In novels, the author creates a focus on a relationship - between enemies or friends, a parent and child, or husband and wife. In the two texts, The Book Thief, and The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas this is a aspect that is featured in both, the relationship between children. The Book Thief focuses on the relationship between Liesel and Rudy, two of the characters. In The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas the relationship that is focused on is between Bruno and Shmuel. The following paragraphs discuss the similar situations, and themes that connect the two relationships together.
The Book Thief was written by Australia writer Markus Zusak in 2005. The novel focuses on Liesel, a 12 year old girl and her family who are living in Germany during and post World War Two. When her family takes in a Max, a Jewish man that is hiding from the Nazi Soldiers, Liesel’s life is turned upside as she struggles to keep her family’s secret and to find a place in her new world. The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas is also set during World War Two. It follows the story of Bruno, a young boy whose father is a Commander General of a Nazi Concentration Camp. With nothing to do, he explores and finds Shmuel, a Jewish boy that is being held in the camp. They become good friends but their friendship leads Bruno to a mistaken death.
The authors of these two texts use similar themes to convey a story of relationships within the books. The relationships within these two stories both bare witness to death. In The Book Thief, Liesel and Rudy both face death; Liesel more so than Rudy as she has to deal with the loss of not only her entire family but also the loss of her best friend. In The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel encounters death in a horrifying way as they both are killed, Shmuel on purpose and Bruno by accident. The theme of friendship within these texts is one of the most important. The friendship