The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a great book written by John Boyne.  The book takes place during the Holocaust in Germany.  It is about a boy named Bruno who is nine years old, who comes home one day from school to find his maid, Maria packing his bags.  He finds out that his father has been assigned to move for his job.  Bruno does not know what his father does, except that he is a very important man, and according to his mother, "someone to be afraid of."  Bruno hates his new house.  It has only three floors, unlike their old house which was five floors.  There are always unfriendly soldiers in their house and he would much prefer to be back in Berlin and there are no kids to play with.  From looking out of his window he can see many people walking around in what looks to be like striped pajamas.  Whenever he asks his dad who they are, he ignores the question and says that in time he will learn.  You figure out that Bruno's father is the person who watches over this concentration camp.  One day though, Bruno cannot take it any more.  He walks to the fence and sees a boy who turns out to be his age.  His name is Shmuel.  Bruno and Shmuel begin to meet secretly everyday.  They become best friends, and Bruno brings Shmuel food and they sit on separate sides of the fence and talk.  The book is really good and I would recommend it.  I like the fact that it is written from the point of view of a nine year old that does not care that the two of them are supposed to hate each other and they are on different sides in the war.  Overall, I would give it a 9/10.