Book of the Month: Pax

This month we feature the book Pax, by Sara Pennypacker. Pax is an emotional novel about a boy, Peter, and his fox, Pax, who are separated during a time of war. In their mission to reunite, these friends are helped by strangers who also teach Peter and Pax important lessons about community, forgiveness, and healing.

One of the reasons that this book is worth reading is for its portrayal of community. Both of the main characters are able to grow in empathy by coming to understand and accept the help of others, rather than focusing only on themselves. Peter’s growth in the story occurs when he sets aside his personal concerns and puts his energy and attention toward helping his new friend Vola. When Pax meets a group of other foxes in the wild, we see, through this former isolated house pet, the importance of good friends and community in helping us to realize our truest self. These are two wonderful lessons for our students, middle schoolers in particular, to learn.

All in all, Pax can be a valuable book for your son or students, making it a worthy pick for the Forum’s Book of the Month series. For more info, read Kyle Blackmer’s review here.

About the author:

Kyle Blackmer

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Kyle has been teaching humanities at The Heights since 2015, working with 7th graders in the subjects of English, Latin, and history. Kyle advises the Ski Club and the Middle School Outdoorsman’s Club, and is also in charge of organizing the school’s famous Clan Games. A Division-1 soccer player, Kyle is the goalkeeper coach for The Heights soccer program and trains keepers in grades 7-12. His other interests include Irish history and music – both of which he pursued during graduate studies in Northern Ireland – and working in his family’s vegetable garden. A native of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, Kyle now lives in Hyattsville, Maryland, with his wife Julie and their children Thomas and Cora.
Learn more about Kyle Blackmer →