The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Two young boys encounter the best and worst of humanity during the Holocaust in this powerful read that USA Today called "as memorable an introduction to the subject as The Diary of Anne Frank.”  

Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance. 

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

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Published Oct 23, 2007

215 pages

Average rating: 8.14

239 RATINGS

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Readers say *The Boy in the Striped Pajamas* is an emotional and accessible story told through the innocent eyes of a child, making it touching and ea...

Cjfranc
Nov 25, 2025
10/10 stars
Finished this book in one day! Enough said!
Harrietaspy
May 04, 2025
10/10 stars
I wasn't sure another Nazi book would be worth reading and boy was I wrong. A fresh look on a well known topic. Creative and thought-provoking. Enjoyed the interview with the author at the end too.
cyberstars_444
Dec 28, 2024
8/10 stars
Gut wrenching.
Diane Fisher
Oct 16, 2024
8/10 stars
Good book. Wanted a longer story, but although it was short, it communicated a lot. Too bad grown-ups are not as blind as children are sometimes.
Happy_Nat
Aug 19, 2024
9/10 stars
Wow - what a story!! I made the mistake by reading the book as a young mum and with the ending, which took me by surprise, I sobbed like a crazy person . Very emotional and heartbreaking story but it’s a must-read! I loved it but I couldn’t make myself to read it again - just too sad for me 😢

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