The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
| File:Boyinthestripedpyjamas.jpg First edition cover | |
| Author | John Boyne |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children, Historical, Tragicomedy |
| Publisher | David Fickling Books |
Publication date | 5 January 2006 |
| Publication place | Ireland |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-385-60940-X Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (ISBN 0-385-60940-X) (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 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]
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 main character, a nine year-old boy called 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 storey mansion, but are one day suddenly moved to a place called Out-With (Auschwitz).[4] Bruno, outraged by his father's decision to move to Out-With, and desperate to go home, spends his time in his room with no friends. He is also annoyed by the fact that they live in a three story house instead of their old five-story mansion, and with such a small space, there isn't any room for exploration (a hobby of Bruno's) to be done. He also misses sliding down the banister in their old house.
From his bedroom window, Bruno spots a fence with people in striped pyjamas behind it. 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 the 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. One 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 and they 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 do not accomplish this task, 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, where chaos ensues, yet they discover the bonds of their friendship are very tight. This is where Bruno and Shmuel both die, in the gas chamber, even though Bruno wasn't a Jew.
The book ends with the effects of Bruno's disappearance on his family (his un-discovered accidential death) and his father discovering his clothes outside of the fence.
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 the UK, and October 3, 2008 in Finland. [5]
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 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]
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]
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]
References
- ^ a b Wright, Ed (2006-01-03). "Book Review: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas". The Age. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Ness, Fiona (2006-02-05). "Walking into darkness". The Sunday Business Post. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Interview with Children's Author John Boyne (2006)". Sarah Webb. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
- ^ a b Hughes, Kathryn (2006-01-21). "Educating Bruno". The Guardian. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) (contains plot detail) - ^ http://imdb.com/title/tt0914798/releaseinfo
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (2006)". John Boyne. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
- ^ a b "Irish Book Awards 2007". Kennys Irish Bookshop. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
- ^ Kellaway, Kate (2006-01-08). "The stuff of nightmares". Guardian. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Eller, Claudia (2007-03-30). "Miramax's newest star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Hardcover)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2006-08-11.