Families who loved The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

Reach for this book when you are ready to introduce the complexities of the Holocaust or the concept of moral responsibility through a story about empathy and perspective. This haunting fable follows nine year old Bruno as he moves from Berlin to a house next to a concentration camp, where he forms an unlikely and forbidden friendship with a boy on the other side of the fence. Through their bond, the story explores how childhood innocence can simultaneously bridge deep divides and remain dangerously blind to surrounding evils. While the language is accessible for younger readers, the heavy emotional weight and tragic conclusion make it best suited for preteens and teens. It is a powerful tool for discussing the human cost of history and the importance of questioning the world around us.