The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
My name is Simone, I’m 13 years old and I’m going into 8th grade. I enjoy skiing, playing volleyball, skateboarding and I have a love for fashion.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a story about a nine year old boy named Bruno. Bruno lived
in Berlin, in a huge house. His father was a soldier but he never understood exactly what his father’s job was, or what the war was about. Bruno had very strict rules that his father set for him. Bruno’s normal life was ruined when he was told to pack everything and that they were moving because his dad got a new job. At their new house there were soldiers all around them always.
At the new house Bruno saw a tall fence that stretched a long distance. He saw men and boys wearing matching striped pajamas far away. His father told him, “Don’t worry about them,” but Bruno did think about them, often.
Bruno got bored and put up a tire swing. When he fell and hurt himself their servant helped his injured knee, even though he only cooks their meals. Bruno wondered why he was a servant instead of a doctor.
One day Bruno went to the fence and met Shmuel, a little boy on the other side of the fence. Bruno came to that same spot every day because he was happy that he had finally made a friend. One day he saw Shmuel in his kitchen cleaning glasses so he gave him some food. Bruno’s father thought Shmuel stole from them so he beat Shmuel.
Bruno’s family decided to move back to Berlin. Since Bruno and Shmuel had never played together, they wanted to hangout, just once. Bruno brought a pair of striped pajamas, that were the same as everyone else’s to blend in and sneak under the fence.
Something very tragic happens at the end of this story, read it to find out!
