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emmilene's review against another edition
3.0
Such a sad ending! The only problem I have with this book is that Bruno is not curious, I have 4 younger siblings, and they ask me questions constantly when they are confused. I think that if a little kid sees something like that they probably will try to figure it out by asking questions. Not keep it a secret. I wonder how many kids in WW2 knew about concentration camps and what happened there.
misaqi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
This book was shorter than I thought, but very impactful still. I read a decent amount of books set in the World War II timeline, however, this book was very different from the rest of them. I really liked how the “narrator” was a nine-year-old German boy, and we saw the events (that we already know about from history) in his eyes. This book was incredibly sad, as expected, but not for the reason I thought it would be sad. Because Bruno is the one who is telling the story and he sees things from a child’s point of view I didn’t cry until the ending, where it all just hit me.
mindyb33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mollyrae348's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
goel_1996's review against another edition
3.0
Rating 3.5
Bruno is a son of a German official. Because of his dad's work, his family had to leave Berlin and move to a concentration camp. The decision baffles him, but Fury has big plans for his dad.
It's tough for the 9-year-old to adjust to his new life. There are no friends, and he misses everything about Berlin.
Eventually, he befriends a kid from the other side of the fence named Shmuelin.
Both of them meet daily and discuss their reflections of the world.
Bruno tries his best to counter the absurd things said by Shmuelin. He has an innocent yet rational take towards all the wrongdoings around him.
However, with time Bruno learns about the grim reality.
Bruno is a son of a German official. Because of his dad's work, his family had to leave Berlin and move to a concentration camp. The decision baffles him, but Fury has big plans for his dad.
It's tough for the 9-year-old to adjust to his new life. There are no friends, and he misses everything about Berlin.
Eventually, he befriends a kid from the other side of the fence named Shmuelin.
Both of them meet daily and discuss their reflections of the world.
Bruno tries his best to counter the absurd things said by Shmuelin. He has an innocent yet rational take towards all the wrongdoings around him.
However, with time Bruno learns about the grim reality.
kalschaef's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
salgalruns's review against another edition
3.0
Still pretty amazed that John Boyne was able to write a young adult story with such wonder about the Holocaust, I will never know. I found myself easily wrapped up in Bruno's life, and sighing with his innocence at the world around him.
Now, on the down side, if you read this as a true reflection of history, you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, read it more as a novel with elements of the Holocaust, and you're more apt to enjoy it. There are key points that drove me nuts, such as Bruno's terminology of "Out With" and "The Fury" (even though he was corrected multiple times yet never quite got it). BUT...if you suspend disbelief as many do when reading a novel, and look at him as insanely innocent and highly protected, you can sort of look past it. Okay, not completely, but for some reason I like the kid.
The author nailed it with the fact that children are so easily molded in their beliefs. I work with students daily, 9 year olds and 12 year olds... While elements of his sister rang true to those older sisters who are almost teenagers, he comes across as the clueless one. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it is strange that he doesn't understand much of what's going on around him AT ALL. Yes, you'd think he'd get it after his dad is so high up in the regime, or that soldiers are visiting, or that Hitler himself is having dinner with them, but nope. Not a clue.
Definitely an interesting read for discussion with kids. I'd be curious to see what middle schoolers thought of this book in it's relation to other books regarding the same time period.
Now, on the down side, if you read this as a true reflection of history, you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, read it more as a novel with elements of the Holocaust, and you're more apt to enjoy it. There are key points that drove me nuts, such as Bruno's terminology of "Out With" and "The Fury" (even though he was corrected multiple times yet never quite got it). BUT...if you suspend disbelief as many do when reading a novel, and look at him as insanely innocent and highly protected, you can sort of look past it. Okay, not completely, but for some reason I like the kid.
The author nailed it with the fact that children are so easily molded in their beliefs. I work with students daily, 9 year olds and 12 year olds... While elements of his sister rang true to those older sisters who are almost teenagers, he comes across as the clueless one. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it is strange that he doesn't understand much of what's going on around him AT ALL. Yes, you'd think he'd get it after his dad is so high up in the regime, or that soldiers are visiting, or that Hitler himself is having dinner with them, but nope. Not a clue.
Definitely an interesting read for discussion with kids. I'd be curious to see what middle schoolers thought of this book in it's relation to other books regarding the same time period.