The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

I purposely didn't read the synopsis of this book before buying or reading it and I'm so glad, because I got such a shocking surprise. I bought this book after the emotional journey of reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and this did not disappoint. This was written in classic John Boyne style, from the unknown and innocent perspective of a young German boy in the mist of the Hitler rising. This was powerful and Boyne has a way of writing that makes you think and pulls at the heartstrings, possibly by using the perspective of looking through the eyes of an innocent child in the mist of something harrowing.This is a book I am planning on rereading and I think that knowing what I know now about the plot of the book, going into this a second time, it may make this a 5 star book.

This little gem by the critically acclaimed author of 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' is well worth a read. It is quite short, but is packed full of emotional turmoil, as he tells the story of a young boy corrupted by power and ambition. This is a novel that is simultaneously moving and horrifying, posing poignant questions of responsibility and accountability, in the context of the Hitler's rise to power and the Holocaust. Boyne's ending twist is masterful, demonstrating a heartwarming ability to shed light onto even the darkest of human stories, yet without underestimating humanity's capacity for extreme selfishness and cruelty. Whoever you are and whatever your interests, this is a tale that needs to be read.

A very well written book which is disturbing and distressing for so many reasons, yet it explores so many important aspects of human nature subtly and with sensitivity. Any pity the reader feels for the hero disappears pretty quickly, but what emerges is a more complex relationship with him and the other characters. How would I behave if I was him? Would I be better, different, or (horror) worse?An important book for people to read, although I wouldn't want my children to read it until their mid-late teens because it is dark.

Written with a different pen to the more adult "Crippen"/ "Mutiny..."/ "...Furies", this was shorter and well suited for older kids. I wasnt challenged intellectually, but it was a good read and thoroughly worth buying. Food for thought, and topics worth exploring for those with children who want to start having the discussion about what happened during these darkest of times.

This is a great and clever introduction to the holocaust aimed at children from 8+ very similar to that of "The boy in the striped pyjamas". It highlights the plight of the Jews seen through the eyes of Pierrot. It's very thought provoking not only from a child's perspective but also from an adults. It's quite exquisite in its content and an absolute joy to read.