack of historical accuracy and phony characters.
The myths it perpetuates are worse. It is one thing to be an obvious, predictable, contrived story, but spreading common misconceptions about history is worse. Here is a list of some things.
1. That the Holocaust was some type of big secret. Boyne references Hitler's Willing Executioners in the interview in the paperback version, but it appears he missed that part of the book. Bruno recalls in great detail his old neighborhood in Berlin but some people must have surely disappeared. He should have seen a Star of David before getting to Auswitch and probably a Star Armband too. German kids did Math problems about removing unwanted people from society, etc. Germany knew, all of Germany knew. It was a convenient Cold War myth, and it makes people sleep better, but the jews were not killed in secret by a few fanatics.
2. Bruno's father says he has to take the assignment to the death camp or be hurt or punished. Hogwash. Many Germans refused to participate and some were promoted for their strong moral standing. There is not a single documented case of anyone being killed for refusing to hurt Jews.
3. The book spreads the misandry that war and violence are purely male. All of the women in the book are shocked and against the Holocaust, but shuffle sadly, out of the way as the bad evil men do their work. Even Eva Braun is portrayed in a positive way. Poor Eva such a victim! Some of the most brutal camp guards were the SS women, but in the book the children are lead by male soldiers. In the real camps women were in charge of the gassing of children.

Avoid this book. There are much better things to read to find out about. Or teach young people about the Holocaust. Young people can read Eva Brewster's Progeny of Light. Much better, and true.