fantastic but sad and makes you think! (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne)

Member Name: lucylodge

Product:	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
Date:	22/09/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: excellent storyline

Disadvantages: sad!

I read this book at university after I had already seen the film at the local cinemas. The film was good but the book was truly moving as you see the character Bruno attempt to understand his fathers job and why his life is changing so much. The synopsis on the back of the book tells that you are going to go on a journey of Bruno's life.

Bruno is a young child who has a father who works as a kommandant. As a result of his fathers job, the family is forced to move next to a concentration camp... and Bruno does not know what it is... he describes it as 'people in striped pyjamas'. He asks his mother numerous questions but she tries to stop his innocence from being corrupted and tells him many lies.

Bruno likes to think of himself as an explorer and so he sets off to explore the concentraion camp which he thinks is some sort of farm. Once at the metal fence, he sees a little boy sat in the dirt called Schmauel. Bruno then makes a true friend but he is unable to understand why his friend dresses so differently in' striped pyjamas'. His naiivety is so moving as he does not understand that this little boy is infact Jewish. It shows Bruno develop a friendship with the little boy and he remains so loyal as a friend as he treks each day to pass food through the fence to the little boy in pyjamas. One day Schmauel is called to clean the glasses at brunos fathers house and bruno sees him and gives him some food. The guards then walk in on Schmauel eating the bread and ask where he got it from. Schmauel replieds that Bruno gave him it but Bruno denys any knowledge of it to save himself from being told of... he is unaware of the devastating consequences that Schmauel faces. It is heartbreaking when Schmauel is beaten black and blue by the guards. Despite this, Schmauel is still happy to be Bruno's friend when he visits him everyday at the fence.

The end is somewhat upsetting and as a reader I can guarantee that you will be both moved and intrigued by this emotional book. The twist at the end was unexpected and enticing. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

Summary: definitely worth a read