Book review: The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, John Boyne

By P.K. Stowers

Herald online·

30 Dec, 2015 04:19 AM4 mins to read

Author John Boyne (right)

Written as the third part to a wartime novella series that includes the very successful The Boy in the Striped Pjamas, this book tells the story of a Pierrot, who lives in 1930s Paris with his French mother and German father. Tragedy soon befalls both parents, leading young Pierrot to a brief stay in an orphanage, before being rescued by his mysterious Aunt Beatrix (whom he has never met) and then taken to live in a large alpine lodge located near Salzburg in Austria.

Named 'Berghof', Pierrot's new home is not just any alpine retreat. It is the only lodge on the mountain, has a large staff to run and maintain it, and its owner is the current German chancellor and leader of the National Socialist Party, Adolf Hitler.

Confused at first, Pierrot quickly adapts to his new environment, embracing his father's German heritage, and rejecting that of his French mother. He switches from 'Pierrot' to 'Pieter' (at the request of his Aunt) and dissociates himself from his Jewish childhood friend back in Paris. But the question then becomes, how far will 'Pieter' go to fit in to life at Berghof and please his new father figure.

As a writer, one of John Boyne's main strengths is as an excellent judge of tone and narration - which he needs to be given the set up here. Any story that makes Hitler out to be a sympathetic character (and this one does not) is more than likely going to fail. However, go too far the other way and make him out to be some kind of insane raving lunatic, and the story also collapses. What small boy is going to be impressed by some kind of hysterical monster?

A good example of the delicate line that Boyne has to tread occurs when Pierrot is invited to stay on as a 'footman' during a pre-war private discussion between the Fuhrer and the Duke of Windsor. Pierrot considers the request an enormous compliment, but a perceived indiscretion provokes a chilling bedroom visit later in the evening.

"I can trust you, Pieter, can't I?" asked the Fuhrer, leaning over so the bristles of his moustache were almost touching the boy's upper lip. "You will never give me cause to regret allowing you to live here?"
"No mein Fuhrer. Never, I promise it"
"You better not," he hissed. "Because disloyalty never goes unpunished."
He tapped Pierrot twice on the cheek before marching out of the room, closing the door behind him.

The book is perfectly suited in terms of vocabulary, pacing and length for young adult readers aged around 12-15 - and some knowledge of the World War II and the atrocities surrounding it is vital. The book does not go into detail regarding the horrors of the holocaust, but would make a good companion piece for those learning about it.

The only question is whether young adult readers will take to the novel and its main character. It's difficult to care for and support the main protagonist when he essentially becomes a young Jew-hating Nazi that idolises Adolf Hitler - because eventually this kid goes all in. He is totally happy to inform on family members and friends if he believes they are being unpatriotic, and also happy to intimidate those whom he sees as inferior. Regardless of how well the novella is written, it is a little much to ask your readers to go along with the story when for large parts of the book, our 'hero' is such a total jerk.

There are, however, some well made points on the effect bullying can have on others, and just because the narrative of a book may not be what is popular with teen readers at present, does not mean it would not make a worthy addition to any school library - especially when read in conjunction with the two other novellas in this series.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is probably not destined to become the life-affirming classic that The Boy in the Striped Pjamas was, but is a well-paced, entertaining and informative read nonetheless and will hopefully find a wider audience.