Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us.

Nine year old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust.

Hes oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country.

All he knows is that he has moved from Berlin to a desolate area where he has no one to play with.

Until he meets Shmuel.

Shmuel lives in a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence, where everyone wears a uniform of striped pyjamas.

Despite the wire fence separating them, the two boys become best friends.

As they grow closer, Bruno starts to learn the terrible truth that lies beyond the fence, and what life is like for his friend.

John Boynes classic novel explores the friendship and loss of innocence of Bruno and Shmuel, during one of the worst points in history.

John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. He is the author of eleven novels for adults, five for young readers and a collection of short stories. Perhaps best known for his 2006 multi-award-winning bookThe Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, Johns other novels, notablyThe AbsolutistandA History of Loneliness, have been widely praised and are international bestsellers. Most recently, The Heart's Invisible Furies was a Richard&Judy Bookclub word-of-mouth bestseller.

His novels are published in over fifty languages.