REVIEW: Pax by Sara Pennypacker (or my first ever review for a DNFed book)

Hello!

Two book reviews in a row, doesn’t it sound so surprising? But, unfortunately, this is another somewhat negative review. Moreover, it’f for a book I eventually DNFed, and I’m slightly concerned on whether should I actually review it.

Pax
by Sarah Pennypacker

Rating:
Status: DNFed at page 109 of 278
Goodreads
Amazon | Book Depository | B&N
Published: February 2nd, 2016
Format: Hardcover

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.

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the essential truths that define us and the devastating costs of war. Pax is destined to become a classic, beloved for generations to come. (cr.: findpax.com)

Forgive me that I skipped <About author(s)> section, because I really don’t feel like wanting to dig deep into google to find any information to be included here.

Now, about the book with a beautiful cover and a very boring interpretation of a story.

The book started very nicely, with an already heartbreaking first chapter that just got me into tears. But then, as the story went on, I got less and less focused on it, and nothing in the story could bring my attention back and sit impatiently for the finale. Even if I hadn’t been reading both Wintersong and ACOWAR ~~(both links lead to reviews WITH spoilers!)~~ at the same time with Pax, the book wouldn’t be able to light the fire inside me because the descriptions were way too boring, and the pace was way too slow, with too many distractions. And I should mention that this book is set as MIDDLE GRADE, and if even I, an adult, couldn’t even try to force myself to read this, I doubt a kid would be interested in being way too distracted from the main story that is about a power of friendship between a human and his loyal pet. Plus, those constantly repeating sentences about how human bring nothing but war and destruction just got me waaaaay too bored, so I eventually decided not to torture myself with such poor writing and DNF it almost at 50%.

If you’re very patient and have ultimate love for foxes, I suggest you can try this book, but otherwise – it’s way too boring to read.

I’d be honest, this is actually not the very first book that I’ve DNFed, there’s another one, but it’s not worth even being reviewed as I dropped it on a very early stage, only like… 30 pages in.

Have you read Pax? Is your opinion on this book different from mine? I’d like to know what you think about it!

Love you all,