The most striking thing initially about the book was the use of different, more neutral and familiar words to replace the German words (like Fury for Fuhrer and Out-With for Auschwitz). This reminded me of how when children learn difficult words, they often pronounce it incorrectly or change it to sound like a word they know without realising. I notice children in my class doing it all the time! In a way this distances you from the historical background we know well as adults, but I think in another way it is disturbing because it adds to the naivety and ignorance of Bruno to the horrors that are happening around him. Having seen the film before reading the book, I think this had such an impact as it does not register in the film version. This innocence of Bruno is what makes the story so poignant and devastating, amongst other tales of the same period of history. It would be a brilliant text to use with upper KS2, one which I think would really hook the children's interest and their recognition of the gravity of WWII.
Steph Betteridge
Hillbourne School
1 comment:
Sorry - I'm adding this as a comment as I can't find the log in details!
I agree, the use of 'child' language to replace the Nazi era words was one of the best features of the book - allowing the reader in without pressurising us into judging the characters. However, for me, some of the rest of the language was 'off' as there were terms used which were too modern - teenager for example. The word was not used until the fifties and evolved to describe a state that had not existed before.
I found the book easy to read and think it may be a good gateway book for some children into a distressing area of history. I'm not sure it has much to offer adults though.
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