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The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

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The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave his home in Paris for a new life with his Aunt Beatrix, a servant in a wealthy household at the top of the German mountains. But this is no ordinary time, for it is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching; and this is no ordinary house, for this is the Berghof, the home of Adolf Hitler.

Quickly, Pierrot is taken under Hitler's wing, and is thrown into an increasingly dangerous new world: a world of terror, secrets and betrayal, from which he may never be able to escape.

©John Boyne 2015 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Action & Adventure Family & Relationships Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Multicultural Fiction

Critic reviews

It’s impossible to put down: devastating and devastatingly good, one of my top three children’s novels of the year so far . . . A difficult story to pull off, but with his perfect pacing, lack of sentimentality and refusal to submit to a neat end, Boyne has won me over – all over again
A remarkable feat . . . Compelling
Disturbingly vivid, utterly readable and appealing to audiences of all ages
There is a sureness and a simplicity to the writing that is very impressive . . . In The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, Boyne has delivered a powerful account of how one boy was seduced by Hitler and Nazism and paid the price. The final pages, in which he meets the Jewish friend of his boyhood and seeks redemption, are very moving. Younger readers will lament the corruption of Pierrot; older ones will perceive what Boyne is trying to tell us: if this could happen to Pierrot, it could happen to us
An affecting morality tale . . . It is the chilling portrayal of adolescent corruption and atonement that lingers
Forceful . . . Reminding us that silence and compromise can foster their own overwhelming guilt
Exciting and thought-provoking . . . An excellent novel
With his perfect pacing, lack of sentimentality and refusal to submit to a neat end, Boyne has written one of the children’s books of the year
A powerful new novel from the author of the highly acclaimed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and it is equally atmospheric and disturbing . . . Mesmerizing
Another winner
All stars
Most relevant
Never fails to take you on a journey without a map …intriguing with superb voice acting narration.
Given the subject matter , not sure I enjoyed it but I certainly couldn’t put it down

Boyle at his best !

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A moving story, but the repetitive cadence in the recording was a major detracting part of the audiobook.

Great book, not a great narration

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i liked the book very much. It makes you think of many aspects, past and present, The narrator was able to transmit a lot of feelings. I recommend the book.

A very good book! Good narrator!

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I couldn't stop listening to this interesting story which was harrowing at times and so sad to hear how the innocence of a child could be changed by evil Adolf Hiltler & his regime changing the boy totally for the worse.
But as with other books from John Boyne I'm glad he realises the error of his actions & tries to attone for them.

Another excellent story from John Boyne.

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A beautiful but harrowing mirror held up to the reality of how humans treat each other. An incredible story based around a historical background that makes your heart cry. John Boyne is a master at developing characters for the reader to fall in love with, embrace, be repulsed by and develop real compassion for them. The way he weaves a story across years and generations but brings you as the reader full circle on an emotional journey is a unique skill. If you love John Boyne, this is a great listen.

Another rollercoaster of humanity

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