The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Title: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Author: John Boyne

Publishing house: David Fickling Books

Place and date of publication: Ireland, 5 January 2006

Genre: Historical/postmodern novel

Register: Colloquial and formal language

Story setting: Nazi Germany

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE STORY

The book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was developed at the time of the Holocaust, the story is about a 9-year-old boy, Bruno, who lives in Berlin with his family: father, mother, his sister Gretel and some servants, including Maria. Bruno is sad when he receives the bad news that he has to move to Auschwitz.

The new idea does not like Bruno at all, because the only entertainment he has is a swing made with a tire or talking to his sister's unpleasantness. There is nothing special about the house, until through the window of his room he discovers a kind of farm, a perspective that he and his sister have. One day he went out to explore the forest near his house, and discovered the long fence that he had seen from his room; he discovers a young boy his age, Shmuel.

Shmuel is the same age, but they lead totally different lives, Bruno is the son of a high office, while Shmuel is the son of Jews, and therefore he is there. Both child boys become very close friends, to the point that Bruno begins to like living in his new house.

After a year, Mother decides to return to Berlin, that day Bruno had gone to the fence with the intention of helping Shmuel find his father. Bruno puts on the pajamas Shmuel has obtained for him and goes through the fence. When they enter they are pushed by the soldiers and grouped with the others, they are taken to a room with many more people dressed in the same uniform, Bruno and Shmuel do not know what is going to happen, but both believe they are living an adventure in which the purpose is to find your friend's father.

INTERPRETATION

I liked the plot of the book a lot, but I found it a very sad story, since this story, in a way, is real, to think that people could do so much damage just because they thought they were superior to the rest of humanity is really horrible. Books like this should help us reflect on the condition of the human being. We are all equal regardless of religion, race, customs, or thought.

Writer John Boyne is capable of giving characters a life of their own, that is, when reading this book, the reader becomes sad when the character is sad and laughs when the character is happy. Furthermore, no character feels, thinks, or is the same. I liked the book a lot and I wish more people could enjoy it.

 

TO WHOM OR WHY I RECOMMEND IT

I would recommend it because the book shows you the innocence in which a child lives, who do not understand differences or the monstrous work his father does. This book shows you how strong the fantasy with which children live different events can be. The end shows how Father truly rethinks what he has been doing, and that losing his son has been a strong stick for him, a commander, and with great charges. One of the best books I have ever read, since it makes you feel tender for each page you go through, without a doubt highly recommended for all kinds of readers, since there is no way you will not like this fantastic book.

Written by Pamela Magaña Custodio