The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Berlin, 1942. When nine-year-old Bruno gets home from school one day, he finds his belongings being packed up in crates. His father has received a promotion, and the family must move to a new house far away, where there is no-one to play with and nothing to do. When they arrive at their new home, Bruno is baffled by its isolation, and by the razor-wire fence which stretches around it as far as the eye can see. Surely there must be more to this desolate place than meets the eye? And who is the boy across the fence, wearing striped pyjamas? Subtly written yet devastatingly powerful, this is an unforgettable Holocaust tale of innocence, evil, and friendship across all boundaries.

“A small wonder of a book” The Guardian

“Quite impossible to put down, this is the rare kind of book that doesn’t leave your head for days.” The Bookseller

most of you loved this

Recent reviews

  • loved it

    It’s so compelling and emotional. Such a deep story told so simply. I was gripped and by the end I was in tears. I definitely suggest reading this book!

    30 January 2017

  • loved it

    So touching!!! I recommend this for 9 and up. John Boyne writes really great books!

    13 December 2016

  • I loved this book made me cry

    8 March 2014

  • loved it

    ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is written by John Boyne.

    It is about a boy called Bruno who is moved from his perfect house in Berlin to Auschwitz. He has no one to play with until he finds a boy called Shmeul who is a Jew. Of course Bruno doesn’t know this. They become best friends as time goes on and eventually Shmeul asks Bruno to go under the fence to help him find his Father. Bruno doesn’t think anything unusual of it and goes under the fence….........................

    Written by : Emily

    24 April 2013

  • touching and moving story, more for older readers. use insight to discover more about the war and people. my favrouite charecter was either shmuel (the jewish freind of brunos on the other side of the fence) or bruno himself as they are the best of freinds. its got a good moral of don’t mess with things that don’t concern you

    9 March 2013

See all reviews

Who's reading this?

We want to read this book

All people who want to read this

Authors

  • Awards

    John Boyne has won several awards for Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, including two Irish Book Awards and the Bisto Children’s Book Award.

Look inside

  • Preview 0
  • Preview 1
  • Preview 2
  • Preview 3
  • Preview 4
  • Preview 5
  • Preview 6
  • Preview 7

Rate this book

  1. loved it
  2. liked it
  3. okay
  4. not for me
  5. rubbish
Write about this book