All the Broken Places by John Boyne follows Gretel, Bruno's sister from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, navigating the aftermath of World War II. She deals with guilt and secrets about her family's Nazi history as a teenager in Paris and later as a 91-year-old in London. The novel alternates between her past and present, exploring themes of trauma, guilt, and the impact of historical atrocities. The book depicts trauma tied to the Holocaust and World War II, as well as child and domestic abuse, gaslighting, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and grooming.

John Boyne's All the Broken Places is lauded for its compelling narrative and deep character development. Readers appreciate the nuanced exploration of guilt and redemption. However, some criticize the pacing and find certain plot points implausible. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking read that effectively engages with complex themes.

Readers who appreciate deeply emotional narratives, historical fiction, and complex character studies will be drawn to All the Broken Places by John Boyne. Similar to fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, this novel offers a poignant exploration of the shadows cast by World War II.

Mysterious / Melancholic / Emotional / Contemplative / Bittersweet

John Boyne

Adult

Novel

Fiction

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All the Broken Places Summary and Study Guide

Background

All the Broken Places Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “The Devil’s Daughter (London 2022 / Paris 1946)”

Part 1, Chapters 1-11

All the Broken Places Part 1, Chapters 1-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapter 12-Interlude 1

All the Broken Places Part 1, Chapter 12-Interlude 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Beautiful Scars (London 2022 / Sydney 1953)”

Part 2, Chapters 1-11

All the Broken Places Part 2, Chapters 1-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapter 12-Interlude 2

All the Broken Places Part 2, Chapter 12-Interlude 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “The Final Solution (London 2022, London 1953)”

Part 3, Chapters 1-9

All the Broken Places Part 3, Chapters 1-9 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapter 10-Author’s Note

All the Broken Places Part 3, Chapter 10-Author’s Note Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

All the Broken Places Character Analysis

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Themes

All the Broken Places Themes

Symbols & Motifs

All the Broken Places Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

All the Broken Places Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

All the Broken Places Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

All the Broken Places Book Club Questions

All the Broken Places

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