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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read this book in my third language, and I'm not going to lie that I feel like I missed out on a lot of what was happening in the middle of the book. But overall, I got the story and I finished the book with a great sense of disappointment. The ending is not what I wanted at all, and while I anticipated some sort of twist. I know life is not all hunky-dory all the time, but sometimes I just want a book that ends happily after. I want an escape from real life and the terrible things going on around us everyday.
I also felt a little like I didn't get the full story. The setting was ambiguous. I had some hints that it was America, but it didn't feel right. Where was this war going on? And when? Why was there a war? From others' reviews I'm guessing that it wasn't the language barrier but rather the lack of development of certain aspects of the book.
But I loved the illustrations. They are beautiful in a haunting sort of way. I wish there had been more.
As a middle grades book, I wonder how kids will react to this loss of Pax and the ending... Ugh. Maybe they are less likely to be disappointed. Maybe adult view makes us year for the fairytale but kids will see the beauty of the ending! I'm not sure.
I also felt a little like I didn't get the full story. The setting was ambiguous. I had some hints that it was America, but it didn't feel right. Where was this war going on? And when? Why was there a war? From others' reviews I'm guessing that it wasn't the language barrier but rather the lack of development of certain aspects of the book.
But I loved the illustrations. They are beautiful in a haunting sort of way. I wish there had been more.
As a middle grades book, I wonder how kids will react to this loss of Pax and the ending... Ugh. Maybe they are less likely to be disappointed. Maybe adult view makes us year for the fairytale but kids will see the beauty of the ending! I'm not sure.
My favourite book this year...
Full review on my blog at https://linsperspectivecom.wordpress.com/2023/08/22/pax-by-sara-pennypacker-review/
Full review on my blog at https://linsperspectivecom.wordpress.com/2023/08/22/pax-by-sara-pennypacker-review/
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very thought provoking. The kind of book that both kids and parents can read together, and get different things out of. I haven't listened to it with my kids yet, but plan to. There are some challenging topics for kids, but I suspect it will spark good discussion.
I recently bought this beautifully illustrated read for my 9-year-old granddaughter for Christmas and thought I should read it before I wrap it up to make sure she would like it. I liked it, but I think I'm going to wait a year or maybe two before I give it to her. In my mind, the themes of war, death, and destruction would be a little bit too heavy for her.
Pax was just a young fox when his mother was killed, and he was discovered and adopted by Peter who has raised him as a pet. Now his father has enlisted in the service and so Peter must go live with his grandfather. And, more importantly he must release Pax into the wild. We read of Pax and Peter's adventures after their separation in alternate chapters. Pax misses Peter terribly, but he must learn to live in the wild and hunt for his own food. Arriving at his grandfather's house, Peter decides that he must leave at once and find Pax. However, he falls and is injured, delaying his trek into the unknown.
Pax was just a young fox when his mother was killed, and he was discovered and adopted by Peter who has raised him as a pet. Now his father has enlisted in the service and so Peter must go live with his grandfather. And, more importantly he must release Pax into the wild. We read of Pax and Peter's adventures after their separation in alternate chapters. Pax misses Peter terribly, but he must learn to live in the wild and hunt for his own food. Arriving at his grandfather's house, Peter decides that he must leave at once and find Pax. However, he falls and is injured, delaying his trek into the unknown.
Wow. This was so interesting— Pinky was captivated and she pulls back from stories she doesn’t know right now.
I really liked this book, it’s written with such empathy and the voices of both peter and pax are done well. For me I preferred the interaction with pax and the two other foxes feeling sometimes that actually they were the characters with the message to convey to the reader that this is the destruction humans can do to life in all its form whether it is human, animal or plant. I liked the way each chapter was narrated by peter and then pax so really did feel both their sides of the story. The only thing I felt wasn’t really explained was when it was set, at times it could have been ww2 but then the way things were described maybe it was more the future and what we are actually seeing is what we could be moving towards. All in all a good book with lots of heartfelt writing and you may shed a tear or two I know I did
There is so much in this short book, from heartbreaking to heart warming. Both the boy and his fox learn and grow and change. For the better? I think so. This is one of those stories that will stay with me. Always. Why not 5 stars? It was a little laboured at times.