Title : A Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Author: John Boyne

Genre: Fiction

A narrative that leaves your heart heavy and your eyes teary… That is A Boy in the Striped Pajamas. 

Set in the backdrop of World War II, the story begins with a highly spirited  nine-year-old Bruno coming home to the news that they as a family  need to move to some other place out of Berlin. Bruno’s father is given a promotion as a Commander by Mr. Fury. Well, that is not the actual name, but Bruno’s interpretation of the actual name, which I do not want to reveal now.

Finally Bruno, his mother, sister Gretel, their maid Maria, along with dad move to a new but isolated place, which is Out-With, of course in Bruno’s lingo. He misses the streets of Berlin and his three friends. Other than family, he just sees Lieutenant Kotler, the soldier who reports to his dad and Pavel, the gardener cum attendee. 

Bruno sees a place, like a farm, from his window and is surprised to note that everyone there was just wearing striped shorts, pajamas and caps. He wonders why he isn’t allowed to go there. To wade off his boredom, Bruno interacts deeply with Maria and changes his perception about her. He is also surprised to note that Pavel was indeed a doctor who is peeling vegetables at his house.

Bruno, the Explorer sneaks out and goes near the farm and meets a boy of his age named Shmuel. A barbed fence separates the duo. Bruno can’t believe the life that Shmuel leads there. Through Shmuel, Bruno assumes that Out-With is in Poland. A unique friendship brews between the boys.

Days pass by and Bruno feels that his mother wants them to go back to Berlin. He is in a state of shock as he doesn’t want to leave Shmuel.The nature too seems sad about the departure and it pours down as Bruno pays Shmuel a final visit. They plan this well before and Bruno manages to go across the fence into the farm wearing the striped pajamas.. As he steps inside, he feels a discomfort but wants to stay around to help his friend find his father. They are shoved inside a gas chamber and that is the last time someone saw Bruno as well as Shmuel.

Now to reveal, Out-With is Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp in Poland and Shmuel a Jew, who is held captive in the camp. Now, you know who’s Mr. Fury, don’t you? The terror of holocaust, the feeling of missing one’s home, the yearning for a companion will, for sure, speed up the heart rate of the reader

Bruno’s and Shmuel’s innocence and loneliness travel with us throughout the book. The boys make us yearn for Shmuel to come out of the camp and for Bruno to find a good friend. 

This is one book whose movie adaptation I don’t regret watching. The movie of the same name, does complete justice to the book. 

Pic Courtesy: https://www.amazon.in/Striped-Pyjamas-Vintage-Childrens-Classics/dp/0099572869