The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Title: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Author: John Boyne

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Place: Great Britain

Date: 2010

Bruno is a nine year old German boy who lives a privileged life in pre-war Germany with his mother, elder sister and his Nazi commander father. One day when he comes back from school his parents tell him that they need to go to the countryside, where his father is said to take a job as a prison camp commander. The place is called Out- With (Auschwitz).  From the window of his room in a new home Bruno saw people strangely dressed in striped pyjamas and became curious. One day during his exploration he comes close to the fence and meets a boy named Shmuel. Shmuel is the same age as him, and they became friends. Bruno will soon find out that he is not permitted to be friends with Shmuel, as he is a Jew and the neighbouring yard is a prison camp. He will continue to visit his friend in secret until the day he goes back to Berlin. Shmuel tells Bruno that he is sad, because his father disappeared, and Bruno promised to help him find his father. On the next visit he puts on his striped pyjamas and goes under the fence with his new friend and never comes back.

For further information see:
http://www.un.org//holocaustremembrance/ index.shtml
http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/holocaust-fiction
http://library.jccc.edu/guides/literature/holocaust.html