Book synopsis: Nine year old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no-one to play with.

Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas. Bruno's friendship with Shmuel will take him from innocence to revelation.

Almunia reveals: "As a footballer at Arsenal Football Club, we travel all over Europe. Reading is one of the ways I help to keep myself calm and concentrated on imposing matches; it allows me quiet time and really helps keep long journeys interesting. I've chosen The Boy in Striped Pyjamas as it is a book for all ages and a very good read.

While written for children, I feel that the older generation would also get a lot out of reading this story. It is a fictional tale of two young boys and is actually very difficult to explain! It follows Bruno, the lead boy in the book, on his journeys and it's extremely gripping as the plot is not as straightforward as it first seems. The ending poses a big surprise, which could be described as quite devastating!"

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