The Boy in the Striped PajamasThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Score Modern
What it's about
Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing about the Holocaust. When his family moves to a new home, he sees a fence in the distance and people in striped pajamas behind it, and he befriends a boy on the other side.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 78 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and is one of the most widely read novels about the Holocaust.
You'll love it if you liked
The Book Thief
The Diary of a Young Girl
NightGood to know
It's a fable and short. Some historians criticize its inaccuracies; its ending is devastating.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller69 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #87 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #857 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1587 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark
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Quick answers
Is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 78 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and is one of the most widely read novels about the Holocaust. It ranks #1,587 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas about?
Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing about the Holocaust. When his family moves to a new home, he sees a fence in the distance and people in striped pajamas behind it, and he befriends a boy on the other side.
How long does it take to read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
About 5 hours (215 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
If you liked it, try The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank or Night by Elie Wiesel.