Read for: Audio Book Challenge
Synopsis: "Pax was only a kit when his family was killed, and “his boy” Peter rescued him from abandonment and certain death. Now the war front approaches, and when Peter’s father enlists, Peter has to move in with his grandpa. Far worse than being forced to leave home is the fact that Pax can’t go. Peter listens to his stern father—as he usually does—and throws Pax’s favorite toy soldier into the woods. When the fox runs to retrieve it, Peter and his dad get back in the car and leave him there—alone. But before Peter makes it through even one night under his grandfather’s roof, regret and duty spur him to action; he packs for a trek to get his best friend back and sneaks into the night. This is the story of Peter, Pax, and their independent struggles to return to one another against all odds. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Peter and Pax."
My Review: I have been wanting to read this book, the cover is stunning and the story sounds like something right up my alley. I downloaded it on audio and Munchkin wanted to listen too, admittedly this book is well advanced for him. Being as I was listening with Munchkin and could only listen to about 15-20 minutes a day, this story took a very long time to finish. The writing is very descriptive and for someone who is younger several of the descriptions really didn't make sense to him, as an adult I enjoyed it but for the target audience that is often on the verge of becoming a reader or start to hate reading it was maybe a bit much. I did enjoy the characters though and the way each of them developed. The story does tackle some tough subjects from war and PTSD to finding who you are and what is important to you as an individual. The ending was a little lackluster for all the build up and Munchkin kept asking what happened to the war, how did Peter get home, where did he go home? So we were left a little disappointed and almost bored with the ending, it is too bad because it had some really great developments.
My Review: I have been wanting to read this book, the cover is stunning and the story sounds like something right up my alley. I downloaded it on audio and Munchkin wanted to listen too, admittedly this book is well advanced for him. Being as I was listening with Munchkin and could only listen to about 15-20 minutes a day, this story took a very long time to finish. The writing is very descriptive and for someone who is younger several of the descriptions really didn't make sense to him, as an adult I enjoyed it but for the target audience that is often on the verge of becoming a reader or start to hate reading it was maybe a bit much. I did enjoy the characters though and the way each of them developed. The story does tackle some tough subjects from war and PTSD to finding who you are and what is important to you as an individual. The ending was a little lackluster for all the build up and Munchkin kept asking what happened to the war, how did Peter get home, where did he go home? So we were left a little disappointed and almost bored with the ending, it is too bad because it had some really great developments.
My Rating: I really enjoyed this one and it will probably be great for young teens who are already bookworms. While it did take us a while to get through this audio book, it was still a very slow moving story with a lot of set backs that didn't always seem to add to the story. The ending was so abrupt that it almost seems like there should be another story, I understand leaving an open end for you to imagine your own but to leave so many questions that were presented in the story unanswered seems like it might leave young readers with a lack of closure. We give this one a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.
Not good if Munchkin was disappointed and asking questions about what happened. Cute cover though.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that it was much advanced for him, being a middle grade book and he just turned 5 but the ending just didn't wrap any of the plot lines up at all.
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