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gothiclibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
The basic of synopsis of this book is Bruno is 9 years old growing up in Berlin who's family moves to Poland for his father's job. One day Bruno is exploring the grounds and comes to a fence with an emaciated boy his age on the other side. The two form a friendship and meet nearly every day at the same spot to talk, until one day when things begin to change.
I loved this book. I'm a huge historical fiction fan so I will read anything of that genre that you put in front of me. I read a lot during my lunch breaks at work, when the guys on my team aren't around (silly part-timers). Josh came in saw the book and goes "Oh, I saw the movie, what part are you at?" I told him and he promised that he wouldn't ruin the ending. Neither will I, and I'm glad he didn't. The end made me cry so hard. Complete sobs, to be honest. I didn't see it coming.
I did love how this novel was written. It was written without any 20/20 hindsight, which was so interesting to me. It is also completely written through a child's naive ego-centric perspective. I was kind of blown away by that. I've read a lot of books from the child's point of view, but there is usually some semblance of adulthood sneaking in.
I also really liked that you're kind of intentionally confused (mildly) because Bruno, being a typical child, mispronounces words. The best example is Out-With. I won't tell you what it really stands for, because you may not figure it out until the middle of the novel if you're like me, and when it clicks it's awesome.
I liked the ending to an extent. The last couple pages were kind of a let down in a way. After such an epic scene, the actual ending of the book seemed kind of superfluous. But it made me cry so hard. I even called Matt and told him, and he even teared up.
I'm undecided if I am going to watch the movie. I really want to, but if the book made me cry that hard, I can't imagine how hard the movie will make me cry. I may need Matt, tissues, triscuits and ice cream for support.
I loved this book. I'm a huge historical fiction fan so I will read anything of that genre that you put in front of me. I read a lot during my lunch breaks at work, when the guys on my team aren't around (silly part-timers). Josh came in saw the book and goes "Oh, I saw the movie, what part are you at?" I told him and he promised that he wouldn't ruin the ending. Neither will I, and I'm glad he didn't. The end made me cry so hard. Complete sobs, to be honest. I didn't see it coming.
I did love how this novel was written. It was written without any 20/20 hindsight, which was so interesting to me. It is also completely written through a child's naive ego-centric perspective. I was kind of blown away by that. I've read a lot of books from the child's point of view, but there is usually some semblance of adulthood sneaking in.
I also really liked that you're kind of intentionally confused (mildly) because Bruno, being a typical child, mispronounces words. The best example is Out-With. I won't tell you what it really stands for, because you may not figure it out until the middle of the novel if you're like me, and when it clicks it's awesome.
I liked the ending to an extent. The last couple pages were kind of a let down in a way. After such an epic scene, the actual ending of the book seemed kind of superfluous. But it made me cry so hard. I even called Matt and told him, and he even teared up.
I'm undecided if I am going to watch the movie. I really want to, but if the book made me cry that hard, I can't imagine how hard the movie will make me cry. I may need Matt, tissues, triscuits and ice cream for support.
sfarfalfa's review against another edition
Ahistorical and perpetuates the “both sides” myth.
Bruno, by law, would have been required to be part of the H-tler Youth and attend a German school wherein students would be made to swear an oath to the Führer and consume unimaginable volumes of Antisemitic, Romaphobic, Slavophobic, anti-queer propaganda. He would not have been an innocent, ignorant little boy unaware of the violent regime he resides under, but an active participant in its backbone and perpetuation, as well as, given whose son he was, some kind of Wehrmacht officer in the making.
Bruno, by law, would have been required to be part of the H-tler Youth and attend a German school wherein students would be made to swear an oath to the Führer and consume unimaginable volumes of Antisemitic, Romaphobic, Slavophobic, anti-queer propaganda. He would not have been an innocent, ignorant little boy unaware of the violent regime he resides under, but an active participant in its backbone and perpetuation, as well as, given whose son he was, some kind of Wehrmacht officer in the making.
dptiff08's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sammueller's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
This was a re-read. This time though. I read with 8th graders. Interesting to hear their thoughts throughout.
dharma_s's review against another edition
Okay, the story was good, the characters were a little bland. I really don't understand how Bruno, a 9 year old could be so clueless. Like it's seriously annoying how he doesn't pick up on anything.
That ending just threw me so bad. I kind of sat there for a while with the book closed.
That ending just threw me so bad. I kind of sat there for a while with the book closed.
carsonelainee's review against another edition
3.0
i’ve had this book on my shelf for easily 10 years and have just never read it. i picked it up on a whim yesterday and sat down and read it.
the writing style is so easy to read, partly because it’s written through the mind of a 9-year-old. bruno is living through this horrendous time and horrendous events, but has no idea about anything that is going on. he has no idea why he’s had to move to out-with (it took me half the book to figure out what camp out-with was supposed to be and as sound as i figured it out, i felt like i had been sucker punched) and he has no idea why there are people who look so sad who have to live on the other side of the fence. he maintains his innocence right up until the end.
when i was younger, i used to watch this movie all the time. so i knew what was going to happen, but you’re able to see the nativity of bruno in his final moments clearer than you do in the movie.
still absolutely heartbreaking either way.
the writing style is so easy to read, partly because it’s written through the mind of a 9-year-old. bruno is living through this horrendous time and horrendous events, but has no idea about anything that is going on. he has no idea why he’s had to move to out-with (it took me half the book to figure out what camp out-with was supposed to be and as sound as i figured it out, i felt like i had been sucker punched) and he has no idea why there are people who look so sad who have to live on the other side of the fence. he maintains his innocence right up until the end.
when i was younger, i used to watch this movie all the time. so i knew what was going to happen, but you’re able to see the nativity of bruno in his final moments clearer than you do in the movie.
still absolutely heartbreaking either way.
mhinnen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
I read this after reading the sequel and honestly found it problematic. The sequel troubles me too, so I guess I should have expected it. It’s written as a fable, focused on the story of 9 year old Bruno. The premise is that a young boy, the son of a Nazi commander, moves with his family next to “Out-with” and befriends Shmuel a “boy in striped pajamas.” It is written in a way that Bruno is naive and innocent of all that is happening, who his father is, who his father’s boss “The Fury” is, and who his new friend is. All of this innocence leads to a tragic ending that is focused on Bruno and his family and not on the horror that is happening on the other side of the fence! The reality is that Bruno and his older sister would have been indoctrinated, not protected, from what was happening. When Bruno betrays his friend, we know his feelings of sadness and guilt and his relief that Shmuel remains his friend even after receiving a severe beating. Bruno and Shmuel are supposedly best friends but Shmuel never reveals what is actually happening let alone asking Bruno for his father to intervene on his family’s behalf.
There was so much wrong with the centering of the Nazi family and inaccuracies about the role of children in the Third Reich. Bruno would have been loyal not only to his father but to all that was happening to secure the next generation in Hitler’s nightmare.
There was so much wrong with the centering of the Nazi family and inaccuracies about the role of children in the Third Reich. Bruno would have been loyal not only to his father but to all that was happening to secure the next generation in Hitler’s nightmare.
katee_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
readingwithsab's review against another edition
2.0
i am very cautious rating this book so lowly as it’s about the holocaust, but based on other reviews i’ve read, in addition to my own opinions, i feel that this book deserves two stars because it was ultimately “okay” — there are so many plot holes that submerging into the plot was difficult, the pacing was very off and the ending felt very rushed.
can’t say that i would recommend others to read the book, and there are many others (in this genre) which are better
can’t say that i would recommend others to read the book, and there are many others (in this genre) which are better