World War 2 Holocaust Fiction for Teens

Book Review - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Book Thief

Dec 10, 2007

Young adult novels such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Book Thief can be used as supplements to teen history lessons on World War II and the Holocaust.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Book Thief are works of teen fiction highlighting the human face of the suffering endured during World War II. Both are very readable, popular fiction-style novels, with imagery that remains for some time after the final page is read. The central character of each story is a child, providing a fresh view of people and actions. The innocence of the children also adds to the horror of the novels’ events.

To go into too much detail for this young adult novel would ruin the ever-unfolding nature of the story. Bruno is the 9-year-old son of a German officer during WWII. Forced to leave his home in Berlin, his confused observations of his family and new home gradually provide insight for the reader into where he is and what is happening there. His loneliness and ill-feeling towards his home create a sympathy for this often unconsidered victim of the war. He is powerless and struggles to make sense of what he sees. It is Bruno’s lack of understanding that has the greatest effect on the reader, the innocence of childhood disregarded by those in authority.

There are aspects of the story inconsistent with the actual historical events. Bruno’s childish mispronunciations of important names throughout the novel have a decidedly English sound to them, which is a minor irritation. It could also be assumed that the son of a Nazi officer would have a much greater understanding of the significance of Hitler and the ethos of the Nazi party. The title indicates that it is a fable however and these minor ‘inaccuracies’ do not detract from the powerful impact of the tale.

A wonderful starting point for discussions of the impact of World War II with a child in their tween or early teen years.

Published as an adult novel in the author’s home Australia, The Book Thief is probably better aimed at the late teens and older. Where The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is simply told, The Book Thief is rich in both language and emotion.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death and tells the story of young war orphan Liesl Meminger. She is sent to a foster home near Munich, in the care of a sensitive musician and his sharp-tongued wife. Liesl’s first “theft” is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, which she finds at a cemetery. From here she discovers the power of words, both positive and negative. Throughout her childhood, she is compelled to continue stealing books in order to regain a sense of control over her life. She is also influenced by her relationships with her foster parents, her fierce childhood friend Rudy Steiner and a young Jewish man Max Vandenburg hiding in the basement.

Zusak deftly incorporates many defining elements of this period in history. At times sentimental, the often wry narration of Death prevents the book from becoming maudlin. Indeed, Death’s unemotional tone has the most impact when describing the horrors of the war and holocaust. The reader joins Death in trying to make sense of the puzzling dual nature of humanity – dark and light.

These novels remind readers of the individual human cost of war – the fear, anxiety and uncertainty of the population, the betrayals and broken relationships, the hope in the future stolen from so many. They also serve as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

The copyright of the article World War 2 Holocaust Fiction for Teens in Teen Historical Fiction is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish World War 2 Holocaust Fiction for Teens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.