A review by caterina
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne

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

2.5

This heavy-handed book felt like it was written to introduce young non-Jewish white kids to the Holocaust and help them realize that injustice can be happening that they might not see. It was stilted, the main character was overly naive, and the author didn't do justice to writing about the Holocaust. There are many other books out there - such as Art Spiegelman's Maus or Anne Frank's Diary - that I would recommend instead for this reading level.
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