The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

Book Details:

Author: John Boyne

Ages: 12+
Rating: 9/10
Number of Pages: 224
Plot: From the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne returns to Nazi Germany with a new heart breaking story and young protagonist. After a series of tragic events surrounding his family, Pierrot Fischer, at the age of 8, is forced to leave his life in Paris behind and look for somewhere he can call home. It is when his distant aunt Beatrix arrives that little Pierrot’s life is turned upside down. Thrown into the German lifestyle and abandoning his mother’s Parisian roots, Pierrot must abandon his old life, including his childhood friend Anshel and even his name, in order to conform to the Germanic customs and the high expectations of the master of the house – Adolf Hitler. As we follow Pierrot through the war, Pierrot is forced to make difficult and, in some cases, life-changing, decisions, but where will his loyalties lie – with his loved ones or his Führer? In a story filled with danger and war, Boyne educates the reader on the effects of Nazi propaganda on the youth in Germany at the time.

Review: Having read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas before, I was really excited to read more from Boyne and experience his take on Nazi Germany again. I was intrigued by the premise of the book as I had only ever read a few books from the perspective of Germanic children from the period, including, one of my favourites, The Book Thief. The book follows a young boy, Pierrot, from 1936 to adulthood and has a strong focus on the indoctrination of the Nazis on the Germanic youth. The development of the main character, in my opinion, is the most impressive and quite astonishing aspect of the novel and it is this that makes the novel one of the best Nazi Germany books I have read in a while. Throughout the beginning of the novel, there is a sense of naivety and innocence that surrounds the character, depicting Pierrot in the typical child-like manner. However, as the novel progresses and the Nazi indoctrination he is subjected to intensifies, Boyne cleverly uses his original innocence to emphasise his change in personality after moving into Hitler’s home. I, personally, found this character development not only incredibly written but also quite heart breaking to experience.

“You have many years ahead of you to come to terms with your complicity in these matters. Just don’t ever tell yourself that you didn’t know... That would be the worst crime of all.” – Herta

It’s not just Boyne’s incredible character development that made me come to love this book, but, his attention to detail and subtle references made the book even better than its predecessor. There were numerous points in the story in which Boyne cleverly used historical references that, in cases, made the story more saddening. The inclusion of individuals like Wallis Simpson and Goebbels, made the story appear to be more of an autobiographical piece than fictitious. It is this historical attention to detail that Boyne displays that separates this new novel from its predecessor.


The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is a historical fiction that I think I could easily read again and again without getting bored of the story or the characters. Through his heart breaking character development and unbelievable attention to detail, Boyne has created yet another historical fiction that will not only appeal to its intended young adult market but a range of history lovers across all ages and genders. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those who are interested in or studying Nazi Germany, and for anyone who enjoyed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I hope that Boyne delves into this genre and topic more often in the future, as the stories he creates are memorable and iconic whilst being captivating and enjoyable.