He Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 7, 2017

Review

Originally published in 2006, this tenth year anniversary edition is illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. An added introduction by Boyne to this anniversary edition tells how the story for this fable began "I started with a very simple image of two boys sitting on either side of a fence, talking to each other, and was immediately interested in the journey that would bring them there, the conversations they would have and the necessary end that I felt their story would reach." A story about childhood, war, the naive and optimism outlook from a childhood prospective that Boyne so well articulates, a book to be read, and even though you know the ending, you'll think, wow! A powerful book for readers grades 5 and up to read, then think and talk about what war does to children. The illustrations are spare, black, a little blue, red where needed. They pick up the tone of the story and magnify the feelings. Highly recommended!

Overall Book Score: excellent