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daisyisawitch's review against another edition
3.75
The story was really captivating, however historically inaccurate.
I'll say that it was clever to discover the atrocities happening at Auschwitz through the innocent eyes of a kid, not being able to imagine how horrible the life for the jewish people could really be.
However, as a German, I found it hard to believe that a 9 year old boy wasn't able to pronounce Führer and Auschwitz. Leutnant maybe. But the others are rather easy words, especially Führer he would've heard day in and day out. I also found it hard to believe that Bruno would never have heard of jewish people. The propaganda would've been omnipresent at school and in everyday life, especially with having a high ranking Nazi father.
After finishing the book I read an article that also mentioned how Auschwitz was depicted wrong and failed to mention the resistance of the imprisoned, it also cleared up that children were usually killed straight away because it was believed that they were not useful for forced labor.
I want to mention a cute moment that made me smile waswhen Bruno and Shmuel met for the first time and Bruno decided that he probably was the only one named Bruno because he didn't know anyone else with the name.
I'll say that it was clever to discover the atrocities happening at Auschwitz through the innocent eyes of a kid, not being able to imagine how horrible the life for the jewish people could really be.
However, as a German, I found it hard to believe that a 9 year old boy wasn't able to pronounce Führer and Auschwitz. Leutnant maybe. But the others are rather easy words, especially Führer he would've heard day in and day out. I also found it hard to believe that Bruno would never have heard of jewish people. The propaganda would've been omnipresent at school and in everyday life, especially with having a high ranking Nazi father.
After finishing the book I read an article that also mentioned how Auschwitz was depicted wrong and failed to mention the resistance of the imprisoned, it also cleared up that children were usually killed straight away because it was believed that they were not useful for forced labor.
I want to mention a cute moment that made me smile was
ashleybenbow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
2.0
gloechic's review against another edition
3.0
I would have rated this lower as others have if it weren't for two things: it being called "a fable" at the beginning & the author's admission that Bruno was an extremely naive child. I personally think he sounded more like a 6 year old than 9, & it was a bit annoying. I got the feel that this book was written for children & not adults. It very much simplified a complex situation. However, it did have a powerful ending.
graberry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
This YA book is a very simplistic view of the events of the Halocaust. There are some historical inaccuracies but I suppose as a piece of fiction it doesn't need to be totally accurate. I like that it's told from the view point of a very naive 9 year old boy and witnessing the events from that time through his innocent eyes and understanding. Bruno's blissful ignorance was adorable. It really broke my heart knowing what was really going on.
The book does a good job demonstrating that prejudice is learned and not naturally present in the young. And it's not explicit in detailing the brutalities of the Halocaust.
The book does a good job demonstrating that prejudice is learned and not naturally present in the young. And it's not explicit in detailing the brutalities of the Halocaust.
threalmrrbll's review against another edition
4.0
2 saat surdu totalde okumam ve INSAN ICINDE OKUMAYIN AGLIYORSUNUZ!!!!!!!!!!
lucygwrites's review against another edition
1.0
I have to admit I was disappointed in this book. I have read many other Holocaust books, and though I would not call myself anything close to an expert, there were many inaccuracies that fundamentally changed the course of the story.
For one, the entire plot regarding meeting at the fence would’ve been impossible because of how closely guarded they were as well as them being electrically active.
But one of the biggest things for me was that this book felt like it severely toned down the horrors of The Holocaust to just a bad vacation, which it was to Bruno but not to so many others. For such a hyped book it didn’t do the real life event justice.
As for the writing, it came off as childish to me and while I understand that it was from a child’s perspective, I feel that it was too childish.
That said, I did enjoy the book. I particularly liked how Bruno mispronounced/misspelled important titles/names. I had a big AHA moment when I figured out what they really were.
Ultimately, this was a quick read that I enjoyed but I wouldn’t recommend because of the inaccuracies.
Lots of love!
For one, the entire plot regarding meeting at the fence would’ve been impossible because of how closely guarded they were as well as them being electrically active.
But one of the biggest things for me was that this book felt like it severely toned down the horrors of The Holocaust to just a bad vacation, which it was to Bruno but not to so many others. For such a hyped book it didn’t do the real life event justice.
As for the writing, it came off as childish to me and while I understand that it was from a child’s perspective, I feel that it was too childish.
That said, I did enjoy the book. I particularly liked how Bruno mispronounced/misspelled important titles/names. I had a big AHA moment when I figured out what they really were.
Ultimately, this was a quick read that I enjoyed but I wouldn’t recommend because of the inaccuracies.
Lots of love!
newsteph09's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
soulfood_books's review against another edition
4.0
The only reason I gave this four stars is because it was the saddest ending ever. I really shouldn’t judge for that but I wasn’t ready for that. I almost cried. Other than that I loved this book. I couldn’t stop turning the page and it’s small too so you can fly right through it.
nicwn's review against another edition
1.0
The book that set Holocaust education back decades. Please don’t read this book!
https://www.kveller.com/the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas-set-holocaust-education-back-by-decades-now-its-getting-a-sequel/
https://www.kveller.com/the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas-set-holocaust-education-back-by-decades-now-its-getting-a-sequel/