ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Feb 2026
Publisher: Hachette Children’s Group
ISBN: 9781444978780
“A page-turning and ultimately triumphant tale of heroism.” Horn Book
“… always compelling and convincing. It feels authentic and historically accurate.” BFK 5-star review
“Richly descriptive writing and steadily building suspense make for a genuinely satisfying read.” PublishersWeekly
See also:
Leeva At Last [ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Mar 2023]
Pax: Journey Home [ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Sep 2021]
Here In The Real World [ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Feb 2020]
Pax
Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. Lucas is tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village. He longs to show how brave he can be.
He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and brings them to an abandoned stable to care for them. There he comes upon a stranger who is none too happy to see him: Alice, the daughter of a British horse trainer, who is hiding her filly from German soldiers.
Soon Lucas begins to realise they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbour in town may be harbouring a Jewish family.
Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.
‘a powerful story of heroism and the importance of standing up for what is right’
THE LIONS’ RUN by Sara Pennypacker is the NEW #BFK Book of the Week and we have a bonus author Q&A. @HachetteKids #KidLit https://t.co/I6x5SlAoxz pic.twitter.com/PX9ye8MzDY
— Books for Keeps (@BooksForKeeps) February 6, 2026
NEW #MelAndNikkiReview 🦁
What if courage whispered instead of roared? The Lion’s Run by Sara Pennypacker is a tender tale of quiet resistance, found family & fierce hope.A must-read for gentle hearts. https://t.co/veQOgCddIC#TheLionsRun #SaraPennypacker #BookReview pic.twitter.com/Trr4jXh0nb
— Melanie Braga (@mommabraga) January 11, 2026
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker, is one of my favourite children’s books from the past ten years. I can’t even begin to articulate how excited I am to read The Lions’ Run. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/F2ScmNhref
— Jon Biddle (@jonnybid) December 5, 2025
Sara Pennypacker discusses THE LIONS’ RUN on our Best February Books episode of Fully Booked 🎧 https://t.co/u2Eqa4guQi @mackidsbooks pic.twitter.com/CnFYlJKUgR
— Kirkus Reviews (@KirkusReviews) February 9, 2026
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