The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
John Boyne
Historical Fiction
# of pages read: 50/216

Summary

Bruno starts to walk around the giant fence looking for a way to the other side of it. He doesn't see anyone who could let him in. Then he spots a boy who looks around his age but smaller than Bruno, the boy looks at him with a sad face. He goes up to the boy and says a simple "hi." He notices that the boy is wearing the same grey striped pajamas as all the other men and boys that he had seen. After talking to the boy he learns that the boys name is Shmuel and that he has the same birthday as himself; April 15th 1934. He also learns that Shmuel is in fact Polish and that his mother had taught him to speak both Polish and German. Next, an evening that had happened a few months ago was explained. Fury had come to Bruno's house and many things had changed. Bruno's father had come home one day to announce that Fury would be coming over for dinner one night. Bruno goes on to ask who Fury is. His father corrects Bruno by telling him to pronounce Fury's name properly but he just can't. Then Gretel jumps in and tell Bruno that he runs the country. Bruno's mother is very worried in getting everything perfect for the dinner in time. On the Thursday that Fury is going to be going over to their house for dinner, Gretel and Bruno are both unusually invited to their Father's job. Bruno goes for another visit to see Shmuel. He asks him exactly why people like him are behind the huge fence and why they are all dressed in grey striped pajamas and caps. Shmuel has to think about this for a while, he remembers the time when his mother made armbands for the whole family with a star like shape on them. She told them that they all had to wear the armbands when they were out of the house. Bruno makes a connection, he tells Shmuel that his father also wears an armband except it has a bright red and black and white design. Shmuel replies by telling him that that design is a swastika. He also remembers the day when soldiers came to tell them they could not live in their house anymore and were taken on a train with many others, the train and unbelievably poor conditions. His mother was taken away and him, his father, and his brother were all put in little huts and have been there ever since. Bruno does not fully understand why Shmuel is so upset when he tells the story. Bruno is in fact happy that he wasn't the only one who was taken out of his home and taken somewhere else unwillingly. Every afternoon from that day Bruno proceeds to visit Shmuel after all his lessons are over. He would take loads of food for Shmuel. As mentioned before, Bruno does not fully understand what it's like to be living on the other side of the fence. Shmuel tells him this and the reasons he would not like to be a soldier. Bruno tells Shmuel about a soldier in particular that he doesn't like. The soldier's name is Lieutenant Kotler who indeed joins them for dinner that same night. Bruno is definitely not looking forward to this. Bruno continuously goes to meet Shmuel. Everyday he asks if he can go and play with Shmuel on the other side of the fence. Shmuel answers with a no and even tells him that he wouldn't want to be on the other side of the fence if he truly new what it was like living there. He tells Bruno how he envies him and his living conditions. One day it rains quite heavily which means that Bruno is unable to go and meet Shmuel. He is bored and just lies on his bed thinking. His sister, Gretel, barges in and asks him what he is doing. He tells her he wants to visit Shmuel. Obviously she doesn't know who Shmuel even is and instantly gets curious. She demands to know who Shmuel is. He tells her that Shmuel is a good friend of his who tell him about his life stories and in return Bruno tells his. 

Response

Reading these few chapters this week I feel very bad for Shmuel. I know that it must be hard for Bruno to understand what Shmuel is going through and what his life really is like. I think it's good that Bruno finally made a good friend and has something to do, rather that just lay on his bed looking through his window all day. I predict that Bruno might keep on trying to get onto the other side of the fence but I think that it's a bad idea. I also think that Bruno might be captured just like Shmuel and have to live in the horrible conditions as well. I don't think the book will end well but I am still looking forward to finishing it. 

Passage 

"Bruno was sure that he had never seen a skinnier or sadder boy in his life but decided that he better talk to him" (Boyne 107). 

This week I chose to share this passage from the book because it really shows the good side of Bruno and how he isn't judgmental and wants to help out anyone he can. It shows that he is also a friendly person. This passage also makes me sad because it means that the boy, Shmuel, doesn't seem to be having a good life at all and a boy his age especially should not be living like that or sad at all. The fact that he looked extremely skinny means he is not well nourished or fed, which also shows signs that the living conditions he is in and how he is treated is not right.