Common Sense Media Review
By Patricia Tauzer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense, powerful Holocaust book offers unique perspective.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say this book is a poignant and emotional introduction to the Holocaust for younger readers, addressing complex themes through the innocent perspective of a young boy. However, many reviews caution that the heavy subject matter and distressing ending may be too intense for children under 11, suggesting that adult guidance and discussions are essential for a deeper understanding of the story and its historical context.
- emotional impact
- age consideration
- adult guidance needed
- educational value
- complex themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 129 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a compelling read that can evoke strong emotions, highlighting themes of friendship and innocence amidst the dark backdrop of the Holocaust. However, opinions vary significantly; while some readers praise its heartfelt storytelling and moral lessons, others criticize it for historical inaccuracies and unrealistic portrayals of the young characters’ awareness of their surroundings.
- emotional impact
- friendship themes
- historical inaccuracies
- suitable for older kids
- dark premise
- diverse opinions
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When Bruno is forced to move away from his enormous Berlin home with his family, his life changes forever. Besides moving into a smaller house with no "nooks and crannies" to explore, besides having no one to play with except for his older sister (also known as the "Hopeless Case"), he's surrounded by soldiers that are constantly in and out of his father's downstairs office as well as other grown-ups who always seem angry or unhappy. Bruno misses his friends, his grandparents, and the city itself. And he doesn't understand what's going on around him. He hates everything about "Out-With" and is very lonely until he meets the boy on the other side of the fence.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful book about the Holocaust stands out in part because of the unusual perspective. It's told through the eyes of the 9-year-old son of the commandant at Auschwitz, a boy who has no clue as to what is going on around him. This perspective allows readers to feel a strong sense of foreboding, long before they know the extent of the terror surrounding Bruno's world. Readers will be struck by the contrast between Bruno's normalcy and naivety, and the extreme horrors of the time.
Readers will quickly relate to Bruno, who is uprooted from his home and moved somewhere "nasty and cold" where he has no friends; he is lonely, his sister bugs him, and adults treat him as if he's not there. He wants to study art and read fantasy books rather than history and geography. He wants to get outside and explore. At one point Bruno even covets the life of the boy on the other side of the fence because at least he has other boys with whom he can play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about World War II and the Holocaust. How is reading a story different than reading about facts in a history book? Which do you find more moving? Which are you more likely to remember?
How would the story be different if it were told from another point of view?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : David Fickling Books
- Publication date : September 12, 2006
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 12
- Number of pages : 215
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate