The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Phenomenal! 5 stars is nowhere near enough.

This was one of the BEST stories I have ever read!

It was so poignant. Bruno’s extreme innocence and naivety coupled with what we know today about the Holocaust (and perhaps our jaded outlook on life) combined into a haunting, gripping, sometimes funny and ultimately tragic tale. I was riveted from start to finish, hanging off every word.

If you are looking for some good literature to teach kids about the Holocaust, this is an excellent place to start. It opens up so many discussions on a difficult subject; I would have no qualms about seeing this book in schools.

The last line in the book just blew me away with its still-relevant warning: "Nothing like that could happen again. Not in this day and age". Except, then it does… over and over and over again.

I would give it ten thousand stars if I could; I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

13 of 15 people found this review helpful

Absolutely Phenomenal!!!

I literally just finished this book and had to write a review. It was in one word, Phenomenal!!! During a time where the text books of children are starting to hint that the Holocaust didn't even occur (which I was beyond shocked to hear) books like this are needed. Some of the questions raised are only possible by a 9 year old which makes him a fabulous protagonist. I do have two suggestions though: the first is that this is subject matter which deserves more reverence and due attention than listening to during the 20 minutes to work. Take some time and really let yourself listen to it. The second is that at the end is an interview with the author, and although it too is fabulous, I suggest pausing before listening to it as it may put you in too much of an analytical mind to really absorb the story.

24 of 29 people found this review helpful

Great book, terrible narration

The book itself deserves 5 stars. Michael Maloney, the narrator, I'd give 1. He has this very distracting way of fading quickly at the end of sentences making you think you are getting a call. If you listen on an iPhone you know how audio fades right before the ring begins. Even without thinking you are receiving a call, his fadding, breathy voice is very annoying. The story is wonderful, touching and sad - but I would not buy another audio book with Michael Maloney as narrator.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Very powerful

This short little book packs quite the punch, and though it's geared towards teens, I highly recommend it for adults as well. Bruno's innocence is heartbreakingly conveyed in a powerful performance by Maloney, and the book's ending left me quite emotional. I had to see the movie after hearing the book, but much preferred this performance.

15 of 20 people found this review helpful

Jaw still dropped

The Boy in the Striped pajamas takes you on an amazing journey which will have you finally pulling your hair out at the end wondering how it all led to the shocking twist. To really enjoy the book you must simply accept the boys innocence and not try to understand or read to much into the ignorance which is seen as he misinterprets his surroundings. I was quickly swept into this tale and found it hard to stop until it was unfortunately over...I almost wish it was longer...

9 of 13 people found this review helpful

Outstanding story and author imagination!

I thought this was one of the best books that I have read or listened to in quiet some time. Sometimes really good novels come from horrible circumstances.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Auschwitz: A Boys perspective - Eh...No.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I don't think I would. I didn't much appreciate the characterization of the young Nazi boy. I feel that some things require reverence and fictionalizing a piece of history in such a way that was presented here, in a way, diminishes the truth. I suppose there was some karmic value in the irony of the plot but I think it falls flat considering that fact is much more awful than fiction.

Would you ever listen to anything by John Boyne again?

Yes, I have not discarded Mr. Boyne as an author even if I'm not want to recommend this title.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was just fine and perhaps even provided some added value. The different portrayal of the young boys felt mostly genuine and in the spirit of the novel.

Could you see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, definitely....it may be already, I'm not sure. I don't know enough stars names to answer the second question.

Any additional comments?

I felt the story to be compelling and served a good purpose. Bruno never accepted his father's viewpoint that the people in striped pajamas weren't human. In fact, Bruno saw his friend Shmuel as his best human contact in this terrible new home even though he couldn't touch or play with him. And from this perspective, perhaps the character of Bruno had to be so behind-the-curve naive.

There are some critics who challenge that the story is not honest about the cruel conditions of Nazi concentration camps and I think that is certainly valid. Any descriptions are censored by Bruno's untainted child's mind - a technique that I thought was cute in the first few weeks at Auschwitz but felt needed to be undraped as Bruno who surely have experienced. Bruno was there for over a year with a bedroom 50 feet from the fence where men would fall to the ground suddenly and need soldiers to carry them away. Even so, I don't think the purpose of the book was to bring the audience into Auschwitz, but for the audience to accept that there are fences, however small, that separate us from one another, and are we looking at the people on the other side of the fence with the same humanism that Bruno did with Shmuel? I suppose that's my greatest criticism of this book. The purpose is great, but to use a place like Auschwitz as the vehicle for the message doesn't feel particularly right to me.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

Intriguing view point, powerful ending

A thought provoking view point on some of the events of the Holocaust. The ending was very powerful. If I could put books on a list of required reading for high school students this would be one. The reason for not giving 5 stars; despite being fiction, I really wanted to hear more about what happened after the final events in the book. Well worth the listen or read.

6 of 9 people found this review helpful

Good book

Yes this book could be very disturbing for a child under 13, but it is a must read or listen. I loved how the narrator read this book and how innocent he made Bruno seem. I listened to this with my 10 Y/O daughter and she couldn't believe how niave Bruno was. I explained to her that it was a different time before TV and Internet. We both loved this book even with the disturbing parts.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Excellent!!

If I could rate this 10 stars I would. Gripping story; a must read for older children and adults alike. Much, much better than the movie. I highly recommend this book.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful