When reading the story of a boy who has moved to an isolated place leaving his beloved friends behind, you will feel all the emotions and perspective of a naive boy during the wretched holocaust; The Boy in The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne shows the true contrast of a boy named Bruno’s cluelessness, and the scary environment in which he lives. This book will educate you in a way that you will always remember. Also, if you are looking for a good quick read this book is for you.

After young Bruno has moved, because of his dad’s job as commandant at Auschwitz concentration camp during the holocaust, he finds himself longing for a friend when no one there with him understands his love of exploration. One day Bruno decides to explore the backyard his mother has told him to go no where near, he finds a boy on the other side of a fence that he finds to be quite affable. This powerful book tells the story of how one boy found the good that everyone refuses to see in a person and the tragic ending to an inspiring adventure.

One thing I love very much about this story is how a boy who hadn’t really been taught his community’s thoughts yet got his own opinion by not knowing those very things. I find it so great that he could make friends with someone people in his community could never think to be colleagues with (under the influence of nobody's opinions but his own). When I was reading the ending, I thought how it conveys the true emotions of the holocaust and what damage it has done.

The dramatic irony in this book is how we know what is going on and Bruno doesn’t, for example we know why the fence is there and why people are on other side but Bruno has no clue, only assumptions. The start of this book is when Bruno moves and becomes very lonely. The main action in the story that defines what happens in the rest of the book is when Bruno becomes friends with the boy on the other side of the fence. The final journey in this book is when Bruno decides he wants the life of his new friend and you will have to see how the story ends when you read the book. So, if you are a reader that loves not just history but a story of a great friendship you will sure love this book. I would highly recommend this powerful book.