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Quick answer: If you loved The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, try All the Broken Places, The Book Thief, Number the Stars, The Diary of a Young Girl, Night and Maus. Each one is a moving story about the Holocaust, war or a child's view of history's darkest events.
John Boyne's 2006 novel follows Bruno, the nine-year-old son of a Nazi commandant, who moves with his family near a camp he calls “Out-With”. Bored, he explores the fence and befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy on the other side. Told from Bruno's innocent point of view, the story builds to a devastating ending. It is widely read, and some historians criticize its accuracy, so pairing it with true accounts is wise. These books share its themes and its emotion.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| All the Broken Places | John Boyne | Adult | readers who want the sequel |
| The Book Thief | Markus Zusak | 13+ | readers who want a girl in Nazi Germany |
| Number the Stars | Lois Lowry | 9-12 | younger readers |
| The Diary of a Young Girl | Anne Frank | 12+ | readers who want a true account |
| Night | Elie Wiesel | 14+ | readers who want a survivor's memoir |
| Maus | Art Spiegelman | 13+ | readers who like graphic novels |
| When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit | Judith Kerr | 9-12 | younger readers |
| The Devil's Arithmetic | Jane Yolen | 10+ | readers who like time travel |
| Once | Morris Gleitzman | 10+ | readers who like innocent narrators |
| Hana's Suitcase | Karen Levine | 9-12 | readers who want a true mystery |
| The Tattooist of Auschwitz | Heather Morris | Adult | older readers |
| Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys | 13+ | readers who like hidden history |
| Prisoner B-3087 | Alan Gratz | 10+ | readers who like survival |
| Milkweed | Jerry Spinelli | 10+ | readers who like innocent narrators |
| I Am David | Anne Holm | 10+ | readers who like escapes |
1. All the Broken Places by John Boyne
Bruno's sister looks back on her life.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A girl steals books during the war.
Best for: readers who want a girl in Nazi Germany.
3. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
A Danish girl helps her Jewish friend escape.
Best for: younger readers.
4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Anne Frank's diary in hiding.
Best for: readers who want a true account.
5. Night by Elie Wiesel
Wiesel's account of Auschwitz.
Best for: readers who want a survivor's memoir.
6. Maus by Art Spiegelman
A survivor's story told with animals.
Best for: readers who like graphic novels.
7. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
A Jewish family flees Germany.
Best for: younger readers.
8. The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
A girl is transported to 1942 Poland.
Best for: readers who like time travel.
9. Once by Morris Gleitzman
A Jewish boy escapes an orphanage.
Best for: readers who like innocent narrators.
10. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine
Children trace a suitcase's owner.
Best for: readers who want a true mystery.
11. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
A love story in Auschwitz.
Best for: older readers.
12. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
A girl is deported to Siberia.
Best for: readers who like hidden history.
13. Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
A boy survives ten camps.
Best for: readers who like survival.
14. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
An orphan survives the Warsaw Ghetto.
Best for: readers who like innocent narrators.
15. I Am David by Anne Holm
A boy escapes a camp and crosses Europe.
Best for: readers who like escapes.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For a younger reader, Number the Stars and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit are gentler. Pair Boyne's novel with true accounts like The Diary of a Young Girl and Night. Once and Milkweed also use innocent narrators. Older readers can continue with All the Broken Places.
Related: What Age Is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas about?
The son of a Nazi commandant befriends a Jewish boy through a camp fence.
Is it a true story?
No. It is a fable, and historians say some details are unrealistic.
How does it end?
Bruno sneaks into the camp and dies in a gas chamber with Shmuel.
What age is it for?
It is often read by students 12 and up.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. All the Broken Places, published in 2022.
Why is it criticized?
Critics say it misrepresents the camps and centers a Nazi family.
Is there a movie?
Yes. The 2008 film was directed by Mark Herman.