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blueyorkie's review against another edition
2.0
I have read many good comments on this book; many say that this book was a favorite. My opinion will be different. Indeed the story is beautiful and moving; it touches on a tricky subject, and everything that deals with the holocaust and Nazism fascinates me, but it was not a favorite.
I did not appreciate the characters apart from Schmuel, who touched me greatly concerning what he saw. Bruno's essence is unbearable; he is a naive child who thinks only of playing and complains because he has no friends. I understand that Bruno does not understand what is going on, primarily if no one has explained it to him, but at nine years old, I think a child is old enough to understand those strange things that happen when he sees people dressed the same skinny and white. The writing is fluid and straightforward. I didn't like the author repeating the same sentences several times as if we hadn't understood. On the other hand, I appreciated that he used the terms "furrier" for fuhrer and "Nodding" for Auschwitz, which would allow a child who reads the book to understand and not get lost in terms that are difficult to comprehend. The end is harsh, even if it is very predictable.
In conclusion, it is a book for young and old people, but it was not the book that caught my attention.
I did not appreciate the characters apart from Schmuel, who touched me greatly concerning what he saw. Bruno's essence is unbearable; he is a naive child who thinks only of playing and complains because he has no friends. I understand that Bruno does not understand what is going on, primarily if no one has explained it to him, but at nine years old, I think a child is old enough to understand those strange things that happen when he sees people dressed the same skinny and white. The writing is fluid and straightforward. I didn't like the author repeating the same sentences several times as if we hadn't understood. On the other hand, I appreciated that he used the terms "furrier" for fuhrer and "Nodding" for Auschwitz, which would allow a child who reads the book to understand and not get lost in terms that are difficult to comprehend. The end is harsh, even if it is very predictable.
In conclusion, it is a book for young and old people, but it was not the book that caught my attention.
booksandblossoms_'s review against another edition
1.0
I need to start off by saying that this book was not what I was expecting. I don’t even know what I was expecting, but it’s not what I got. I refuse to believe that a 9 year old boy whose life in Germany is uprooted to move into a new house next to a concentration camp, that the book so frustratingly refers to as “Out-With” (Auschwitz), has absolutely no clue about what’s going on around him. I also find it insanely unbelievable that the boy would have no idea what a Jew is, considering his father was a high-ranking official for Germany.
estherbullock's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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!