This time Bruno has befriended a boy from the other side of the fence, the Jewish concentration camp in Poland. The author describes the boy as a speck, then a dot, then a blob and then a figure running towards him. This of course is written from a nine year old's point of view so the nine year old boy, Bruno doesn't understand why the boy, Schmeul is there. He doesn't know about the appalling conditions and thinks they just have fun and play games. He even wonders whether he should invite him to dinner. Even though his father is a Nazi commandment. Bruno visits the fence every day in the afternoon and every time, finds his friend Schmuel sitting there with his legs crossed. One day his mother, who doesn't have anybody to keep the boredom away and talk to, snaps. She tells Bruno's father that she doesn't want to live here anymore and that the place isn't healthy for the children. An interesting thing about the book is that we never find out what the father's name is, he is only called father. One day, soon after Bruno's mother has convinced the father that she will move back to Berlinererlin with the kids, Bruno's friend doesn't show up. The same goes for the day after. On the fourth day Bruno finally meets Schmuel, who runs up, a little late, he says that his dad has disappeared Bruno breaks the news that he is leaving, and promises Schmuel that before he will leave he will go under the fence and help him find his father.
The next day Bruno sees Schmuel with some striped pajamas, the Jews costume. Bruno changes and crawls under the fence. On the other side everything is ot how he imagines it. He sees people thin and sad, staring at the ground out of boredom Suddenly he hears the sound of whistle and he is forced to march along with the rest of the group of around twenty prisoners. He thinks it's all rather fun, after all it's only a march. But the last thing that Schmuel's father did was go on a march. They all march into a room and the heavy steel door closes behind them. The last thing he says before the deadly gas hits is Schmuel you are my best friend.Ok guys I just want to let you know that this is fiction and never really happened, but that doesn't change the fact that around 6 million Jews where exterminated during WW2 which was horrible. This is the sort of book that leaves you feeling awful. A very good book but not for the faint hearted.
I love this book so much, the ending is very sad though, when I was reading it I almost cried! But this truly is an amazing book
ReplyDeletei should have read this book. it sounds much better than my book. i'll read it next time
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