The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By: John Boyne

Narrated by: Michael Maloney

The story of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some information about the audiobook, but in this case we think that would spoil the listening. We think it's important that you start to listen without knowing what it is about.

If you do start to listen, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. (Though this isn't a story for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later, you will arrive with Bruno at the fence.

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope that you never have to encounter such a fence.

©2006 John Boyne (P)2006 Random House Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"His combination of strong characterization and simple, honest narrative make this powerful and memorable tale a unique addition to Holocaust literature." (School Library Journal

Compelling Fable

unique perspective of the main character, impactful conclusion, found some of the elements hard to accept, but as the author said at the end, we have the benefit of hindsight.

Excellent book

What did you love best about The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

The humanity of Bruno and his mother. The way Bruno is trying to think for himself when all around him are howling with the wolves.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Shmuel. Even after Bruno betrays him, he forgives him. He could have hated him, I mean Bruno had his freedom and was the son of a nazi but Bruno, bruises and all, forgives him.

Have you listened to any of Michael Maloney’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any before but I enjoyed this and hopefully will find more books with this narration in the future.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I think perhaps I did.

Any additional comments?

This books is fantastic because it presents a horrible subject in a bit of a white washed way for children yet they understand a horrific thing is happening. A child listening to this would have the knowledge hindsight that the character of Bruno does not have but also sees it from his eyes. I am Jewish and so I understand the need to present accurate holocaust portrayals but when children are involved, we have to teach it in spurts and make them think. Bruno is trying to understand why things are happening and sees that what he is being told is not right. Bruno does not howl with the wolves as his father and sister do but he also loves his father. It is a moral dilemma set in horrific background and that adds to it. Bruno can either do what he think is is right or he can follow the crowd. With more people like Bruno you might not have had a place like Auschwitz to begin with.

It is a book that is not just a story. Not just a "the holocaust was bad". The kids of today know that already. This was book that should make them think "Would I have been Bruno and followed my heart, head and conviction....found courage in the face of horror or would I have been Lieutenant Kotler or Herr Liszt?"

Books like this should make us examine those questions and hopefully, within ourselves, find our own Bruno

Innocent Yet Dark

Nuisance period for one, the darkest lifetime for another. Small gesture for one, warm fulfilling meal for another. Fences between people from two different spaces; yet of the same world. Friendships that is natural yet somewhat unlikely. Great adventure for one; same fate for both.
Provoking, touching, brutal, innocence, all in this amazing story.

Eye Opening

What did you love best about The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

By knowing the background of the actual history before listening to this book, you get to have those funny insights. For example, when you here Bruno calling his new home "Outwith", you know it's really Auschwitz; when the boys are discussing their family's patches on their clothes, Bruno's father with the swastika and Schmuel's with the star of David, Bruno doesn't know whether he prefers his father's symbol or Schmuel's when we all know on the other side of the book that the patches showed the difference between life or death in Germany, essentially.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

The ending for the two boys is unmistakably heart-wrenching. Hearing the part about how more than anything Bruno was not going to let go of Schmuel's hand made me feel vulnerable, to say the least. Listening to this story, you remember how you felt as a little kid: making new friends of all sorts; the loneliness of a new area; dealing with an older sibling who treats you like you don't know anything; trying your best to find a silver lining in everything; an innocent love and compassion for someone, whether they're like you or not.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. There were parts that were very funny, especially paired with Michael Maloney's voice, and parts that were very sad. I saw and own the movie, which makes me tear up every time, and the book is just as good. Usually I find the books that movies are based on to be much better than the film, but I feel like the book and film for this story are equally good.

Any additional comments?

This book is good for people of all ages, if you ask me. There would definitely be some things to discuss if you listen to this story as a family, because some things are not black and white about what happens, such as the ending. Younger readers might be confused about some of the things going on, like what happened to Pavel or why Bruno's family had to move or possibly even why Hitler believed in the Aryan race and nothing else. Even if you don't know very much beyond the top layer of WWII and the Holocaust, this story is one to embrace and internalize. Don't pass this one up if you like historical dramas.

Pretty Good<br />

Very good until the end which ended abruptly. Overall a great book! I would recommend this book to any young adults.

Wonderful Book,Powerful Ending

I really I joyed this book so much that it took me two days to finish it!
(That's not a much of a big thing with it being to short but with
Other books it dose not take me that long)
I went in to this book knowing not a thing about it other than it being about WWII.
The reason why I gave the story 4 stars is because the in the end
They made it clear by not making it clear. If it had a clearer ending
I would have gave it 5 stars.
It had a lot of what I like to call sad points, And a powerful ending.
This book had you at the end of your seat.
I loved the reader; He was great. I know I am going to get more of his stuff.
Yes the story was not real but what that boy when though was.
And if your looking to buy this book I would say yes,buy it

Good book from 9 year old POV

I knew very little about this book except it was also a movie. Quickly after starting, I could tell it was a holocaust story from the tone of the reader. It began a bit slow but quickly captured me as I traveled through Bruno's experiences moving to Germany where his father relocated his family to work at the concentration camps.

I love how the author does not tell you so much, you have to have some understanding of WW2 Germany. The Name Hitler was used once. A younger person who reads this may have a lot of questions.

I didn't see this as a young adult book. When I read reviews, I learned that this book was used in schools and under the YA section.

The only complaint I have is about the editing of the audio. Many times, the reader was clipped at the very end of his sentence. The editing was so tight that this brought me out of the story each disjointed time the reader was edited before he was done with his words completely.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

This book is also my kind of book. Kept me interested through the whole story and tugged at my emotions.

Brilliantly written and read. Get out the tissues.

This was such a short amazing story. It was brilliantly written and performed. This story is about a boy whose father is a high ranking official in the Hitler regime. When they move to a new house called 'out-wit', the boy wonders why are all the other people and children wearing striped pajamas, have shaved heads, and what sorts of games they play beyond the fence. He wonders so much that he ventures off beyond the fence.
Definitely a tear jerker.

Glad I decided this book

It's a very good book and takes you back to a carefree perspective at a very unsafe time to be that way.