The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne, the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is another extraordinary historical fiction about World War II and innocence in the face of evil. When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave his home in Paris for a new life with his aunt Beatrix, a servant in a wealthy Austrian household. But this is no ordinary time, for it is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching; and this is no ordinary house, for this is the Berghof, the home of Adolf Hitler. Pierrot is quickly taken under Hitler's wing and thrown into an increasingly dangerous new world: a world of terror, secrets, and betrayal from which he may never be able to escape. This title has Common Core connections. "Boyne’s (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, 2006) story is unarguably a powerful one with an often visceral impact." —Booklist "A compelling account of the attractions of power, the malleability of youth and the terrible pain of a life filled with regret." —The Guardian
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"With skill and emotional detachment, Boyne tells Pieter’s story through descriptions and dialogue that are concise, spare, and vivid . . . . Pieter’s traumatic childhood, infatuation and interactions with Hitler, adolescent angst, and destructive choices will captivate teens and prompt thought-provoking discussion."
— School Library Journal, starred review
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain:
Boyne’s (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, 2006) story is unarguably a powerful one with an often visceral impact.
— Booklista compelling account of the attractions of power, the malleability of youth and the terrible pain of a life filled with regret
— The GuardianJohn Boyne delivers a poignant tale of innocence ruined by Nazism. This is a story full of suspense and heartbreak that will leave readers wanting more. Compare this book to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
— School Library ConnectionStay Where You Are and Then Leave:
This is an excellent and approachable introduction to the traumas of war. . . . not simply a book about the horrors of shellshock but also a comprehensive depiction of many different aspects of life during World War I.
— School Library JournalBoyne has an eye for period details, an ear for dialogue, and a knack for creating individual, consistent characters.
— BooklistThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas:
In the final pages, the tension rises precipitously and the harrowing ending, in which Bruno does finally act, is sure to take readers' breath away.
— Publishers WeeklyDeeply affecting . . . beautiful and sparsely written.
— The Wall Street JournalBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
John Boyne is the author of novels for adults and children. His New York Times bestseller, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, won two Irish Book Awards, was short-listed for the British Book Award, and was made into an award-winning feature film. His novels are published in more than forty languages.
Graham Halstead, an Earphones Award and Audie Award–winning narrator, is a professionally trained actor and voice artist. As an actor, he has worked internationally in Edinburgh and London, as well as at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. His youthful, easy-flowing voice can be heard on television and radio voicing spots for Airborne and Allegra.
Alex Wyndham, an Oxford University and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art graduate, is a narrator and voice talent who can be heard on Apple TV campaigns and Discovery Channel documentaries. He also has a successful screen career and has starred in several BBC and HBO shows, including the Emmy-winning Little Dorrit and Rome, and in films including Kenneth Branagh’s As You Like It.