The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Pages: 216

Intended Audience: Teens and tweens

Genre: Historical fable

Notes for Parents: Allusions to acts of cruelty

The Inside Cover

The story of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the jacket, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about.

If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter such a fence.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Well, it doesn’t tell you much. So, in keeping with the philosophy of the description, I won’t tell you much more than it’s a story about a boy whose father gets a promotion that moves the family to a new place where Bruno meets a boy living on the other side of the fence wearing blue striped pajamas.

What’s good?

The author deliberately avoids details to heighten the suspense as we traverse the story guided only by the perspective of a very naïve child. However, unless you live in a bubble, you will know the who, what, when, where and why of this story. As a 9-year-old sheltered from the truth, however, Bruno doesn’t understand it, so we watch as he navigates the horrors around him with a child’s innocence. This is a haunting fable that ends with a cruel twist of karmic fate.

Best part: The end, even though I totally saw it coming.

What’s not so good?

Accepting the premise may be a difficult pill for some people to swallow. This book asks you to tolerate knowing more than the main character for the entire story. This stifles the pace and makes for a daunting read.

Worst part: The beginning. It’s halfway through the book before we even meet the boy in the striped pajamas.

Recommendations þþþþo

Ultimately, this book must be viewed as a fable – a story with a message – rather than a historical novel in order to be enjoyed. Picky readers will hate the naivety, the inconsistencies, and all of the questions that arise from the actions and non-actions of the supporting characters. I enjoyed it and I recommend it. 

Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. New York: David Fickling Books, 2006