Boyne, John The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, 272 pages. Henry Holt, 2016. Language: G; Mature Content: PG (pawing);
Violence: PG-13 (two executions, other violence).
The time is 1936.
Pierrot is seven and he has been left an orphan and is taken in by his
Aunt Beatrix, whom he has never met.
Leaving behind his beloved Paris, including his beloved dog and his best
friend, Anschel, a Jewish boy, Pierrot is whisked away to the Berghof, where
his aunt is the housekeeper for Herr Hitler, the chancellor of Germany. While Hitler is not there frequently, he has
a profound effect upon the impressionable little boy, who makes choices that
will have devastating consequences for people around him and lead to
soul-searching agony after the war.
DO NOT think that this is a sequel of any sort to The Boy in
the Striped Pajamas. Instead, think of
this as a contrast, a juxtaposition – a boy who allows evil to influence and
mold his attitudes and behavior. This is
a much more mature book; it would be a good choice for a psychology class as a
jumping off point to discuss nature/nurture, good vs evil and the such.
MS, HS – ADVISABLE.
Cindy, Library Teacher
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