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August 2014

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (John Boyne)

A strong tale on truth, identity, empathy, and the wisdom of listening to your own internal voice, this simply written tale explores a number of moral themes. 

9 year old Bruno struggles to accept a disappointing new reality when his father’s mysterious job takes them to “Out-With” because “The Fury” has deemed it so.  Bored and unhappy, Bruno explores his surrounds, and in so doing befriends Shmuel, one of the mysterious people in striped pyjamas who lives “on the other side of the fence”.

Through his explorations Bruno learns of the ability to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” and understand that people are not always as they appear.  The tale ends with the terrible consequences of what can happen when the innocence of the young is perpetuated by adults hiding the truth, as Bruno takes a tragic final step towards understanding Shmuel’s position. 
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