Title: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Author: John Boyne 

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook, Audio CD

Length:  256 pages in paperback

Publisher: Vintage Children’s Classics

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fable, Children’s literature, historical novel, Postmodern literature, Historical drama,

Rating: 4/5

What’s ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ about?

Around 80 years ago, between 1941-45 to be precise, something terrible happened that shook the whole world. Today, we remember it as a lesson – how a man should never behave. The holocaust – one of the most tragic events in history. A lot of literature – fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, etc. has been written about it. ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is definitely one of the unforgettable parts of holocaust literature.

Plot Summary of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ in brief:

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is a story of a boy, Bruno – a regular boy who lives with his parents and his elder sister (whom he doesn’t like so much – the obvious kind of sibling’s love-hate relationship). One day he realizes that his family has to move to someplace far away due to his father’s work. He is not happy about moving. He has to leave his neighborhood, his grandparents, and his friends behind. The new place is weird. There is no kid to play with.

The story ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is all about what happens later when Bruno decides to explore this strange new home…

The setting of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas‘

Time setting: 1942

Place setting: Berlin, Germany and Auschwitz, Poland

The story takes place during the second world war (during the years when the Führer (Adolf Hitler) led the Nazi Party). The initials scenes take place in Berlin, Germany. But, because of his father’s work, Bruno and his family moved to Poland – to a place to which he refers as “Out-With”.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is suitable for which Age Group?

The book ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is intended for the audience of age 13 and above. Even though the protagonist is a 9-year-old boy and the primary audience appears to be teenagers, the book is also a suitable read for adults.

Review of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ written by John Boyne:

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is an endearing yet excruciating story that features kids’ companionship, and innocence. At the same time, it silently unravels the most terrifying side of human nature. It is one of those books that stay with us forever. Even if you read the book, again and again, you’ll find yourself completely dissolved in the story.

Being a Holocaust anecdote, the plot of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is set in Germany and Poland in 1942. The figurative ad the literal use of the “wall” clearly depicts the chasm in society.

Bruno, a 9-year old German kid – our hero – is like a happy-go-lucky kid in our neighborhood who is not a fan of his elder sister. But, his happiness only lasts until his family leaves the nation for his dad’s new work position. His perspective is so guileless and honest (yet insightful) that we immediately feel the “Aww” sort of feeling running through our spine. his naive and innocent reasoning wonders free when Bruno tries to comprehend what is going on around him. It gives us an idea of what it was like to be a kid during World War.

John Boyne’s Writing Style:

The pretext of a world tragedy forms the backbone of the story. However, the writing style and imagination of the writer are impeccable too. John Boyne has effectively used the blend of the unfortunate socio-political backdrop of the Holocaust with a child’s innocent interpretation of the surrounding. It makes this novel one-of-a-kind-holocaust-literature.

A lot of literature has been written from the opposite – the victim’s perspective. But, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is written from the German person’s – young lad’s point of view. Eyes that are trying to comprehend what’s happening around – what the adult men are doing? – why they are doing that? Breaks one’s heart, don’t they?

Perceiving one of the direst events of history from a 9-year-old’s perspective must have been a task! But Boyne has accomplished it well. His story delivery is commendable. He wants us to put ourselves in the lad’s shoes. Lower-grade vocabulary, simple sentences, and a clear-polished story make the plot even more powerful.

The most mind-blowing parts of the book are – The Ending, & The Title. Don’t worry. I’m not going to spoil anything for you. But, these 2 things were the breathtaking-cherries on the unfortunate-story-cake.

Character building in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas‘

Character-building is really good. Every character has been given enough justice. Since the whole thing is from a kid’s viewpoint – Bruno fails to understand them. But the writer makes sure he is conveying enough for us to understand what a kid can’t. Bruno’s mother, father, sister, his mysterious best friend, people his father works with – the shades of every character are clearly visible before diving into the book.

So, How’s the reading experience overall?

4/5.

Why not 5/5? Before reading ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ I had already read other Holocaust books like ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel, ‘Hana’s Suitcase: A True Story’ by Karen Levine, ‘The Hiding Place’ by Corrie ten Boom. These books have been written from the victim’s point of view. Therefore, I had already gone through the experience of reading about what they faced. I reckon, if I had directly read ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, I might not have felt what a reader is supposed to feel. So, it’s good if you acquaint yourself with what happened inside those concentration camps before diving into the book.