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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Pax by Sara Pennypacker



Pax is a fox who was adopted by a boy named Peter when the fox was an orphaned kit. Peter was dealing with the grief and loss of his mother and Pax helped with the healing process. Peter has to leave Pax behind when his father goes to war. His father has him leave Pax in the woods.  Peter goes to his grandfather's home.  However, Peter realizes he has made a terrible mistake and runs away and back to the woods which is hundreds of miles away.  He injures himself and a woman takes him in. She is also dealing with her own trauma from a war she fought in years before.  She helps Peter to get well enough to send him on his journey.  Meanwhile Pax has to learn to live in nature and support himself. War has also come to the woods that Pax is struggling for survival in and he has to figure out how to fend for himself and find a trusting family of his own.

This book has lots of depth and is probably aimed more for the upper elementary and  middle school student even though the illustrated cover looks more elementary. There is some violence included. One of the issues in the book is how war effects people and animals. The book is told through the point of view of Peter and Pax in alternating chapters which keeps you moving throughout the book.  It is a wonderful book that kept me reading and thinking.  I think it would be a great read aloud.  I read this book because it has been a Newbery contender for 2017. I agree that it may be a good choice for Newbery!

The AR reading level is 5.3 and is 8 points. School Library Journal lists the book for grades 4-7.

Here is the book trailer: Pax Book Trailer

  • Age Range: 8 - 12 years
  • Grade Level: 3 - 7
  • Lexile Measure: 760 
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 2, 2016)

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