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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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About this listen

Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution or the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas.

Bruno's friendship with Shmuel will take him from innocence to revelation. And in exploring what he is unwittingly a part of, he will inevitably become subsumed by the terrible process.

 20th Century Action & Adventure Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking

Critic Reviews

A small wonder of a book... A particular historical moment, one that cannot be told too often
The Holocaust as a subject insists on respect, precludes criticism, prefers silence.One thing is clear: this book will not go gently into any good night
An extraordinary tale of friendship and the horrors of war...Raw literary talent at its best
A book that lingers in the mind for quite some time...A subtle, calculatedly simple and ultimately moving story
Simply written and highly memorable.There are no monstrosities on the page but the true horror is all the more potent for being implicit
Stays ahead of its readers before delivering its killer-punch final pages
Full of shocking juxtapositions and leads to a horrifying denouement ... this is a deeply affecting novel.
A very human and profoundly moving introduction to one of the darkest moments in history.
All stars
Most relevant
I almost have no words. This is incredible. The narrator is the best I’ve listened to. And the story. Just wow. The writer is so good. Just listen to it, you won’t regret it.

Incredible.

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An extraordinarily powerful piece of writing recounting the nazi prison camp story of WW2.
The narrator was brilliant.

A story for all generations

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This book took me by on a most memorable and poignant journey. The narration was superb and I’m eager to listen to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Wonderfully crafted

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An absolute masterpiece. Brilliant concept of hinting at the horrors of the holocaust via an innocent little German boy.

Powerful.

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I loved this book because it had a great story line to it and was a very sad book.
I would recommend it to people 12 and above because it is probably to depressing for younger ages.

It is Amazing!

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