John Boyne Set: Stay Where You Are / The Boy at the Top of the Mountain / The Dare

by John Boyne

Unknown Binding

About the author

I was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.

I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.

Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.

I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.

In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.

My novels are published in 58 languages.

My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.

Reviews

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I ordered this book, I did not realize that the age group it was geared toward was 9-12. Its author is John Boyne and I just like his writing and his ability to authentically portray a variety of different characters. He is especially good at writing young boys. This book is no exception, Boyne portrays a nine-year-old boy and does it very convincingly.

Set at the start of the First World War, a nine-year-old boy faces his father leaving for the front lines but since everyone said that it would all be over by Christmas, it was all right. His father wrote every week and although his mother had to take on a great deal of extra work to make ends meet, they lived in anticipation for the return of Georgie, his father but when the letters stopped coming worry set in. He became a shoeshine boy at King's Cross to bring in extra money for his mother. He no longer believed that his father was on a secret mission and when he unexpectedly found out that Georgie was in fact in hospital he decided to visit him.

Never having been on a train, Alphie discovered a strange new world and after meeting his father decided that he must take him home to recover there. He kept it secret but managed to do it.
This book does an exceptional job of demonstrating how a young boy perceives a world in which he has no experience and how he manages to keep his nerve and carry out his plan. It is a great book and I recommend it.

[Wmeakin459 · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Boyne never disappoints. I loved this book. Great characters and storyline.

[Sue Schleeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. What a great book.