The Boy in Striped Pyjamas

I was really apprehensive about reading this book because I had seen the film adaptation and knowing the ending of the story I thought this would spoil it for me. However it did not take me long to get engrossed and find the thought of having to wait until the next evenings bed time impossible, and so found myself at every possible moment picking up the book. I particularly liked how the author told the story through the naivety of Bruno. Although sad, I thought that the ending was thought provoking and left a lasting impression. Throughly enjoyed every moment.

Rachael Clarke

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Great book!

I wondered why there was no hints or clues about the storyline in the blurb but after reading the book, I completely understand why as it would have ruined the way the story unfolds to us page after page.  

Having the story told from the innocent eyes of young Bruno, who has no idea who his father is and what he stands for, is a very powerful way to explore such a complex historical period.

I loved the fact that Bruno is very inquisitive and adventurous, which leads to his unknowingly forbidden friendship with Shmuel. As we watch the boy’s friendship blossom, we become so cautious of their every encounter; as the reader we are one step ahead of them and know how dangerous their relationship is (although Shmuel is a lot more wise to this than Bruno).

I really enjoyed the book and although I knew what was coming, I was still heartbroken at the end.  As the issues dealt with are very sensitive, you would have to be very thoughtful in sharing this text with a class, but a great, great book.

 

Claire Sharp

Julians Primary School

Boy In the Striped Pjamas - Louise Bolton (Central E)

Wow!  What a powerful book.  I was blown away by the emotions and images created such a simple story created.  It really is a great example of how a plot is more important than using 'flowery' language to engage your reader.  I would love to read it again just to see what would happen.  It really makes you think about life on several levels.
As mentioned by a few other posts, I would be cautious when sharing this with a class but as long as you are sensitive to the issues raised I think it's a great book choice. 

The boy in the striped pyjamas

I wasn't too sure if I wanted to read this book as I have visited Aushwitz which had a very powerful effect on me. I have since been very sensitive about the subject and I can't really bear any evocation as it makes me dreadfully sad and utterly helpless.  I know my son has seen the film in Year 6 but I hadn't watch the film or read the book. It is a well written book with the innocent point of view of a 9 year old and I really enjoyed the style. The ending was an unbearable poetic justice for the father. I am not sure at what age children should be exposed to this issue and how much they can learn from it but if it is possible to get them to learn a life-changing lesson from this story then I am hoping that all year 6 teachers use either the book or the film. I found the book much more powerful than the film personally and it would make a perfect read aloud book after studying the subject in Humanities.
Valerie Marsh, Sherington Primary School

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a beautifully written story, which captivated me from start to harrowing end. I read it through in one sitting and was entirely transported into Bruno's world. Whilst I have read reviews which question the probability of Bruno being ignorant about the mass extermination of Jews happening alongside his home; I feel that as a literary devise Bruno's naievity works to echo the feelings of incomprehension I have when I read about the atrocity millions of Jews faced at the hands of the Nazi regime, not so very long ago. I also found the parallels between Shmuel and Bruno, who are linked yet divided by circumstance, very moving. The ending to the book served further to highlight  the sense that human circumstances are so often arbritary. Born to different parents the boys may well have found themselves standing on opposite sides of the fence.
The horrors of the holocaust are hard to comprehend and this powerful little book made me think hard about both sides of the fence and the consequences for human kind.
Claire Sutton
Bangabandhu Primary School
Bethnal Green 

The Power of Reading

I love this book and have read it several times. I think the innocence and the unfailing optimism of Bruno makes it all the more heart-breaking for the fully clued-up reader. The breakdown of Bruno's family is equally as powerful as the atrocities taking place at 'out with'. 

I have read this text with year 6 children as part of a World War II topic. We also used extracts of Anne Frank's Diary. The children were able to feel very pleased with themselves when they worked out who The Fury was and where the story was actually taking place. We also invited the actor who played Bruno in the film into our school to talk to the children. The children enjoyed this very much.

Isabel Hamilton

Liz Waite

Tiverton Primary School, Haringey

The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas

I love this book and have read it several times. I think the innocence and the unfailing optimism of Bruno makes it all the more heart-breaking for the fully clued-up reader. The break down of Bruno's family

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The book presented somewhat of a simplistic and unrealistic portrait of the concentration camps of that time, but this works well due to the fact it is written from the innocence of the boys point of view. The fact that the boys were so similar in terms of personal characteristics but yet so different in terms of life situation and life's offerings presents a nice simplistic view of the attrocities of that time. This serves to illustrate to the reader  the mindlessness of the actions in that era.
The book would provide excellent and challenging guided reading discussion in year 6 and is one I hope to use in the future.

Cathal McGrath
Fielding Primary School

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - Rosemary Bowsher and Jane Hodgins

We found this book profoundly moving and evocative.  We thought it is suitable for Y6 upwards as a Guided Reader because it would promote much discussion and would need careful adult explanations for difficult questions and issues.  We thought it tackled family relationships sensitively within a family that had many problems.  It was interesting because it was written from a child's point of view - trying to make sense of a difficult period in history.  It is possible to read the book on many levels on depending on the age of the reader and their knowledge of the Holocaust.  Rosemary Bowsher and Jane Hodgins Beatrix Potter Primary School

This is a trailer we found on YouTube that shows the start of a forbidden friendship and the innocence of children.

The boy in the striped pyjamas

I was apprehensive to read this book because I had seen the film adaptation and knowing the ending of the story I thought this would spoil the read. However it did not take me long to get swept up on Bruno’s journey and as I neared the finally chapters I was willing for the ending to be different from the one I recalled.


I enjoyed reading this book very much; John Boyne’s portrayal of these two worlds and period in history is poignantly captured and told through the innocent and naïve eyes of Bruno. It was powerful to see ‘Out with’ through his eyes and till the final chapters for it to be kept at a distance. The book achieves its goal of sending out a moral message and did make me stop and think, this is one I look forward to revisiting again sometime.

Kristien Webb - Fielding Primary School