The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Apparently, this book was made into a movie, and I gave it a rating of four out of five. Bruno's father has been promoted to become the commandant of Auschwitz, the infamous German concentration camp during World War II. Bruno is a naive nine-year-old boy who doesn't understand what's going on. He sees all of the sad men and boys inside the fence, but he's most unhappy about being bored and missing his friends. He's frightened of the young lieutenant who frequently comes to visit his home, and he eventually starts to take long walks outside the fence. He meets a Jewish boy named Shmuel living inside the fence, and they become friends. Shmuel tells Bruno about life in the prison, but Bruno doesn't really understand how all of that sadness is possible. He wants to have one last adventure with Shmuel before moving back to Berlin.

You will need to have an understanding of the war and the prison camp to fully appreciate the plot. Bruno uses terms like the Fury and Out-With, which you won't understand without knowing a little history. I'm having a hard time finding the right word to describe my feelings as I read about this horrific prison from an innocent boy's point of view. The ending should touch your own emotions and help you think about what happened to the prisoners.