GREAT READS

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne

I had no idea what the story of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas might be about when I opened the book and started reading. Yet, immediately I was flying through the pages, gripped by a terrible world seen through the eyes of an innocent, and somewhat spoiled, nine-year-old boy named Bruno. When "the Fury" comes to dinner Bruno's life is turned upside-down as his ambitious father takes a prominent position in an awful place and Bruno is forced to leave the only home and friends he has ever known. However, Bruno is not without a friend for long. When he goes exploring and makes his way to a fence that he is strictly forbidden to approach, he finds a companion on the other side. This depiction of a horrific period in our World's history is a deeply moving tale that will stay with you long after you have read the final lines.
 
 

Recommended by Caroline Barlow

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