✨Book Tour✨ Pax And The Missing Head by David Barker

With thanks to @The_WriteReads, @WriteReadsTours, @TinyTreeBooks, and @BlueGold2ø1 for my gifted copy and place on the Tour.

Synopsis

In a country beset by civil war, New London defends itself behind a giant wall. Inside the city, children are forced to work from an early age, except for the lucky few who train to be leaders in the re-purposed Palace of Westminster.

12-year-old orphaned Pax is brilliant at recycling old tech. He enjoys working on the verti-farms and just wants a bit of peace and quiet. But when that is taken away from him, his only hope is to pass a near-impossible exam and join the other students in Scholastic Parliament. There he’ll make new friends and new enemies. He’ll get tested like never before. And he’ll discover that not everything is quite what it seems under the mayor’s harsh leadership.

Review

An enjoyable and engaging read propelling us into the oppressive dystopian society of New London. I found myself quickly invested in this ruthless world as Pax’s story encompassing friendship, power, and hope unfolds.

Pax was a great character to guide us through this world. His voice kept it interesting throughout as we see events through his eyes. As an orphan living in a labour intensive workhouse he’s had a tough start with limited options on the horizon. He feels very alone without family and friends to support him and dreams of more. He’s clever and extremely talented – I adored Roacher and Bee-Bop! He’s such a likeable character, we feel for all that he’s been through pulling us deeper into the pages.

As the boredom and tiredness kick in, Pax takes a big risk which pays off against all odds! He finds himself in the enviable position of securing a place in the Scholastic Parliament. It’s an exciting and unnerving experience and I liked the boarding school vibes that ramp up the tension.

We see hints that things are not quite as they should be. There’s sinister schemes in play, division being used to further the corrupt government’s agenda, sabotage, and rescue missions afoot. Barker creates an air of mystery and a sense of foreboding that keeps us turning those pages as we hunt for answers!

Pax And The Missing Head is a wonderful introduction to dystopian fiction for a MG audience. It deals with some tough themes well and has action, adventure, sci-fi elements, and a host of interesting characters to get to know. It opens younger reader’s eyes to wider issues in an entertaining way. It will be interesting to see what’s next for Pax and the gang!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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