Pax is New York Times best-selling novel set during a war time and is written in alternating chapters told by Pax the fox and Peter,  his best friend. This story is about the love and loyalty that pets and their people have for one another.  While on their adventures both Pax and Peter learn so much about themselves, family, love and the loyalty between animals and their people. 

Synopsis: Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. 

At his grandfather's house, 300 miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be - with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. 

Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own.... 

In our camp we will read Pax out loud for 25 minutes as a group using the "popcorn or pass" method.  Each day we will work on a skill to help with reading comprehension, for example, day one, we discuss visualization.  No student will be required to read out-loud.  At the end of our 25 minutes, we will answer discussion questions.  During our reading, students will annotate all unknown words and create a vocabulary list.  Students will also find Kahoot Chapter Quizzes that they can do on their own time. Our last day of class, we will read but also have a book review tea party for the last 20 minutes, where we discuss the book.  If the students do not finish the book, there will be an option to continue with a new class where we left off and also there will be a week two camp where we begin the second book in the series.  

Students should borrow, or purchase a copy of the book and bring each day to class.  Students will also need writing utensils and paper.  For our last day, I recommend tea or another beverage and a favorite tea party snack.  I will be having tea and finger sandwiches.  I can provide recipes if needed.  

Class Timeline:
Day One:  Introduction, Discuss Visualization, Begin Reading Pax the Fox for 25 minutes.  Discuss Annotating Unknown Words. Discussion/Writing Prompt and Handout:  Create your own pet Fox.
Day Two:  Continue Reading for 25 minutes.  Practice Annotations and Synonyms.  Complete writing prompt and share.  Kahoot Quiz Available in Classroom.
Day Three:  Continue Reading for 25 minutes. Antonyms and Writing Prompt/Class Discussion
Day Four:  Continue Reading.  Writing Prompt/Discussion  Kahoot Quiz In the Classroom
Day Five:  Continue Reading.  Class Book Review Handout and All Class Tea Party

Sample Writing Prompts:
Key Ideas and Details
1.   Discuss the connection between Peter and Pax. How has that
connection developed over the years? Why must Peter release
Pax? What makes Peter leave to look for Pax after he arrives at his
grandfather’s home? CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4-7.1

2. What is the importance of the toy soldier in the game Peter plays
with Pax? Why is Peter surprised to find a box of toy soldiers at
his grandfather’s house? What is the impact on Peter when he sees
the picture of his father as a boy with his arm around a dog? Why
do you think Peter’s father never talked about his dog? CCSS.ELA-
LITERACY.RL.4-7.1,3

Craft and Structure
3. Discuss the meaning of the phrase that appears before the story
begins: “Just because it isn’t happening here doesn’t mean it isn’t
happening” (p. 10). What does that phrase mean to you? Why do
you think the author did not name a specific place or area as the
setting of the book? CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4-7.4

Integration, Knowledge and Ideas
4.   Throughout the centuries and in many cultures, people have
told stories, tales, and fables about foxes. What stories can you
remember or can you find that have a fox as a main character?
How would you compare some of these fictional characters to Pax
and the other foxes in this novel? CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4-
7.9