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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution or the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas.

Bruno's friendship with Shmuel will take him from innocence to revelation. And in exploring what he is unwittingly a part of, he will inevitably become subsumed by the terrible process.

 20th Century Action & Adventure Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking
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Continue the series
All the Broken Places cover art
All the Broken Places By: John Boyne

Critic reviews

A small wonder of a book... A particular historical moment, one that cannot be told too often
The Holocaust as a subject insists on respect, precludes criticism, prefers silence.One thing is clear: this book will not go gently into any good night
An extraordinary tale of friendship and the horrors of war...Raw literary talent at its best
A book that lingers in the mind for quite some time...A subtle, calculatedly simple and ultimately moving story
Simply written and highly memorable.There are no monstrosities on the page but the true horror is all the more potent for being implicit
Stays ahead of its readers before delivering its killer-punch final pages
Full of shocking juxtapositions and leads to a horrifying denouement ... this is a deeply affecting novel.
A very human and profoundly moving introduction to one of the darkest moments in history.
All stars
Most relevant

Would you listen to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas again? Why?

Yes. Loved the reader and characters.

What other book might you compare The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to, and why?

Buddha in the attic and Farm and War Horse.

Which character – as performed by Michael Maloney – was your favourite?

Shmoul.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but I don't have the time.

One of the best books I have ever read.

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This is a truly stunning, heart breaking, moving and thought provoking story that I am so grateful to have had the experience of reading!

The most moving book I have ever read.

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If you haven't read or listened to this book before please do so. It isn't a book to be categorised as for children or for adults, it's an important book that carries a message for all.

Innocence destroyed.

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Innocent and light but educational and heart touching. It was such a beautiful friendship narrated from the standpoint of Bruno. I listened to the full book in only 1 night. The story was well tailored that can fit with any audience. It was a phenomenal storyline that I have heard in a long time!

Amazing story!

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loved the juxtaposed element that ran through the book and some great motifs to get you reflecting and thinking deeper. the innocence of the young mind is bought to life as the book is told from the perspecrive of the young 9 year old boy. the sad ironic ending left me speechless. This is a lovely story to create empathy and spark conversation about the Holocaust in the young readers mind. I listened to it with my teenage daughter and son and whilst one has studied the Holocaust the other hasn't so it made for perfect conversation between them. listening to the interview between the author and publisher at the end was very insightful in getting a stronge grip on the narrative viewpoint. A lovely sweet story of childhood innocence and of outsiders looking into horrorific situations with oblivion.

heartfelt and innocent

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