Good things take time.. a sequel 16 years in the making

This week we take a look at the much-awaited sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, All the Broken Places by John Boyne. I read this one in February 2023 – (look at that beautiful blue sky. Such fond memories of that one time it was sunny).

Just to catch you up if you haven’t read it, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a young adult book about the holocaust, and is centred around a family who lives next door to Auschwitz. The father in that family is the commandant of Auschwitz. His son Bruno befriends a Jewish detainee named Shmuel. The book is devastatingly memorable. This is probably one of the first books I ever read which really hit me in the guts. I can’t recall how old I was when I read it (I was definitely an adult) but it is pretty hard hitting. Apparently it is recommended for mature 10 and 11 year olds. Other articles suggest it is more for ages 13 plus. I always suggest parents read these types of books first before their children, as you will know what is appropriate for your child.

Interestingly, the sequel, All the Broken Places, is not a young adult book. What is also interesting is that The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was published in 2006, and the sequel was published some 16 years later in September 2022. According to some articles I have read, Boyne started making notes for the sequel shortly after writing The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, although he didn’t intend to write and publish the sequel until much later. Apparently he wrote this during lockdown. Given the success of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, I am sure there was a lot of pressure on Boyne to write the sequel in quick succession. Good things take time!

I will start by saying that I am a big fan of John Boyne’s work. I haven’t read any of his books and not loved it. They are gripping, page turning, twisty and emotional. All the Broken Places is no exception. Boyne explores the complexities of guilt and complicity through the life of the main character, 91-year-old Gretel. Gretel is the older sister of Bruno. Gretel is such a fascinating, and not particularly likeable character. In the present day, Gretel is living in a swanky apartment in London. The story goes back and forward in time to reveal Gretel’s past, both immediately after they fled Auschwitz, what happened to her parents, and to the modern day. In modern day London, she is living a very private life. She isn’t particularly close to anyone including her own son. She is intent on keeping her secrets of the past deeply buried.

Gretel is forced to confront her past when new neighbours move into her building, and she becomes involved in their lives, revealing parts of herself she wanted to keep hidden.

Boyne's writing is absolutely exquisite. The way he weaves the story, the characters, and the emotions together is pure magic. I was hooked from the very beginning, and I couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold. There are a couple of twists in there that I did not see coming.

This book is currently sitting at 4.5/5 on Good Reads, but has been met with some criticism. You can look into that for yourself. I personally found this book really powerful. It got me thinking about guilt and complicities, and where or how children can be culpable for the actions of their parents. Does knowing about something make you complicit?

I would love to know what you thought of this book, or if you would recommend any others of Boyne’s, because life is too short to read bad books.