Reading with Firefly

With The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, John Boyne draws the reader into the confusing and frightening world of Nazi WWII through the eyes of a child. After a surprise visit from "the Fury", 9 year old Bruno moves with his family to "Out-with" (readers note the ominous similarity to Auschwich), a strange new place for his father's job. Like any child, he is upset about leaving his friends and annoyed by his older sister, unaware of the danger all around. Through this window, Bruno begins to realize there is something strange and vaguely frightening about his new home. Unlike the reader, Bruno doesn't understand why his new neighbors are separated from him by an imposing wire fence or what exactly his father's job entails. Drawn by curiosity and his sense of adventure, Bruno explores his new home and makes a secret friend on the other side of the fence. Using a simple and devastatingly honest prose, Boyne transports the reader into the wondrous and confusing world of childhood. Where adults don't bother to explain the intricacies of the world and where relationships can flourish without bias. Bruno's innocence lends a new sense of horror to WWII. Through his interactions with the secondary characters, readers learn of the widespread heartbreak and devastation of the war. Boyne's poignant tale will draw you in and leave you reeling.