A Heart-Breaking Story about Friendship and Innocence: The boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, Reviewed

 Santiago Rocha

“The boy in the Striped Pajamas” is a book written by John Boyne in 2006, it is a book filled with emotion and horrors of the Holocaust, it is a book full of emotions and it is all viewed from the perception of a young boy called Bruno, Bruno is the son of a Nazi coronel. This book explores the deep impact of the story and its ability to remind us of the ability of humans to feel compassion and friendship even in the darkest times. The story focuses on a kid named Bruno who is a young German boy whose dad is a high-ranking Nazi officer. Bruno's family is relocates to Auschwitz where his father is promoted to a camp commandant, Bruno find himself being lonely and isonaled, But one day he sees what he believes to be a farm, some days later he goes to the supposed farm and he finds himself a boy named Shmuel a kid with similar age to him the only thing differentiating them from each other was a set of striped pijamas tha Shmuel used and barbed wire fence that separated them. Bruno and Shmuel start a friendship and Bruno decides to keep the friendship a secret. One of the aspects that make the book stand out is the fantastic use of narrative perspective. The story is narrated from Brunos innocent viewpoint and takes place at Auschwitz and focuses on the tragedy of the Holocaust and the contrast between the innocence of childhood and the cruelty of the adult world. Brunos innocence leads to him being looked at as a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. Shmuel on the other hand represents the millions of victims of the Holocaust. As the story develops the reality of Auschwitz starts to shine through Brunos eyes and eventually leads to a sad yet awakening ending. “The boy in the striped pajamas' ' is a book that transmits a wide range of emotions that wil have the power to make you laugh with Brunos innocent questions and cry at the climax. The book will linger in your throughts long after reading it and will promp deep meaningful reflections on friendship and the consequences of prejudice. In conclusion this book is a powerful thought provoking novel that trabsmits the Holocaust through the eyes of innocence. It is a book that will touch every reader's heart and will remind us that childhood friendship is innocent and pure and as well of the importance of Empathy, Tolerance, and strength of the human spriti during dark times.