Bruno, a nine-year-old boy living in Berlin, comes home from school to the day that change his life forever. He is told him and his family are moving because of his dads job to the "Out-with." He's not sure what the "Out-with" stands for but he is for sure that it can be no better then their magnificent house in Berlin, and he was right. The day of the big moves come and when they reach their new home it's very remote and has no other houses within miles of them. Bruno is unsatisfied but he knows he can't make his family move back home, because this is their new home. He wants to explore around the home, but his mother told him he is not allowed to leave the ground inside of the fence that surrounds the house. He tries to explore but there is noting interesting just grass, a tree and a shed. He decides to unpack, and while unpacking he looks through his window. He sees huts, and people of every age and height,for miles on end all wearing the exact same striped pajamas. However, he is not sure what it is. So, he asks his sister, Gretel, to come take a look. Gretel says that they are farmers that live on the countryside as she explains to him, and Bruno is eager to explore this "countryside" his sister speaks of. He knows he is not suppose to explore but he does anyway. He escaped through a window in the shed behind his house. He finds a trail leading through the woods and as he walks along it he comes to a tall fence. He continues to walk along the fence, until he comes close to the end of it and there he finds a young boy sitting in blue and white dirty and old pajamas. They talk for a little while with no introduction, Bruno thinks he finally found a friend that he can spend time with. The only problems is the fence dividing them, and their lives. After talking, Bruno introduces himself, and the other boy does also, his name is Shmuel. For many days they continue to meet at the exact same spot. They eventually find out that they are both nine, and have the same exact birthday also. Bruno doesn't tell any of his family about is new friend worried that his parents will stop him from going any longer. One day Bruno wakes up to see Shmuel washing glasses in his home. Bruno's father's friends, the Nazi's, are in the room with Shmuel, but eventually they leave and Bruno and Shmuel begin the talk and Bruno gives him food because he looks starved. The Nazi's walk in and see Shmuel with food and take it away, angry because they are convinced that he stole it. When Bruno and Shmuel meet the next day, Shmuel had even more marks then usual. Bruno wanted to make it up to him because he knew he was hurt more because of what Bruno did. Shmuel had been telling Bruno how his grandpa was missing, so Bruno and Shmuel decided that the next day Bruno would sneak under the fence in a spot where it was just enough room for him to fit under. The next day Bruno found out that it would be his last day in the "Out-with" and he would be leaving that evening. He knew he had to go help Shumel, so he did. He sneaked out the window and down the path to where him and Shumel met. Shumel was waiting with the striped pajamas so Bruno matched everyone and did not stand out. Bruno changed and let his shoes and clothes on his side of the fence and crawled under into Shumel's area. They raced back to the houses and began searching in every single one and there was no sight of Shumel's grandfather. They walked into another house right as the soldiers came in and directed everyone out into lines and directed them to a room where they were all told to take off there clothes and enter a room that had all cement walls and no windows. Bruno was worried and Shumel told him that they were just going to shower. But as soon as they got in the gas pellets were released.
The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is a fantastic, touching story that can make anyone's heart melt. It teaches us how everyone can be friends no matter the differences. I would recommend it to anyone from young teenager, to a grandma. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
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