The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Reader reviewed by Ethanol!

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas   

I think John Boyne did a very good job of the book. He really described the concentration camps and set the scene very well. He made Bruno a good age and used him very well in the book.

The story is set in World War 2, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.

The good bits about the book are that it is suitable for all ages. It is good that it is based on a very famous event in history. 

 

Reader reviewed by Symes

 

John Boyne has wrote a fantastic book here. The book tells a story with all kinds of different elements. The sadness which suddenly strikes towards the end of the book really catches the reader. Bruno who is an innocent boy who seems to be able to make friends with just about everybody.

Bruno was unfortunate to make friends with somebody who was in such a bad situation because it severely affected their friendship even though it was still strong.

The writer gave the image that Father was a man who never let anything get in the way of his work. 

Mother was a character who seemed a bit out of place at her new home and needed something to pass the time;  Lieutenant Kotler.

Gretel was a 12 year old girl who seemed to take an interest in current events she was also the annoying old sister of Bruno.

Overall, a very good read and worth reading 8/10. 14+

Reader reviewed by Gnome

24/3/11

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas review

The author of this book is John Boyne who was born in Ireland in 1971; he has written four other novels which have been translated into 17 different languages.

The story is about a German boy called Bruno and a Jewish boy named Shmuel who was a prisoner at Out-With (Auschwitz). He wore prison uniform of striped pyjamas hence the title of the book.

Bruno moved from Berlin to Out-With, with his family because of his Fathers work. He had no friends at Out-With apart from his sister Gretel (the Hopeless Case). He went exploring and discovered a fence which he followed because he saw a black blob in the far distance. To his surprise he discovered it was a boy sitting alone staring at the ground. The two boys soon became best friends. Bruno visited his new friend secretly every day for more than a year until unfortunately the story ended tragically.

The best part of the book is how you are always left in suspense and that is what makes you want to read more of the story.

In my opinion I dont think there were any weak points that stood out enough to grab my attention.

I would not recommend the book to any one because it is not my type of book I prefer more factual books. I think many adults ranging from of about 30 and onwards would enjoy reading this book more than anyone lower I think would not enjoy this book as much.

Reader reviewed by Georgia.

The boy in the striped Pyjamas is a very good book in many ways. The author made it really easy to feel what is happening in that time and made it clear how people felt.

The story line was very good it makes Children who take things for granted make them look at things in different ways like being in a nice warm home in your own bed to being in a cold, damp, crowded room.

What I think is good about the book is that is really makes you understand what other people feel like.

If I recommend it to people I know, I would recommend it to a class to read it.

 

Reader reviewed by tractors

Review

I think it is a very good book because the author puts suspense by making the speaker pause before actually saying it. He is also very good at setting the scene as in the way that he explains the boy sat at the fence. John Boyne is a good writer in the way he is good at telling the story but actually telling a true story as well.

It is a very good story because it actually tells you how horrifying the German war camps were. And it also is very good because it just keeps drawing you in as each chapter continues then calming the story to an end.

I think that there is a bad point like he could have made the end a bit more detailed. Also he could have explained what happened to the family at the end e.g.: where did they go what did they end up doing as a job or did the family stay together.

Yes I would recommend it to someone but not a child but an adult because it is quite a complicated for a child to understand and they wouldnt understand about the Jewish war camps.

Reader reviewed by Chazza

This is a review of the book The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. Firstly, About the author: The Authors name is John Boyne, He was born in Ireland in 1971, He is also the author of 4 previous novels, The Thief Of Time, The Congress Of Rough Riders, Crippen and Next Of Kin. Altogether, all of his novels have been translated into 17 languages.

 

             Secondly, This bit is going to be about the book, There is a 9 Year old boy named Bruno, who lives with his Mum, Dad and Sister. They live in Berlin, Bruno has 3 best friends, Karl, Daniel and Martin, His Sister (Gretel) also has 3 best friends, Hilda, Isobel and Louise. Brunos family have a maid, called Maria.

 

       Brunos dad (Ralf) is a solider, his dads name that other soliders is Herr Commandant. Then, The Fury has asked the Dad to move house, so it can be easier to get to his work, and that he has also been promoted. Then, Later in the book, Bruno goes on loads of adventures at his house which is called Out-With.

 

         Thirdly, This paragraph is Going to be about What Was Good About The Book? Well, I personally think the whole book was good, Because I loved all of it apart from the end.

 

      Now, This Bit is going to be about Is There Any Weak Points? For me, like I basically said in the last subject, I think that there wasnt any weak points, Because I liked all of it.

Reader reviewed by Alex (Tales of a Teenage Book Lover)

Reader reviewed by Crimin

Brunos father is in the military - a high-ranking solider to boot! - and he has to move because of it.  Of course, Bruno isnt at all happy with leaving his grandparents and his friends behind, but what can he do?  He has to stay with his mother and his father and his annoying sister no matter if they must move to a boring new house that certainly wont have as many hiding spots as the home hes leaving behind.

But that doesnt matter - for there are people there, just beyond the fence near his new home.  People that his father and mother dont talk about and surely dont invite over for dinner.  Bruno, being as curious as always, goes outside and beings to follow the fence until he meets a boy.

I can remember just when I found out about this books existence:  I happened to be reading one of my favorite actors wikipedia article and saw that he was going to play in the movie adaptation of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Afterward, by clicking a link, I discovered it was based on this book and went out to rent the movie and purchase the tome.

I totally forgot about the movie and just read the book.  Two days later, the movie went back (unwatched) and I had closed the book with more than just one sob on its behalf.  It has to be one of the most heartbreaking fables Ive ever read - and I love it.  To this day, Im sure, Id cry again if I read it from cover - to - cover.

Five stars?  It deserves more!  But, I can at least say that everyone - EVERYONE - should read this! 

Reader reviewed by Sarima89

Reader reviewed by val

OMG. This book is soo sad and emotional! I can't even bear to re-tell it. So, a german boy becomes lonely in their new house and finds a concentration camp near them. He finds this Jewish boy who always sit in front of the electric fence. Soon, they become friends and next thing you know, the german boy pretends to be Jewish also just so they can play together. Then they get sent to the chamber where the Germans would kill the Jews with poison gas (but they didnt know). And they die together. :( The geran boy's mother got worried for days and even his father and one day they found his clothes near the fence and thought he died in the chamber.

It was so sad! A very good book for everyone because it has a lesson for parents that you should give your child the attention it need and it shows the cruelty of Germans during the World War 2!