Pax, journey home by Sara Pennypacker. Illus. by Jon Klassen

Pax : Journey Home is the sequel to Pax, a story about a boy and his fox who are torn apart by the circumstances and betrayal that come from living through a war. In Journey Home, a year has gone by, the war is over, but the impacts remain, not just to the environment but to the people who are still alive. 

Peter is 13 and struggling with the loss of his father and his betrayal of Pax and is determined to not feel every again. In his quest to isolate himself from the world and those who are willing to support him, he joins a group of volunteers who are cleaning up the toxic mess created during the war. Meanwhile Pax and his mate Bristle are new parents with a litter of kits to protect. However, they need to find a new home that is safer for all of them, and Pax leaves his family behind to do this. 

One of the kits follows Pax and ironically falls ill while playing and drinking the water that Peter is working so hard to clean. Pax realizes that he needs help and when his journey crosses the path of Peter, he knows what he must do.

This is the sequel that was never meant to be, Sara Pennypacker never intended for there to be a second book, but I am so glad that she did. This is a brilliant story about Peter and Pax and the characters that we first met in Pax.  Peter is trying to isolate himself, but the world will not let him, Vola continues to support him and accept his need to be alone but still ensures a connection with his grandfather, the volunteers accept his solitary needs while still drawing him into their lives through their stories and shared environmental interest and Pax knows that the only human who can save his daughter is the one person who left him behind. 

The broadest theme of this book is that love will always find a way in. However, the other themes of environmental responsibility and animal protection are also there along with survival and family. This is a fabulous series and one that I would recommend highly, however, Journey Home does need to be read after Pax for it to make sense and for the reader to get the full impact of the complexity and richness of the characters and the story. 

The author has created a story that readers will want to revisit and engage with again and again as they discover the relationships that bind us to certain places and people and the impact that leaving can have, both through death and by choice. Pax has learnt to be a wild fox but still holds the memories of the love Peter gave him and this comforts and guides him through his struggles. Peter is trying to outrun his memories and the consequences of trying to isolate himself as an escape from the things he has seen and done during the years that the war raged.

I believe that this book could be used as a class novel or as a read aloud in class but also will be one that is passed around as people read and discover the beauty that Sara Pennypacker has created with her story that is enriched by Jon Klassen’s illustrations.  I highly recommend adding this to your reading pile and library shelves.

Themes: Environmental Issues, Animal-human relationships, Family, War, Loss, Death, Survival.

Mhairi Alcorn