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girlrat_debiblio 's review for:

Pax by Sara Pennypacker
3.0

A really cozy read (despite the themes) with gorgeous illustrations and a heartfelt, if very predictable plot. I would have rated it higher if I hadn't been able to tell how the whole thing would shake out by the end of the first chapter and if the setting was a bit less vague: at first I thought it took place during the London Blitz (due to the kid being shipped off to his grandad in the countryside during the war and whatnot) and that Vola
Spoilermust have fought
in WWI, but turns out the whole thing takes place in the US during a war over water (Against who? When? How does it affect civilians considering
Spoilerthe fighting is so close by?
We don't know.) and yeah maybe I shouldn't expect deep lore from my MG books about foxes but it did feel a bit half-baked.

Still definitely worth a read, ESPECIALLY if you want to open discussion on war, loss and trauma with an older kiddo; this book treats the topics with the gravity it deserves but still has moments of levity to buoy you through