Many chapter books have documented the love between a boy and his dog. Sara Pennypacker’s moving February novel, Pax, already a best seller, tweaks the formula by focusing on a boy, Peter, and his fox, Pax.
The two have been inseparable for years when Peter’s father goes to war and an evacuation forces Peter to abandon Pax. Pennypacker is gifted at drawing her reader into an ambiguous but familiar place: there are Jolly Ranchers and baseball diamonds but nary an iPhone. And if it’s unclear why Pax and Peter are evacuating, it doesn’t matter. They are determined to reunite, and therein lies the momentum of the novel.
Pennypacker’s elegant language and insight into human nature spin a fable extolling empathy above all. Peter sometimes feels as if he’s seeing through Pax’s eyes, leading him to understand “how things that seem to be separate are really connected to one another.” By the novel’s poignant ending, Pennypacker has gently made the case that all of us should aspire to that view–children and adults alike.
–S.B.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com