"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is a novel by John Boyne that tells the story of an eight-year-old boy named Bruno who moves with his family from Berlin to a house near a concentration camp during World War II. Unaware of the camp's true nature, Bruno befriends a boy named Shmuel, who wears striped pajamas and lives on the other side of a fence. The story explores themes of innocence, friendship, and the impact of war through the eyes of children. As Bruno and Shmuel's friendship develops, they face the harsh realities of their circumstances, leading to a tragic conclusion.