Saturday, January 30, 2016

New Book Alert: Pax, 2/2/16


Pax by Sara Pennypacker with illustrations by Jon Klassen, p.304
Available Feb. 2, 2016 (ARC picked up at NCTE)

Get your pre-order in now for Sara Pennypacker's new novel, Pax, which comes out on Tuesday! This charming story is told in alternating chapters by Pax, a young fox, and his former owner, a boy named Peter. Having raised Pax from a kit, Peter is forced by his father to abandon Pax and send him back in the wild. 

Pax's chapters explore the fox's attempts to reintegrate into a wild life, trying to relearn survival skills and interact with his own kind. Told with a naturalistic style, this is not a "talking animal" fantasy story but rather uses the foxes' movements and reactions to each other to communicate.

Peter's side of the story follows his efforts to find Pax again, as he immediately regrets letting him go. This kicks into gear the other adventure and survival side of the story. 

This is a book that will appeal to many readers and is being advertised for grades 3-7. Younger readers will fall in love with Pax and his earnest and adorable personality. Older readers will cheer on Peter as he sets off on a dangerous mission to find Pax and as he grapples with the larger context of encroaching war, family difficulties, and reintegrating into life after war. 

A wonderful book and new classic in the vein of other great animal and survival tales like My Side of the Mountain, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie of the Wolves, or Rascal. Can't wait to see the actual print edition with finalized versions of Jon Klassen's tender artwork.

When will you #FindPax?

Pax diorama created from the book the ARC was distributed in

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