The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas fits into the genre of Holocaust fiction.[18] Boyne uses general knowledge about the Holocaust to create a self-described "fable", that relies more on a story of moral truth than historical accuracy.[18] This type of literature, as shown in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, tends to be told to children, from a child's perspective.[19] By having one child share the "bitter herbs" of history with another, the novel instills moral obligation in children.[19]
Kenneth Kidd, professor of English at the University of Florida, argues that John Boyne's use of fable allows him to explore the darker elements of the Holocaust with more of a cautionary tale resulting.[20]
