John Boyne’s 2006 hit, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, took the country and the world by storm. Now being made into a movie, Boyne’s book is sure to continue to fascinate audiences for years to come. Categorized as a children’s book, historical fiction, and a tragicomedy, there is clearly something for everyone in this short but packed novel.
The Plot
Bruno, the son of a Nazi commander general, begins the book very upset with his father for moving them from their large mansion to a home near “Out-With” (a mistaken pronunciation for “Auschwitz”). Bruno is upset to leave all his friends and be left with no one but his tutor and his sister (whom he calls “The Hopeless Case”).
While at this new house at “Out-With,” Bruno has a great deal of time to look out of his window, and starts to see many people in “pajamas” on the other side of their fence. One day he decides to get a closer look and encounters a young boy, about his age, named Shmel. They talk many days in a row and become pretty good friends, trying to learn about each other’s lives.
But when Bruno decides to borrow a pair of the pajamas to sneak on the other side of the fence, what will happen not only stunned other characters in the book, but will also stun all the readers!
The Movie
Released November 7, 2008, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas motion picture from Miramax did well in its first few weeks of the box office. The film is directed by Mark Herman, British film director, and stars Asa Butterfield as Leon.
About the Author
Born in 1971 Dubin, Boyne considers himself to be an Irish novelist. After attending Trinity College in Dubin, Boyne attended University of East Anglia where he studied Creative Writing. Currently he has authored six books and numerous short stories. His novels are the following:
The Thief of Time – 2000
The Congress of Rough Riders – 2001
Crippen – 2004
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas -2006
Next of Kin – 2006
Mutiny on the Bounty – 2008
The House of Special Purpose –to be released in 2009
John Boyne is also the recipient of various awards, including The Irish Times Literary Award, The British Book Award, and the Carnegie Medal.
For people who have not yet read this poignant and entertaining book – go out and get it! For those who have read it, continue to recommend it, go see the movie, and talk it up. This type of book is one that should be read, one that will inspire change and ask tough questions.
Laura L. Johnson - Welcome! I am a secondary English teacher who also does freelance writing on the side. I currently teach at a small private school in the ...
