The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

John Boyne

Oct 2015 · Random House

About this ebook

When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave his home in Paris for a new life with his Aunt Beatrix, a servant in a wealthy household at the top of the German mountains. But this is no ordinary time, for it is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching; and this is no ordinary house, for this is the Berghof, the home of Adolf Hitler.

Quickly, Pierrot is taken under Hitler's wing, and is thrown into an increasingly dangerous new world: a world of terror, secrets and betrayal, from which he may never be able to escape.

Ratings and reviews

The book is absolutely one of the most powerful and haunting books. But I hated it, unlike the Boy In The Striped PJ's. It tells us that evil is not a choice. It expects us to feel pity for and love this Nazi Pierrot. I was surrounded by racists from day 1 but my mind remained abs pure all the way through and I never once thought like that let alone become a complete monster. I don't believe that everyone is born pure minded..some ppl have that material in them others do not. But Boyne never fails to shock.

Another brilliant novel by John Bourne. Perhaps not quite as moving as Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but a very compelling read nevertheless.

Great book!! Definitely recommend for ages 12+. Great Author!! I love John Boynes novels!!

About the author

John Boyne is the author of fifteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet, and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart's Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes. His novels are published in sixty languages.


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