Pax, Journey Home (Pax, #2) by Sara Pennypacker, Jon Klassen
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 0062930346
Pages: 256
Genres: Adventure
Goodreads

The sequel to the wildly popular book Pax (2016), Pennypacker imbues this book with as much depth and beauty as in her first book about a boy and a fox, bonded by love but separated by circumstances beyond their control. In the sequel, Peter and Pax continue to be separated by distance, but each still holds the other in his memories. Now orphaned by his father’s death in the war, Peter is desperately trying to stop the painful reminiscences of his former life; and Pax, with a new family to protect, uses the memory of his time with a loving human to teach his kits that many humans are dangerous, but not all. Looking for purpose and a way to keep himself distanced from any people who would love him, Peter joins the Water Warriors, a group working to clean the lakes and rivers contaminated by the war. Looking for a safe home for his family, Pax travels back over familiar territory. When his kit is irrevocably injured, Pax seeks out the one human who will open his heart enough to care for an ailing fox. A story of loss and redemption, and one in which a boy who tries to harden his heart learns that love will find its way in through any sliver. The book would make a great read-aloud and could find an audience in readers anywhere from grade 3 and up. Highly recommend.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth