The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Read John Boyne’s powerful classic ahead of the sequel ALL THE BROKEN PLACESSelect a format:
Retailers:
Summary
Discover an extraordinary tale of innocence, friendship and the horrors of war.
'Some things are just sitting there, minding their own business, waiting to be discovered. Like America. And other things are probably better off left alone'
Nine-year-old Bruno has a lot of things on his mind. Who is the 'Fury'? Why did he make them leave their nice home in Berlin to go to 'Out-With' ? And who are all the sad people in striped pyjamas on the other side of the fence? The grown-ups won't explain so Bruno decides there is only one thing for it - he will have to explore this place alone. What he discovers is a new friend. A boy with the very same birthday. A boy in striped pyjamas. But why can't they ever play together?
‘A small wonder of a book’ Guardian
BACKSTORY: Read an interview with the author JOHN BOYNE and learn all about the Second World War in Germany.
Reviews
This novel is a fine addition to a once taboo area of history, at least where children's literature is concerned. It provides an account of a dreadful episode short on actual horror but packed with overtones that remain in the imagination. Plainly and sometimes archly written, it stays just ahead of its readers before delivering its killer punch in the final pages
Independent
