I was encouraged to pick this up by someone who had read it in one sitting with memories of a trip to Auschwitz still fresh in his mind. As my Jewish friend remarked “Although this is a book for children it is something that you can get through quickly but really hits you.”
So it was with a mixture of expectations I started this and from the very beginning it was heading in a direction that was clearly designed to make you think.
You follow the story of Bruno and his family being forced to leave Berlin and you assume they are Jewish but it turns out to be the exact opposite and with that trick delivered so brilliantly you are hooked. Of course the Enid Blyton type cliffhanger endings to each chapter help but this is designed to let the reader wander some way in front and guess the story but can you guess the ending? Not yet.
More tomorrow…
