Just recently read "The boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne as part of an assignment.

Didn't think it was my type of book but was pleasantly surprised by how cleverly written it was and how a World War 2 story could be told in such an extrordinary way.

I was just wondering has anyone else read anything by John Boyne and if so, what was it like? Like I said, his type of books arn't usualy my first choice but as The boy in the striped pyjamas was so good, I am tempted to try another of his.

Thanks, Sophie

 I am very glad that you enjoyed the book. I thought it was excellent and shed a tear at the end - I didnt see what was going to happen at all.

I havent read any of John Boyne's other books, so I am afraid I can't comment. However if you liked this one you might enjoy Once by Morris Gleitzman which has a similar theme.

 Here is some information from amazon about it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Morris-Gleitzman/dp/014132063X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279990327&sr=1-3

 I have a copy of Once and it looks really good. If it's anything like  The Boy in the striped Pyjmas then I will really enjoy it.

Have you read any other good teenage books recently that you could reccommend? I can't seem to decide on what to read next

Thanks

Was this made into a movie? lf so l have watched this movie and found it so sad, l was crying all the way through. 

 Yes Jodie, a film with the same title...... and apparently (I have not seen it), it stuck very closely to the book.

I've read others by John Boyne and they were excellent - The House of Special Purpose (the best IMO), Mutiny on the Bounty and The Thief of Time. None of them anything like this one though! Also have Crippen and Next Of Kin on my TBR...

I was the same but in the end I thought it was brilliant.

Just got "Crippen" in my TBR pile I loved The Boy in the striped pajamas too

I wasnt a great fan of the boy in the striped pjamas - it didn't seem realistic. Surely Hugo would have been a member of the hitler youth and wuld defiately know what a jew was. And the jewish kid in the camp would probably have been gassed straight away as he was not old enough to work.

Some fair points Tasham.  Just had a quick google Hitler Youth, according to this it was originally for males between - 14 to 18 but they did have one latterly for the 10 to 14 year olds and there was an equivalent one for the females.

Welcome to the Forums.  I loved the book and didn't really think about the reality aspect of it.  It's some time since I read it.  Have you read other books by the Author?

Yes, the child in the book was far too young to have joined the Hitler Youth and was definitely under ten.  Also, he referred to "The Fury", without knowing what/who it/he was, so obviously at home Hitler was referred to as The Furuer, and this is what he thought he heard or decided he heard.  There were certainly children of camp commandants who lived next to the camps (whether death camps or work camps) who did not have any understanding of what was going on next door as it were; particularly if there was no talk of it at home.  Recent documentary seen on TV about a (then) small child and the garden of his parents home showed him describing the gate in the wall where Father went to work every day.  He had no idea at the time what that work was.