The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a novel by Irish writer and historian John Boyne. The book tells the story of Bruno, a nine-year-old boy who is the son of a Nazi commandant during World War II. Bruno is forced to move from his comfortable home in Berlin to a remote location where his father is overseeing the construction of a concentration camp. There, Bruno befriends a young Jewish boy named Shmuel, who is a prisoner in the camp. The two boys form a deep bond, despite the fact that they are living in completely different worlds.
The story is told from Bruno’s point of view, and it is clear that he does not fully understand the true nature of the concentration camp or the Holocaust. This makes the novel all the more powerful, as it highlights the innocent perspective of a child caught up in a horrific event. The story is ultimately a tragedy, but it is also a reminder of the power of friendship and hope in the face of adversity.