The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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| The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas | |
 First edition cover |
|
| Author | John Boyne |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Series | Andrew Wilson |
| Genre(s) | Children, Historical, Tragicomedy |
| Publisher | David Fickling Books |
| Publication date | 5 January 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-385-60940-X |
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (ISBN 0-385-60940-X) (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in USA) is a 2006 novel by John Boyne. This is the first Boyne book written for children.[1][2].
Unlike the months of planning Boyne had for his other books, he said that he wrote the entire first draft of Boy in two and a half days, barely sleeping until he got to the end.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
This book is a story about a nine year old boy trying to understand what is happening around him in (Out-With) Auschwitz during World War II.
The nine year-old boy Bruno, is the son of strict commander of a Nazi concentration camp. He has a strong headed sister, Gretel (the Hopeless Case). They live in a five story mansion, but are one day suddenly moved to a place called Out-With (Auschwitz).[4] Bruno, angered and confused by his father's decision to move to Out-With, and desperate to go home, spends his time in his room, with no friends to play with. He misses their old five-story mansion, as with such a small space, there isn't any room for exploration (a hobby of Bruno's), misses sliding down the banister in their old house, and misses his friends.
From his bedroom window, Bruno spots a fence behind which he sees many people in 'striped pajamas'. These are the Jews, and they are in a concentration camp. One day his parents come to an agreement that both Bruno and Gretel (his sister) need a tutor for their education so they hire Herr Liszt. To Bruno, Herr Liszt is the most boring teacher one could ever have - because he teaches science (such as geography and history), instead of reading and arts, which Bruno prefers. So, in boredom and confusion he wonders what is going on at Out-With and why people are always dressed in striped pajamas there. On the afternoon he goes exploring. What he finds is a boy, a Jewish boy called Shmuel, a name Bruno has never heard of before but apparently is quite common among Shmuel's own people. He soon becomes Bruno's friend and Bruno goes to see him every afternoon to talk. Bruno is told by his sister that the people in the striped pyjamas on the other side of the fence are Jews and that he and his family are "the opposite". Shortly after this, Bruno and Gretel get a bad case of lice and Bruno has to have his head shaved. This makes him look a lot more like his friend Shmuel and he finds himself thinking that it is as if "they weren't all that different, really."
The story ends with Bruno about to leave Out-With and return to his previous home with his mother and sister. As a final adventure, he agrees to dress in a set of striped pyjamas and climb under a loose wire in the fence to help Shmuel find his father, who has gone missing in the camp. They are unable to find him, and just as it starts to rain and Bruno decides he would like to go home, the people in the area of the camp which the boys are in must go on a 'march'. Neither boy knows where this march will lead. However, they are crowded into a gas chamber, and the author leaves the story with Bruno pondering, yet unafraid, in the dark.
The book ends with the effects of Bruno's disappearance on his family and his father discovering his clothes outside the fence, and realising the implications of this.
[edit] Film
A Miramax film adaptation of the novel was shot in Budapest between April and June 2007. The film will be released September 12, 2008 in Ireland and the UK, on September 17, 2008 in China and Japan, and on October 3, 2008 in Finland.[5]
[edit] Awards
The novel has been shortlisted for many literary awards including:
- In Ireland, shortlisted for 3 Irish Book Awards[6]: the Novel of the Year[7], the People's Choice Book of the Year, and the Children's Book of the Year[7]. It won 2 awards.
- In England, shortlisted for The Hampshire Book Awards 2008
- In the UK, shortlisted for the British Children's Book of the Year, Ottakar's Children's Book Prize[3][6][8], the Berkshire Book Award[6], and the Sheffield Children's Book Prize[6].
- In the UK, it was longlisted for the 2006 Carnegie Medal.[6]
- In Italy, shortlisted for the Paolo Ungari Literary Award.[6]
- In the USA, shortlisted for the Border's Original Voices Award.[6]
- In 2007, Miramax started shooting a film adaptation in Budapest.[9]
[edit] Book cover
There are several covers available:
- striped in a dull blue and white, reminiscent of the striped pyjamas of the title.[2]
- an old looking cover with a picture of part of a boy in the pyjamas, but the picture only in greyscale
- a picture of part of two boys in the pyjamas, side by side, maybe lining up for inspection.
Reflecting the author's view that books should be read without foreknowledge of the contents, there is no 'blurb' on the book jacket.[2][10] In fact, Boyne was angry when The Guardian revealed the ending in their review.[2]
[edit] Appropriateness for children
When Boyne finished his first draft, he gave it to his agent, Simon Trewin at PFD, saying, "I’ve written this book, it’s very different to anything I’ve done before. I think it may be a children’s book but I think adults might like it too."[3]
Ed Wright of The Age noted that the subject matter (the Holocaust) may lead parents to "find [themselves] needing to explain the Holocaust."[1] However, Kathryn Hughes of The Guardian felt that because the book is at a slow enough pace children can learn all about the events at that time.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wright, Ed. "Book Review: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", The Age, 2006-01-03. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
- ^ a b c d Ness, Fiona. "Walking into darkness", The Sunday Business Post, 2006-02-05. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
- ^ a b c Interview with Children’s Author John Boyne (2006). Sarah Webb. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
- ^ a b Hughes, Kathryn. "Educating Bruno", The Guardian, 2006-01-21. Retrieved on 2006-07-31. (contains plot detail)
- ^ The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) - Release dates
- ^ a b c d e f g The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (2006). John Boyne. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
- ^ a b Irish Book Awards 2007. Kennys Irish Bookshop. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
- ^ Kellaway, Kate. "The stuff of nightmares", Guardian, 2006-01-08. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
- ^ Eller, Claudia. "Miramax's newest star", Los Angeles Times, 2007-03-30. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Hardcover). Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
