Welcome Moreland Hills 5th Graders!

This blog is dedicated to sharing our thoughts about the books we read and love. All of the fifth grade students and teachers will be able to see the content and information posted. Keep in mind that there are some ground rules that we all need to follow.

This website will be a lot of fun. This is a great way to communicate with each other at all times. We will share thoughts on books, recommendations, and show are strong thinking as readers.

We look forward to having an engaging and fun time!

The 5th grade teachers

Blog Guidelines

1) This blog is for discussions about literacy and books.
2) All comments have to be approved by the teachers-make sure that what you are writing is appropriate for school.
3) Book recommendations, topics, discussion threads, and comments will be both teacher and student driven.
4) We all have our opinions on books-it is fine to disagree with an opinion or comment.
5) Disagreeing is different than disrespectful. Treat everyone and every comment with courtesy and respect.
6) Grading-students that write recommendations and give substantive comments will be able to use their blog entries as a replacement for a journal entry from that week.
7) Names-students will have the option to use their own name or post anonymously.
8) All discussion threads/topics/themes will be teacher monitored.
9) Students will post and comment on book recommendations for each other that they think highly enough of to share with the class.


Monday, February 28, 2011

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, takes place mainly at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The story takes place during World War II (1940s) while the Nazis are busy shipping Jewish people to concentration camps around Europe. The mood of the novel is mostly somber and depressing.

The novel is told from the perspective of Bruno, a 10-year-old German boy who is very naïve about the tragic events occurring around him. The other main characters include his father, a high ranking Nazi official who has been appointed Commandant of the Auschwitz camp, his mother, and his older sister Gretal, who he continuously refers to as the “The Hopeless Case.” At the beginning of the novel, Bruno’s family must move from their comfortable life in Berlin to the Auschwitz camp due to the father’s promotion. Bruno is very upset about leaving his friends and wonderful house behind, especially when he discovers how isolated and boring his new home is. Eventually, Bruno discovers that there are thousands of people wearing “stripped pajamas” (i.e., prison uniforms) living in the fenced-in area near his house. Because he is young, Bruno does not understand what’s really happening. While out exploring one day, Bruno befriends a Jewish boy name Schmuel who he meets by the fence. Over the course of the next year, the two boys meet repeatedly at the fence, talk about their lives, and become close friends in the process.

My favorite part of the book is that it is told through the eyes of an innocent, naïve 10-year-old boy. In doing so, the author creates many though-provoking scenes that make the reader question the existence of evil in the world. Specifically, how was the Holocaust was able to happen? Was is because all German people were evil, or was it because most German people were too scared to stand up for good?

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction that takes place during World War II. If you liked Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, you will absolutely love this book.
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