Bruno is nine years old and lives in a big house in Berlin with his father, who's a German soldier, his mother and his twelve-year-old sister, Gretel. One day, Hitler visits Bruno's family and tells them that they must move away from Berlin because Bruno's father now has an important new job. Bruno doesn't want to leave his friends behind in Berlin, but he knows he doesn't have any choice.

When the family arrives at their new house, Bruno finds he can see a farm from the window in his new bedroom. As he watches the strange farmers working there, he realises they're all wearing striped pyjamas. When he sees that there are children working on the farm as well, he decides to ask his father permission to go over there to see if he can make some new friends. His father forbids him from ever visiting the farm and Bruno feels very disappointed.

Bruno is still determined to visit the farm and one day, when his father is working in his office and his mother is out shopping, he decides to sneak over to the farm. After finding his way there, however, he discovers that the place is not a farm at all…

This is a book which is fascinating in so many ways, especially if you're interested in the Second World War. Although the book was very sad, it really made me think and inspired me to find other books to read about the war.

By the way, even if you've already seen the film of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, I would still recommend reading the book.

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