Nine year old Bruno's father is one of Hitler's top officials. As the Holocaust heats up, they move from their lovely home in Germany to Auschwitz. We, the readers, know what that means, but Bruno, sheltered and naive, has no idea. He sees people on the other side of the fence, and can't figure out what they're doing there. One day, while out exploring, he meets a young boy exactly his age sitting by the fence. We know he's a Jew, with an awful fate awaiting him. Bruno is jealous of him because there are other boys his age there. We know that's ridiculous, but somehow Bruno doesn't. He hides this "friendship" from his family, and walks out to the fence daily, sometimes bringing food, which he mostly eats along the way.
Bruno's ignorance is appalling, but I think this was the author's point. The world during this time was blind, like Bruno, to the horrors of the Holocaust, sometimes by choice. I can't say I loved this novel--it was too uncomfortable-- but I certainly will never forget it. Be warned--the ending will haunt you.
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