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sandysmith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I'm in mixed minds about this book, obviously written for children, and in some ways, it is very powerful. Whilst it is called a fable, I think this needs to be clearer as historical fiction goes its inaccurate and perhaps would have been better for it to not have the links to Nazi Germany and to be more of a dystopian read but carrying the same messages. I hope that this book STARTS the discussion for children regarding the horrifics of the holocaust and the treatment of Jewish and other people deemed to be lesser. Bruno, the main character, knew nothing about his heritage or the treatment of the jews which growing up in his household is unbelievable, and for him and his sister not being members of Hitler Youth particularly with his fathers status seems absurd. But if the message delivers, then that's not a bad thing, but I just hope this book makes the reader commence their own research as to the atrocities to this particular time in our history and really hope the last sentence in the book is true "Not in this day and age".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, Antisemitism, and War
kalyn_c's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Physical abuse
jayvdw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The book asks the question of how did the Holocaust look like through the eyes of a German child. And the book delivers on this! It was so interesting to read the spoiled german child trying to make sense of this bizar and horrible but sadly real moment in history.
I did take quite a while for Bruno to actually meet the boy in the striped pyjama. But this time is not wasted and used to really make the reader learn and understand who Bruno is and how he sees the world.
I believe this book is a great way to teach teenagers about the Holocaust or to introduce the topic.
I did take quite a while for Bruno to actually meet the boy in the striped pyjama. But this time is not wasted and used to really make the reader learn and understand who Bruno is and how he sees the world.
I believe this book is a great way to teach teenagers about the Holocaust or to introduce the topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, and War
werepsyche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
ah yes!! i love to spread extremely dangerous misinformation about a horrible tragedy!! anyway, don't read this book, and stop teaching it in schools. there are so many other books that are accessible to school-age children that are way better suited for genuine education than this book. people don't know enough to understand that this is purely FICTIONAL and pushes really harmful stereotypes and ideas that german civilians were completely ignorant of what was going on when they DEFINITELY WERE. the diary of a young girl, once, hitler's canary... DOZENS of other books that people could be teaching about the holocaust with but they chose the work of fiction that propagates really dangerous fallacies. hate!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and War
akia_nanashi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This put a hard rock in my heart .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Violence, and War
gritsgritsgrits's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, and Antisemitism
Minor: War
kshae10's review against another edition
dark
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture and War
phouka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Dementia, and Abandonment
maddyy_orourke's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Wow. This book is incredible.
I read this when I was 10, and I thought ‘oh, cool’, not knowing what happened in the end and not understanding the naïvety of Bruno and the situation he was in. A couple years later, I analysed the book for an English project in high school. And I discovered the amazing way that James Boyne has told the story.
A very strong aspect of the book is its symbolism. For example, Bruno misspelling words in the book (Führer = Fury / Auschwitz = Out-with), implies his dramatic naïvety in the concentration camps. This is just one example, there are many more.
I found this book quite entertaining, but very sad. Knowledge about concentration camps is needed to read this and understand what is happening properly. Definitely recommend.
I read this when I was 10, and I thought ‘oh, cool’, not knowing what happened in the end and not understanding the naïvety of Bruno and the situation he was in. A couple years later, I analysed the book for an English project in high school. And I discovered the amazing way that James Boyne has told the story.
A very strong aspect of the book is its symbolism. For example, Bruno misspelling words in the book (Führer = Fury / Auschwitz = Out-with), implies his dramatic naïvety in the concentration camps. This is just one example, there are many more.
I found this book quite entertaining, but very sad. Knowledge about concentration camps is needed to read this and understand what is happening properly. Definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Slavery, and Antisemitism
Minor: War
brittneyhelen_'s review against another edition
reflective
sad
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and War