Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama

Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama by John Boyne

104 reviews

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".

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kate_elle's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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kalyn_c's review against another edition

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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

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jayvdw's review against another edition

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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.

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werepsyche's review against another edition

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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!

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riyaa_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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hokulani_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

i’ve always found it hard to imagine people in the past, the way they are described in textbooks is always very dry. it’s not like they’re actual humans, just people that existed and i never know about their personality or anything. this book helped me imagine living in the past. i’m not at the age where i’m being taught about ww2 yet (im american), so i have a very basic knowledge of the holocaust.

this book doesn’t really inform about the whole holocaust, why and how it happened, etc. since bruno is only 9 and, well, is not being told the whole picture. but it does capture the emotional side very well. it describes how sad the people on the other side are and some of the torturous conditions they go through. i’m pretty sure there’s a movie based on this book too, so i might check that out.

i’m very grateful to have read this book. i will say though that you don’t actually meet the boy in the striped pajamas until halfway through, and the whole first half is just (sorta spoiler-y? not really? idk)

bruno’s life moving away from berlin.

july 2 2024

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