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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Chapter 1 Summary

How It All Goes Down

Bruno Makes a Discovery

  • Welcome to Berlin, Germany in the 1940s.
  • Bruno comes home to find the maid, Maria, packing his belongings.
  • His mother says that their family—including him, his sister (Gretel), his mother, and father—are moving for his dad's job.
  • Bruno doesn't know what his dad does, but he knows it's something important, and that he wears a cool uniform.
  • None too happy about this news, Bruno goes to his room and his mom goes to his father's office, which is a no-fly zone for the kids. Bruno's parents argue, presumably about the move.
  • The door closes and Bruno goes upstairs to help Maria pack. Sigh.