5th class Novel notes: War Horse

teachers resources

John Boyne

NOVEL NOTES
6TH CLASS

READING ZONE
English Language Programme for Primary Schools

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 Novel Notes
The Boy in the
Striped Pyjamas
 2012 Folens Publishers
First published in 2012 by:
Folens Publishers,
Hibernian Industrial Estate,
Greenhills Road,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24

Folens books are protected by international copyright laws. All rights

reserved. The copyright of all materials in this book, except where
otherwise stated, remains the property of Folens Publishers. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
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right to change, without notice, at any time the specification of this
product. The publisher has made every effort to contact copyright
holders but if any have been overlooked we will be pleased to
make any necessary arrangements. To the best of the publishers
knowledge, information in this book was correct at the time of going
to press. No responsibility can be accepted for any errors.
 Contents
Synopsis 1
About the Author 2
Objectives 2
Cross-curricular Links 3
Suggestions for Classroom Work 3
Web Links 4
Pre-reading Activities 4
Chapter 1 6
Chapter 2 7
Chapter 3 8
Chapter 4 9
Chapter 5 10
Chapter 6 11
Chapter 7 12
Chapter 8 13
Chapter 9 14
Chapter 10 15
Chapter 11 16
Chapter 12 17
Chapter 13 18
Chapter 14 19
Chapter 15 20
Chapter 16 21
Chapter 17 22
Chapter 18 23
Chapters 19 & 20 24
Book Report Sheet 25
Link to Reading Zone Smart Ice Cream: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Unit 29 An Accident at the Power Station

Synopsis
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
T
his novel begins when Bruno, a nine-year-old boy from Germany, returns home from school
to find that the family maid, Maria, and his mother are packing. He is told that the family is
moving from their mansion in Berlin to a place called Out-With due to his fathers important
work. Brunos father is a Nazi commandant.

The family travels to the train station where Bruno notices that, unusually, the trains are heading in
only one direction, east. When they arrive at the place they call Out-With, Bruno and his older sister
Gretel soon see that something is not quite right about the place. Outside Brunos bedroom window
people of all ages can be seen on the other side of a fence. All the people are wearing the same
clothes, striped blue and white pyjamas and cloth caps.

It is clear that Brunos father is an important man at Out-With. The Fury (Hitler) himself appointed
Brunos father to the role. Soldiers frequent the house to discuss plans with him, in the office that is
out of bounds to Bruno and his sister.

Bruno is bored of life at Out-With and longs to return to Berlin and his friends there. Gretel does
not like to play with him. Instead she prefers to socialise with Lieutenant Kotler, whom Bruno
dislikes. Rather than staying in the house, Bruno decides to explore his surroundings.

Bruno follows the fence of the camp for some time until he sees a boy on the other side, dressed
like all the others on the other side of the fence. Although this boy is Jewish and lives in the camp,
Bruno and Shmuel have a lot in common and a great friendship develops between them. Bruno
visits Shmuel every day, bringing him food, and they talk about their lives. For the most part, Bruno
considers his life similar to Shmuels.

One day, while everyone at Brunos house is preparing for a party, Bruno finds Shmuel in his kitchen
polishing glasses. Bruno offers Shmuel food and he takes it. However, Lieutenant Kotler notices
Shmuel eating and accuses him of stealing the food. Bruno fails to correct Lieutenant Kotler and
Shmuel is punished. Bruno later apologises and the boys remain friends.

During the course of the book, Bruno slowly realises that the people on the other side of the fence
are considered the enemy; however, this fails to affect his relationship with Shmuel. One day, just
before Bruno and his mother are due to return home to Berlin, Shmuel asks for Brunos help to track
down his father, who has gone missing. Shmuel provides striped pyjamas for Bruno and he sneaks
into the camp by crawling under the fence.

Bruno is scared by what he sees in the camp, and wishes to return home. However, before he can
do so, the soldiers make everyone march. They are marched into a shed and Bruno assumes it is to
keep them out of the rain. It is there that the two boys meet their untimely death, hand
in hand.

Brunos family doesnt know what has happened to him and search the local area. His mother and
sister eventually return to Berlin, hoping that he may have made his own way there. His father
returns to where Brunos clothes were found, and discovers that the fence can be lifted up.

Issues and themes dealt with in this book include childhood innocence, family, friendship, barriers,
death and loss.

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6th Class Novel Notes

About the Author

J
ohn Boyne was born in Dublin. He studied English literature and creative writing at Trinity
College Dublin, where he began his writing career.

He has published over 70 short stories and many novels for adults and young readers. The Boy
in the Striped Pyjamas, which was published in 2006, is his best-known work. It has also been
made into a film.

This novel for young readers has won two Irish Book Awards, a horde of international awards
and was named the Bisto Book of the Year in 2007. It spent more than 80 weeks at no.1 in
Ireland, topped the New York Times bestseller list and has sold more than 5 million copies.

Objectives
Curriculum Objectives
The child should be enabled to become a self-reliant, confident,
independent reader, having time in class for sustained, silent
reading; engage with books in groups or in a whole-class setting;
use comprehension skills such as analysing, confirming, evaluating,
synthesising and correlating to aid deduction, problem-solving and
prediction; respond to poetry and fiction through discussion, writing,
drama, the visual arts and dance; and appreciate issues in fiction.

Learning Outcomes
2 Complete sentence starters about aspects of the novel.

2 Illustrate a favourite/least favourite scene from the novel.

2 Compare and contrast key characters from the novel.

2 Write an original dialogue between two characters from the novel.

2 Create another character for the story and discuss the impact of this character on events in
the book.

2 Write a letter to the author expressing your opinion of the book. Remember to include
your address, start the letter off correctly and sign off correctly.

2 Compose an alternative ending to the story.

2 Redesign the front and back cover of this novel, including important information and a
short summary.

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Cross-curricular Links
History SPHE
This story is set during World War Two. Children can explore feelings and emotions
Children can learn about this period in in a variety of ways, e.g. class discussions,
history, looking at aspects such as the circle time, role plays, etc. The themes of
causes of the war, fighting during the war, loss and death can also be covered, if
the main people involved, the Holocaust, etc. appropriate.

Geography Drama
Germany, Poland and Denmark are Children could select scenes from the novel
mentioned in this novel. Children can place and dramatise them using approaches such
these and other countries involved in World as hot seating, narrated mimes and still
War Two on a map and learn about aspects images. The tensions in the novel could be
such as climate, landscape, culture, food, etc. explored using a conscience alley approach.

Suggestions for Classroom Work

2 Complete the following sentences:

I would like to know...

I wonder why...

I felt sorry...

2 Choose a scene from the book and illustrate it.

2 Compare and contrast the following characters: Bruno and Shmuel, Bruno and Gretel, and
Pavel and Lieutenant Kotler.

2 Write an original dialogue between two characters from a book, e.g. Mother and Father,
Bruno and Shmuel, Father and Lieutenant Kotler, etc.

2 Create another character for the story. Explain how things would change with this
characters presence.

2 Write a letter to the author expressing your opinion of the book. Remember to include your
address, start the letter off correctly and sign off correctly.

2 Write an alternative ending to the story.

2 Redesign the front and back cover of this novel. Include the important information as well
as a short summary on the back.

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6th Class Novel Notes

Web Links
A quiz about the novel:
http://www.scoilnet.ie/Quiz.aspx?id=1490

The trailer from the movie version of the novel:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x71559_the-boy-in-the-striped-pajamas-trai_shortfilms

A child-friendly resource about World War Two:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/world_war2/

A link to the Crocus project, to commemorate the children who

died in the Holocaust:
http://www.hetireland.org/index.php?page=crocus_overview

Pre-reading Activities

Oral Pre-reading Questions

Chapter 1 Chapter 8
Who do you think Bruno might be? Does the title of this chapter give you any
clues about what might happen next?
Chapter 2
How do you think Bruno will feel when he Chapter 9
moves to the new house? What do you think the title is trying to tell us,
the readers?
Chapter 3
Who do you think this chapter will be about? Chapter 10
Why? Predict what will happen next in the story.

Chapter 4 Chapter 11
What do you think the children saw outside What or who do you think The Fury is?
the window?
Chapter 12
Chapter 5 What might Shmuel tell Bruno, do you think?
Where, do you think, will be out of bounds
for the children? Chapter 13
Predict what might happen in this chapter.
Chapter 6
Predict what will happen next in the story. Chapter 14
Who do you think Bruno is likely to lie to in
Chapter 7 this chapter? What might he lie about?
What sort of woman do you think Brunos
mother is?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Chapter 15 Chapter 17
What do you think will happen next in the How might Brunos mother get her own way,
story? do you think?

Chapter 16 Chapter 18
Many months have passed since Bruno first What might the final adventure be, do you
arrived at Out-With. Do you think he will ever think?
return to Berlin? Or will the family continue
to live in Out-With? Chapters 19 and 20
Do you think the boys plan will work?

Vocabulary
Select a passage from the book. List all the adjectives. Write another list of words that have the
same meaning as the adjectives selected. Write a further list of words that mean the opposite
to these words. Add new words to the class dictionary/word wall.

The Boy in the Strip

ed Pyjamas: Com
prehension Activity
Sheet 1

Comprehension Activity Sheets

Bruno Makes a Disc
over y Chapter 1
Activity sheet

1. Who were Maria

and Lars?

2. Describe what
Brunos mother looked like.

Presented on the following pages are a selection of both 1 3. What news did
Brunos mother have
from school? for him when he
retur ned
lower and higher order questions for each section of this
4. Why did Brun
novel, which the teacher may choose from. o not like the idea of leavi
ng Berlin?

5. Why do you think

Gretel might be
called a hopeless case?

6. If you were Brun

o, what questions
parents? Write down would you like to
three questions. ask your

7. What evidence
is there to suggest
off? that Brunos famil
y were well-

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 1

Chapter 1 Bruno Makes a Discovery

Activity sheet

1. Who were Maria and Lars?

2. Describe what Brunos mother looked like.

1 3. What news did Brunos mother have for him when he returned
from school?

4. Why did Bruno not like the idea of leaving Berlin?

5. Why do you think Gretel might be called a hopeless case?

6. If you were Bruno, what questions would you like to ask your
parents? Write down three questions.

7. What evidence is there to suggest that Brunos family was well-off?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 2

The New House Chapter 2

Activity sheet
Activity sheet

1. How was Brunos familys new house different to their home

in Berlin?

2. What staff did the family have at their new home?

3. What did Bruno suggest to his mother when they arrived at their
new house? 2
4. Who did Bruno see leaving his parents room?

5. Do you agree with Bruno when he says that all fathers are serious?

6. If you could help, what would you do to try to make Bruno happier
in his new home?

7. What might Bruno have seen when he looked out the window?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 3

Chapter 3 The Hopeless Case

Activity sheet

1. What things annoyed Bruno about his sister?

2. What ages were Bruno and Gretel?

3. In what way were Gretels friends mean to Bruno?

3 4. What did Bruno see out of Gretels window?

5. Do you think Brunos new house is scary? Why?/Why not?

6. Why do you think the author has not yet described whats outside
Brunos window?

7. Do you think there really are children outside?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 4

What They Saw Through the Window Chapter 4

Activity sheet
1. What did the children see when they looked out the window?

2. How did Gretel explain what she saw in front of her?

3. Why did Bruno not agree with Gretels explanation?

4. How were the soldiers treating the children?

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5. What sort of place was the camp, do you think?

6. Why do you think all the people were wearing the same clothes?

7. Which bedroom would you prefer? Why?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 5

Chapter 5 Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions

Activity sheet

1. How was the family transported to their new home?

2. What was odd about the train station?

3. How was Brunos father different to the other soldiers that stood
downstairs in the house?

4. Why did Brunos father dismiss the other men?

5. Why, do you think, was Brunos fathers office nicer than the
other rooms in the house?

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6. Do you think Bruno has a nice father? Give a reason for
your answer.

7. What might Brunos father have meant when he said that the
people outside were not really people at all?

8. Do you agree with Brunos father that home is where your

family is? Explain your answer.

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 6

The Overpaid Maid Chapter 6

Activity sheet
1. Why was Bruno talking to himself in his room?

2. Why did Bruno value Marias opinion?

3. What kind thing did Brunos father do for Maria?

4. How did Gretel treat Maria in comparison to the way Bruno

treated her?

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5. Why did Maria advise Bruno to keep quiet about his dislike of the
place, do you think?

6. What thoughts do you think were racing through Brunos head as

he ran away from the house?

7. Do you think the title of this chapter is a good one?

Why?/Why not?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 7

Chapter 7 How Mother Took Credit for

Something That She Hadnt Done
Activity sheet

1. Why did Brunos mother not like Bruno laughing at Herr Roller?

2. How did Gretel act around Lieutenant Kotler?

3. How did Lieutenant Kotler treat Pavel?

4. How did Bruno injure himself?

5. Why, do you think, was Pavel now working for the family rather than
working as a doctor?

6. What, do you think, made Bruno uneasy about leaving his sister
with Lieutenant Kotler?

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7. What did you learn about Brunos mother in this chapter?

8. What else would you like to know about Brunos mother?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 8

Why Grandmother Stormed Out Chapter 8

Activity sheet
1. What had Brunos grandfather done for a living?

2. How did Brunos grandmother entertain the family at parties?

3. What happened at the last play that Bruno, Gretel and their
grandmother performed together?

4. What did Brunos grandmother mean when she said her son was a
puppet on a string, do you think?

5. What does Brunos father do that upsets his mother, do you think?

6. Summarise what you know about Brunos father so far. 8

7. How do you think the war was affecting Brunos family?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 9

Chapter 9 Bruno Remembers That He

Used to Enjoy Exploration
Activity sheet

1. What did Herr Liszt want to teach Bruno about?

2. What jobs would need to be done before The Fury arrived for
dinner?

3. What did the plaque on the garden bench read?

4. Where, do you think, will Bruno explore?

5. If you were an explorer, where would you like to explore? Why

would you like to explore that place?

6. If you had a private tutor, what would you want to learn about?
Explain your answer.

7. Why, in your opinion, did Herr Liszt think social sciences,

particularly history, were important subjects to study?
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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 10

The Dot That Became a Speck That Became a

Blob That Became a Figure That Became a Boy
Chapter 10

Activity sheet
1. What did Bruno discover on the other side of the fence as he
was exploring?

2. What did Bruno and Shmuel have in common?

3. Why did Shmuel think his mother was a smart woman?

4. What did Bruno and Shmuel talk about?

5. What, do you think, did Shmuel think of Bruno?

6. If you were Bruno, what questions would you have asked Shmuel?

7. How might Shmuels life be different to Brunos?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 11

Chapter 11 The Fury

Activity sheet

1. Who was The Fury?

2. What jobs needed to be done before the arrival of The Fury for
dinner?

3. How were the children prepared for the visit of The Fury?

4. Why did Bruno not like The Fury? Give at least two reasons.

5. From what you have read so far, what do you think was discussed at
the important dinner?

6. What is your opinion of Brunos father? Why do you think that way
about him?

7. Summarise this chapter briefly from the point of view of

Brunos mother.

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 12

Shmuel Thinks of an Answer to Brunos Question Chapter 12

Activity
Activitysheet
1. What was life like for Shmuel before his family was forced to
move away?

sheet12
2. What sort of armband did Shmuel and his family have to wear?

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3. Who brought Shmuel and his family to the camp?

4. Why could Bruno not understand why Shmuel was sad?

5. Compare Bruno with Shmuel. How are they similar and how are
they different?

6. Imagine you are Bruno. Write a diary entry about your day.

7. Do you think Bruno and Shmuel could be friends, even though they
are on different sides of the fence?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 13

Chapter 13 The Bottle of Wine

Activity sheet

1. What was Bruno doing when Maria entered the kitchen?

2. Why did Bruno think that Shmuel might know Pavel?

13 3. What did Bruno notice about Pavel at dinner?

4. What were Brunos fathers views on history?

5. Why do you think nobody stopped Lieutenant Kotler from

mistreating Pavel at dinner?

6. What effect did the incident at dinner have on Bruno?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 14

Bruno Tells a Perfectly Reasonable Lie Chapter 14

Activity
Activitysheet
1. What secret did Bruno accidently reveal to his sister?

sheet12
2. How did Bruno try to cover up his mistake?

3. How did Bruno try making himself red with embarrassment?

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4. Why, do you think, did Bruno not tell his sister about Shmuel?

5. If you were Bruno, would you have told Gretel about Shmuel?

6. What might have happened to Shmuels grandfather?

7. If you were Bruno, how would you try to cheer up Shmuel the next
time you met him?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 15

Chapter 15 Something He Shouldnt Have Done

Activity sheet

1. Why did Bruno and Shmuel see less of each other for the next
few weeks?

2. What event were Brunos mother and Lieutenant Kotler planning?

3. Name some reasons why Bruno disliked Lieutenant Kotler.

4. Why was Shmuel brought to Brunos house?

15 5. Why do you think Bruno lied about being friends with Shmuel?

6. How did Bruno feel about his actions in the kitchen? Do you think
he was right to feel that way?

7. What would have happened if Bruno had told Lieutenant Kotler that
he and Shmuel were friends, do you think?

8. Why do you think Bruno and Shmuels friendship was able to

survive Brunos betrayal?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 16

The Haircut Chapter 16

Activity
Activitysheet
1. What caused the family to return to Berlin briefly?

sheet12
2. What aspects of his life at Out-With was Bruno happy with?

3. Why did Bruno consider his friendship with Shmuel unusual?

4. How had Gretel changed since moving to Out-With?

5. What did Gretel tell Bruno about the fence?

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6. Why do you think people of different religions were separated
by a fence?

7. Why, do you think, were Bruno and Shmuel friends when they
were on different sides of the fence?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 17

Chapter 17 Mother Gets Her Own Way

Activity sheet

1. What did Bruno overhear his parents discussing?

2. What would be different for Bruno if the family was to return

to Berlin?

3. What decision did Brunos father make with the family?

4. Why do you think Brunos father enquired about what Bruno knew
about the other side of the fence?

5. What advantages and disadvantages will returning to Berlin bring to

the family, do you think?

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6. Imagine you are Bruno. Write a diary entry about the decision that
has been made.

7. How do you think Shmuel will react to the news?

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Chapter
Thinking10
Chapter 18
16
12
14
Up8the Final Adventure Chapter 18

Activity sheet
1. Why was Shmuel particularly unhappy when he arrived at the fence?

2. How did Shmuel react to Brunos news?

3. What plan did Bruno come up with so that he could visit Shmuels
side of the fence?

4. Why was Shmuel looking forward to Brunos next visit?

5. Do you think Brunos plan was good? Why?/Why not?

6. What were the dangers associated with the plan, do you think? 18

7. If you were moving away and were not going to see your best friend
again, how would you like to spend your last day together?

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Comprehension Activity Sheet 19

Chapters 19 & 20 What Happened the Next Day

The Last Chapter
Activity sheet

1. Why was it difficult for Bruno to change his clothes?

2. Why could Bruno not wear his boots on the other side of the fence?

3. What had Bruno expected to see on Shmuels side of the fence?

4. Why was Bruno unable to go home for his dinner?

5. Were you shocked by the ending? Why?

6. Would you have liked a different ending? Why?

7. Rewrite the ending briefly from Gretels point of view.

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8. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is told as a fable. What would you
identify as the most important messages in the story?

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 Under the Hawthorn Tree: Comprehension Activity Sheet 1
Book Report Sheet
If you dont have enough space to write your answers, use the notes section on the following pages.

Pupils name: Class: Date:

Activity sheet

Title of book: Author: Illustrator:

book report sheet

Setting (where the story took place):

1
List the main characters:

1. 2.

3. 4.
Write about each of the following:

Your favourite character:

The plot:

The climax:

The ending:
Write four adjectives to describe this book:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Did you like the book? Why?/Why not?

Grade the book ( Tick one)

Easy to read Just right A little difficult Difficult

Rate the book out of ten: /10

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Notes

Notes
Notes

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 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Notes

Notes

Notes

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