Eden Manes’s Reviews > The Boy in the Striped Pajamas > Status Update

In this chapter Bruno has a flashback to a few months earlier. Bruno's father has a new uniform and title and announces that "the Fury and his girlfriend are coming to dinner". (148) Bruno later overhears his parents talk about moving to Auschwitz his mom's not too happy. If I was Bruno and I understood what was going on I wouldn’t be too happy either.

In this chapterIn this chapter Bruno sees a boy on other side of the fence. "He's sitting cross-legged on the ground, has grey looking skin, and wears striped pajamas and a Star of David arm patch. (135)
The boy's name is Shmuel and he has the same birthday as Bruno which is April 15, 1934. He also tells Bruno he's from Poland. Bruno doesn't know where Poland is. He doesn’t even known that where he currently is.

In this chapter Bruno goes outside and reads the plaque on the bench near the garden in their house The plaque said "Presented on the occasion of the opening of Auschwitz Camp, June nineteen forty" (page 129)
Bruno continues walking toward the fence even though he's forbidden to do so. This definitely has to do with a concentration camp and I hope that Bruno knows that too. His dad if definitely involved with it.

In this chapter Bruno's father decides that Bruno and Gretel will have a tutor. He likes history and geography, but not reading and art, which are Bruno's favorites. He tells Bruno "you will learn all about the wrongs that have been done by the Jews". (page 118) This is not right because it is going to be putting thoughts into Bruno's head that are not true and this was probably Bruno's dads plan the whole time.

In this chapter Bruno has a flashback to family Christmas the year before. Everyone congratulates Bruno's father on his new uniform and new position, except for his grandmother, ,she's ashamed of what he does, and storms out of the house. "When I see him in that uniform my eyes start to tear" said his grandmother. (page 110) I feel terrible now for both Bruno and his grandmother.

In this chapter after Bruno recovers from falling off of the swing his mom comes into the kitchen and tells him to leave. Bruno overhears her telling Pavel "do not tell the Commandant that you cleaned Bruno's wounds". (page 96) I don't understand why this should be a secret. I think it may be because Bruno thinks that he isn't even a doctor. Later in the chapter Bruno has a flashback about a family Christmas.

Bruno worries that he'll have to go to the hospital, but Pavel tells him he won't and reveals that he's a doctor himself. "The truth is I am a doctor and I promise you will be ok" (page 87) I am happy that Bruno. The only thing fishy going on is that Bruno does not believe him because he is a "potato peeler" and potatoes peelers are not doctors according to Bruno.

In this chapter Kotler calls Pavel and orders him to get a tire from the storage shed. Pavel drags the tire to the oak tree and helps Bruno set it up. But then Bruno swings too high and falls off, hitting his head and cutting his leg open. But then Pavel carries Bruno to the kitchen and cleans and bandages his open cuts.

In this chapter 7 weeks have passed and Bruno realizes he needs to entertain himself or he'll go crazy, so he decides to make a tire swing and heads outside to find an adult to help him. Unfortunately, the only one around is creepy Lieutenant Kotler one of the blonde soldiers.

Before Bruno leaves the office he asks about the people on the other side of the fence. His fathers response was "they're not people." I think these people are the jews.