The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

[julieswanson]

When I first saw this title I was intrigued and really wanted to read it, but then I heard some criticisms of it from some people I respect and I wasn't sure I wanted to bother with it anymore. But an email came from the library saying that they'd gotten it in (I'd forgotten I'd put in a request for it) and I thought, why not?--my son and I read

Comments

[jmprince]

Thanks for the spoiler warning, Julie. I hate spoilers, so I didn't read it, but the book sounds intriguing anyway.
I have a question for you, oh mentor of my heart. I keep hearing the term "unreliable narrator," and I'm not entirely sure I know what one is.

[julieswanson]

My understanding of an unreliable narrator is that they are reporting something that's happening but that their perspective on it is not to be trusted, or not the "normal" perspective. Most of the time it's done so you can sort of tell that the narrator is not interpreting things the way most people would, but once in a while, especially for a kid reader, the reader doesn't realize that the narrator's take on things is not to be trusted and then the reader gets confused or thinks the MC's take on things is the gospel truth instead of understanding that she doesn't really get what's going on. A kid has to be able to read between the lines to get a story with an unreliable narrator. The other problem some people have with it (I have this problem too if it's done poorly) is that sometimes an unreliable narrator comes across as overly ditsy. It's almost like the author is being too cutsy, like the "dumb blond" who is just playing dumb. I'm trying to think of an example to give, but all I can think of are what I consider pretty good