Loved! The author did a fantastic job of making this a book that stands alone as well as one that follows up after Pax (for those who read that). It had been a while for me, but I was instantly reminded of why I enjoyed Pax so- I loved the equal treatment of Peter and Pax’s journeys told through such lovely storytelling. Lots for readers to discuss as and after this is read- so be sure to add this to your school or classroom library.

This sequel picks up a bit over a year after PAX ended as communities and individuals try to rebuild after the war. It is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Peter and Pax who are on parallel journeys. Peter, now 13 almost 14, leaves his temporary home with Vola to volunteer with the Junior Water Warriors near his childhood home. Along the way, he demonstrates the impressive survival and wilderness skills he has developed as well as his desire to be emotionally isolated to keep from having his heart broken again as it was after he lost his mom, dad, and his beloved pet fox. Meanwhile, Pax is on a journey of his own with his young kit, as he tries to teach her how to survive. Readers are transported to another time and place where teenagers experienced different types of freedom and responsibilities. Animal-lovers will be captivated by the sweet relationship between Pax and his daughter and the enduring relationship between Peter and Pax. This is a beautifully told story with deep themes about loss, redemption, and the psychological and environmental costs of war on both humans and animals.

The war left Peter orphaned and angry. On a mission to find a place to call home, Peter leaves Vola and his grandfather to travel with the Water Warriors––restoring a healthy water supply to the river that was contaminated during the war.

Not far from Peter’s travel, Pax and Bristle settle down with their newly born pack––two boys and a girl. When humans arrive on the scene, Pax leaves the pack in search of a new den. Little does he know his baby girl is trailing him. When he finally realizes she is there, it is too late to turn back. She must make the journey with him. Unknowingly, his cub drinks from the contaminated water supply and Pax struggles to care for her.

Peter and Pax reunite to reveal the true meaning of home: love. Don’t miss this middle-grade novel that is sure to steal your heart as Peter and Pax journey home.

I absolutely loved Pax and looked forward to continuing his journey. Pax, Journey Home starts with Pax and his vixen, Bristle, welcoming a new litter of three kits. When humans enter his territory, Pax goes on a journey to locate a new and safer land. Unbeknownst to him, his daughter has followed him and becomes sick from poisoned water along the way. Meanwhile, Peter is struggling with his own life - trying to harden his heart to avoid the pain of loss he leaves his adopted home with Vola and joins "the Water Warriors" who are attempting to clean the rivers and streams after the war. Peter decides to bury his father's ashes with his mother's, and makes a journey back to his old home. There Pax and Peter reunite, and Pax decides to trust his daughter to the one human he feels a connection too. My only complaint is the ending was a little abrupt, did not resolve is Pax and his daughter reunite. A book about finding family, and the redemption of love. Wonderful - thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced review copy.

I received an electronic ARC from Harper Collins Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Powerful sequel that brings readers back in to Peter and Pax's worlds. Told in alternating chapters so we see their parallel stories. Pax is not only thriving with his mate and her brother but becomes a father early on. Sadly, Peter has built walls around himself so he will no longer feel any emotions. Their journeys home follow the same paths through the woods as Peter helps the Water Warriors save the contaminated rivers and ponds, and Pax follows Peter's scent to see him. As Peter listens to those he travels with and finds healing in letting go of past pain, Pax struggles to figure out what is wrong with his daughter. She snuck away from the den and followed him on his journey. She continued to grow weaker as they traveled. Readers will realize why when they see where they are drinking. In the end, Pax makes a sacrifice that breaks the final hold on the walls around Peter's heart. Both are reconnected with "family" and both have grief to process.
Pennypacker writes with a tender touch that captures the emotions wrapping both main characters. She makes enough references to the first book that a reader picking up this one will follow what happens without having to read the first one. Middle grade readers will spend the book hoping for the two to reconnect but not being certain they will - the mark of a well written story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

A lot can happen in one year when friends don’t see one another. Pax and his partner, Bristle, have a litter of young foxes just venturing out into the world. Peter is running from the idea of attachments and a new home and decides to join the Water Warriors to help clean up the waterways after the war. But while Pax is looking for a new home for his growing family, he and Peter cross paths once again, and Pax desperately needs Peter’s help to care for his sick daughter. Peter is terrified of opening his heart to another animal, but Pax’s trust in him leaves him no choice but to try and help the kit. Once Peter starts to let down his walls, he’s finally able to begin the process of healing, and he and Pax are both able to find their way home.

This emotional read will tug at your heartstrings. I loved watching Pax and Peter reunite and the strong bond that still existed between them. While both characters are hurting, they find comfort in each other’s company and have something of value to offer the other. There’s a strong environmental message that hopeful as humans play a valuable role in cleaning up and restoring the environment after the mess they made.

It’s been five years since the first book came out, and I wish I’d taken the time to reread PAX first, so I recommend you add both to your list to read in September.

Fabulous conclusion to this duology! The ecology element really added dimension to the story. Pushing Peter out of his comfort zone while addressing his issues with loss also created layers of character development that matured this story furthering it’s appeal to older age groups.

Award-winning author Sara Pennypacker's sequel to Pax will not disappoint. This novel is wonderfully crafted and will offer the reader a satisfying journey about choosing your family and the healing power of love. Peter is coming of age, dealing with the loss of both of his parents and the loss of his pet fox, Pax. Along his journey following the death of his father, Peter discovers himself, the real meaning of family and friendship.

The Journey Home was a much needed continuation of Pax. So many were needing some closure with Pax when it ended. I certainly recommend this for all those that needed more Pax as well as those that never read Pax. It is a perfect stand alone also.

Pax was an absolute favorite read of mine! The sequel: Pax, Journey Home did not disappoint! Returning to the alternating POVs between Pax and Peter was like returning to spend time with old friends. Their stories were every bit as endearing and engaging. Sara Pennypacker uses her characters to reveal such beautiful sentiments and truths abut life. I didn't want this book to end. I enjoyed every page!

Oof. Talk about an intense emotional roller coaster! As with the first book, the sequel alternates between Peter’s and Pax’s point of view. The war has ended and water across the country has been contaminated, so a group called Water Warriors has been tasked with testing and cleaning rivers, lakes, etc. To escape the grief from his father’s death, Peter joins Water Warriors and eventually crosses paths with Pax, who has become a father to three kits. There are many twists and turns and, ultimately, the characters end up getting exactly what they need. This is a beautiful story that will satisfy fans of Pax.

I didn't know that I needed more Pax, but I apparently did. This will not disappoint kids who loved the first one. It was nice to see Peter and Pax a year later as they continue to grow and learn. So very good.

For Libraries: A must buy!

It was the sequel that I didn’t know I needed to read. I love the characters of Peter & Pax and revisiting their world felt like a reunion. I appreciated that the story took up right where it left off. However, a new reader won’t be too confused because their shared history is woven through the narration.
I really love a middle grade fiction so full of feeling & emotion. Kids deserve a chance to learn how to feel and Pax is the perfect primer.
Thank you to NetGalley for and ARC of PAC, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker. Publishing date: September 7, 2021.

Before I started this book, I had to read the first one. I had owned a copy of Pax for well over a year, but never got around to reading it. Getting the chance to read its sequel was the push I needed to get it read. And, after reading Pax and Pax, Journey Home, I would say it was worth it.

While Pax was a story about letting go, Pax, Journey Home, is a story about holding on. Just like the first book, this one gives very little in terms of setting, so that the themes can resonate better with people across time and space. (Personally, while I can see the intention behind "this place is undefined and thus these events could happen anywhere," to me it often felt more like "this place is undefined and thus these events have happened no where). This book was also pretty sad for the vast majority of it - I suppose for an adult who can see the moral coming from the first couple of chapters it feels like it lingers too long in the misunderstandings, mistakes, and sadness, but there's a strong possibility that children reading it won't see it that way. I could easily see children, and even adults, who have been through multiple loses like Peter reacting in a way similar to him, so to see him learn throughout his journey in this book would be important.

In conclusion, while this wasn't a book that resonated with me personally, I am certain that there is an audience out there who will connect strongly with it.

Now that summer is here, and my course is set for next year, I finally have the space to find some extra special treasures waiting just for me. I was able to get my hands on a few #ARCs from #netgalley, and I am over the moon excited about this release.
I read Pax with my students last year, and they had an incredible response to the story. For me, Pax was enlightening, as a terrific, tragic, coming of age story, full of trauma and learning how to start over. I loved it and I loved sharing it with students, but it was one of those stories that left melancholy in our hearts and had us wondering, “what happens next?” Well, now I know, and WOW. This book is beautiful and sad and hopeful and brings our incredible characters full circle. The story is still told in two view points, going back and forth between Peter and Pax, who now live different lives. But when a series of events sends them on a path, the characters find themselves reliving and revisiting moments from their past, when the two were the best of friends. This journey leads them to growth, self-discovery, and ultimately, a road through trauma and to healing. This is beautiful in every way, #sarahpennypacker, I’m so grateful for this art you gave to the world. Thank you for your ideas, that led to thoughts, that led to this story. Thank you for revisiting the world of Pax and Peter and allowing your readers to join. I cannot wait to share this book with everyone. #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #arcreader #thirdgrade #iteach #fourthgrade #fifthgrade #sixthgrade #iteach456 #advancedreaderscopy #advancedreadercopy #pax #paxjourneyhome #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #childrensliterature #childrensbooks #kidsliterature #kidlit #comingsoon #books #whatimreading #ilovebooks #bookworm #beautifulbooks #bookrecommendations #booktwo

In 2016, I wrote “…embedded in a well-told story that will stay with readers, both young and old, for a long time” about the first book in the story of the fox Pax and his boy Peter. The story has stayed with me for years and I have watched many of my middle grade library patrons discover the entwined sadness and the hope found in it. Now, Sara Pennypacker gives her many fans just what we wanted, maybe even needed, to hear and it is perfection. At the end of the first installment, Peter has found a home with Vola and Pax is beginning a family with Bristle. “Journey Home” reveals that all is not well with either one of them—Peter has shut himself off from love and is obsessively trying to force any thoughts of belonging and of Pax from his heart and Pax, Bristle and their three kits are in grave danger from the environmental devastation caused by the war. Readers will anxiously read, hoping that all of Pax’s kits will survive, that Peter will begin to love again, and that maybe, just maybe, a boy and his fox will rediscover each other. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and violence. All libraries serving grades 4-6 should have both Pax books on their shelves.

Loved this sequel. If you loved Pax, you will love this second one. Heartwarming and sweet. I am glad the author summarized what happened in the first book but I wish it happened earlier in the book because it had been quite a few years and I forgot the events that happened in book one. It took me about half this book to remember. Overall, great story.

Pax: Journey Home, told in alternating chapters, shares Peter’s continuing adjustment following the war. He is living with Vola, painstakingly building a cabin using the skills learned from her. His attempts to avoid heartbreak by not letting anyone close lead to an abrupt departure for his former home, carrying his father's ashes and intending to settle there alone.
Pax now has a family and has settled into an abandoned farm, but when people encroach he sets off to check on his old home. His spunky vixen kit follows him when he leaves, but is poisoned by contaminated water, leading Pax to search out Peter for help.
A beautifully told, poignant story that certainly lives up to Pax.

I read Pax as the Global Read Aloud a few years ago. On my first reading the ending disappointed me, but when I later read the book aloud to my students, the ending felt natural. It wasn’t until I started reading the sequel that I realized how much I needed it.

Pax: Journey Home picks up about a year after Peter decided it was best to leave Pax in the wild. Peter’s father had been killed during the war and Peter is living with Vola. Pax and Bristle welcome a litter of three kits. Peter is struggling to forgive himself for abandoning Pax. He decides that closing off his heart to everyone is his best option.

Pax helps Peter heal in only a way he can and Peter helps Pax. This is a story of grief, family, and healing. I appreciate that this story also leads readers to consider how their own actions can impact the natural world. I look forward to recommending it to my students.

Sara Pennypacker continues the story of Peter and Pax in this heartfelt sequel. Pax is now the father of 3 fox kits and must try to find new home for his family. What they don't know, is that the surrounding ponds, lakes and rivers have been polluted by heavy metals from the war. Peter is struggling with the loss of his parents and Pax. He has resolved to never love anyone again. What he doesn't know is that he and Pax are still bound together and love overcomes all. A touching sequel that I would highly recommend for anyone who loved the first story.