The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by James Boyne - When a case of lice changed everything...

Imagine going from living in a beautiful house, to moving to a worn down one. Then to make it worse, coming down with a case of lice. Yet this case of lice is the best thing that could’ve happened; a chance to escape.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by James Boyne is set in the time of the Holocaust, following the life of Bruno. This stood out to me as Bruno is the son of a respected high-ranking Nazi officer but is oblivious about the Holocaust as a child. The novel begins when Bruno discovers his family is leaving Berlin, and he feels sad about leaving his friends. Then, Bruno begins to wonder if his father got in trouble with “the Fury,” or as later revealed, Hitler.

Upon arrival at the new house, “Out-With,” Bruno isn’t impressed and states it’s the opposite from back in Berlin. “Out-With” was isolated and was smaller than their house from before. Bruno notes that one of the rooms would serve as his father’s office, which was a restricted area.

However, when Bruno looks out the window, he sees it; the fence. The two sides of the fences are significantly different. The side of the fence Bruno is on has flowers decorating the grass, the other side was plain but filled with people. The wire fence itself was high with wooden posts holding it. One day, Bruno decides to go outside to explore. There at the fence, he meets Shmuel. The first thing Bruno notes about Shmuel is his striped pajamas. The next was the star. 

Shmuel and Bruno build a fast connection, despite the fence that separates them. The coincidence that was shocking for me, was their shared birthday. With time, their friendship only grows, with Bruno's innocence highlighted. Once he tells Shmuel he should crawl under the fence and join his family for dinner.

One day, Bruno and his older sister, Gretel, get a case of lice, resulting in Bruno getting his hair shaved. When Bruno meets Shmuel, they look alike and then the fence seems to disappear. Finally, there is a surprising plot twist that ends with escape, and death.

I really enjoyed several aspects of this novel. First, the choice of perspective. Originally, I didn’t think much of a child’s perspective. However, as the novel progressed, this perspective made the book stand out. With Bruno’s cluelessness about the Holocaust, I believe it allowed for more focus on the friendship itself, and details with less bias. Next, the use of a seemingly minor event as the major plot turn kept the book suspenseful. The case of lice had me wondering where the book would go next, and I would have never guessed that the case of lice was the main factor, the final detail, that led to the end. Finally, how friendship is highlighted. I enjoyed the connection between Bruno and Shmuel, and the novel’s emphasis on these connections regardless of the differences. Despite the sad ending, I believe it gives the heartfelt message that friendships can form regardless of distance and boundaries; and in this case, a fence.

Overall, this novel had a fun and suspenseful plot that led up to the moment of fate at the end, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a short historical fiction read!

• Hyelynn