John Boyne grew up in Ireland during the 1970's and he knew about the fences and what happened beyond them for many years (Teen Reads). These fences may not have been actual fences, but he saw that there were divides between the people in Ireland. He said that these fences or divides between the people, “caused violence and killing for families throughout Northern Ireland for too many years”. He said that many of the problems have been solved but it is still going on a little bit. I think that he sees himself as Bruno. They both grew up seeing the problems that were going on in the world and were too young to understand what was going on. Although they lived in two different countries they both experienced violent behaviors in the countries they lived in. Bruno lived in Germany during the holocaust. Many Jews were killed or sent to concentration camps because they were Jews during this time (Holocaust Encyclopedia). John Boyne lived in Ireland where there was similar violence. People died because they were part of certain religious groups (PRIMARY student). I think that John wrote this novel because he and Bruno were alike. They both grew up during violent times and they both were too young to understand what was happening, and why it was happening. The book helps you kind of understand what it was like for people during that time, and I think that he wanted to show what it looked like through the eyes of a child.