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panijolene 's review for:
Pax
by Sara Pennypacker
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.