The most moving thing I've seen in my career is when a bookseller or a librarian says to a young reader, “I think I have what you want. I think this is the book for you."
@americanbookseller.bsky.social, thank you for sharing THE LIONS' RUN with readers.
tinyurl.com/46hfpf3c @mackidssl.bsky.social
A green graphic that reads, "Historical fiction tells a kid, 'You know what? This has happened before and kids have thrived through it, they've triumphed through it, and things have changed.'" Beneath the text is the book cover of THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. The book's cover features a young boy riding a horse, glancing over his shoulder.
Historical fiction tells a kid, "You know what? This has happened before and kids have thrived through it, they’ve triumphed through it, and things have changed.”
@mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
⭐ #Fiction #HBReviewoftheWeek THE LIONS' RUN by @sarapennypacker.bsky.social ; illus. by Jon Klassen (Balzer + Bray/ @mackidsbooks.bsky.social ): "[Pennypacker] shows...how a young person grows in bravery each time they take action, + that the action itself gives hope" www.hbook.com/story/review...
A photo of Sara Pennypacker's new novel, THE LIONS' RUN, arranged face out on a bookshelf inside a bookstore. The book's cover features a young boy riding a horse, glancing over his shoulder. Next to THE LIONS' RUN, other middle grade books are displayed face out on the shelf.
"You thought ahead and you prepared a note enough like mine to back up the story you told yesterday. You weren't afraid?"
Lucas thought about bragging, but decided on the truth. "Yes, I was afraid. That's why I prepared."
🐎🐎🐎
@mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
A graphic sharing an excerpt from The Wall Street Journal's "March in Fiction: 6 Books to Read Now" article. It features The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker, and the blurb reads: "Sara Pennypacker's novel for young readers tells the story of a boy awakening to courage in Nazi-occupied France. Its suspenseful build to a climactic act of bravery demonstrates, writes Katie Daniels, that 'resilience might spring from the unlikeliest of places.'"
Thrilled to see THE LIONS' RUN in @wsj.com's roundup of 6 Books to Read Now. Thank you for your review and recommendation!
"Demonstrates that resilience might spring from the unlikeliest of places."
www.wsj.com/arts-culture... @mackidssl.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky
Swimming. Jumping on the trampoline. Putting my writing in my head before I fall asleep.
What are the quirks of your creative process?
It was fun discussing this and much more with @tcbrbookreview.bsky.social! www.thechildrensbookreview.com/sara-pennypa... @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
Thank you for reading!
A photo of Sara Pennypacker's novel, PAX, arranged face out on a wooden bookshelf inside a bookstore. The book's cover features a fox in a forest, looking out at a rising sun. Next to PAX, other middle grade books are arranged alphabetically on the shelf.
I am so moved by the way kids can love animals. Loving anything is an act of profound courage.
#BookSky
"One of the questions [kids] always have is ‘Am I brave enough?' So, I knew, in this book, I was going to talk about courage.”
Thank you to The Provincetown Independent for this piece about my writing process for THE LIONS' RUN! provincetownindependent.org/arts-minds/2... #BookSky
A photo of Sara Pennypacker's novel, THE LIONS' RUN, arranged face out on a wooden bookshelf inside a bookstore. The book's cover features a young boy riding a horse, glancing over his shoulder. Next to THE LIONS' RUN, other middle grade books are arranged alphabetically on the shelf.
"It's such small things we can do. I wish it were more."
"Little termites taking tiny bites can bring down a cathedral."
🐎🐎🐎
@mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
“ a genuinely satisfying read.” “A beautiful tribute to bravery in its many forms...” —Publishers Weekly, starred review —Booklist, starred review “Compassionate and complex.” —the horn book, starred review “A page-turning and ultimately triumphant tale of heroism.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal, starred review “will likely leave readers with big thoughts.” —shelf awareness, starred review
⭐ Stargaze with MacKids ⭐
THE LIONS' RUN by @sarapennypacker.bsky.social is a historical novel about an orphan during WWII who discovers unexpected courage within himself when he becomes involved with the Resistance. Out now! tinyurl.com/2kjzrzaa
A blonde, white woman wearing sunglasses gazes up at a large, old statue of a lion, mounted on a tall stone pedestal. In the background, there is a forest.
While researching THE LIONS' RUN, I spent two weeks in Lamorlaye, France, walking every bit of the book that I was allowed to.
Here is one of the lion statues that stands at the entrance of the racetrack after which the book is named.
@mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
As people involved in getting books into kids' hands, what do we do when the world falls far from the way we think it should be?
I share my answer through the example of my new novel, THE LIONS' RUN, in my column in @thehornbook.bsky.social. www.hbook.com/story/the-wr... @mackidssl.bsky.social
Thank you so much for having me on, John!
Thank you to the wonderful @mrschureads.bsky.social for having me on Watch. Connect. Read. last week!
I so enjoyed discussing THE LIONS' RUN with you. mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-... @mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky
The Lions' Run
"John Schu, you should have asked me what writing this book taught me. I would have answered: The bravest thing you can do is care about someone else." — @sarapennypacker.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-...
Thank you for your kind words, Sheri. Happy writing!
A graphic promoting Sara Pennypacker's appearance at the Tucson Festival of Books. The text reads, "TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. MAR 14-15 2026. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CAMPUS. www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org" In the background, there is a photo of the University of Arizona campus. In the foreground, there is a headshot of Sara Pennypacker beside the cover of her new book, THE LIONS' RUN.
I can't wait to for the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend! I'll be on panels with the incredible Erin Entrada Kelly, Daniel Nayeri, and Tracey Baptiste.
I'd love to see you there! tucsonfestivalofbooks.org?action=displ... @mackidssl.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky
Thank you for your lovely review, @smithsmm.bsky.social!
Thank you so much, @mrschureads.bsky.social!
From Mar/Apr #HBMag @sarapennypacker.bsky.social 's "Portraying Reality, Modeling Idealism" Writer's Page column: "When kids have information abt injustice, role models for how to make a difference, + ppl around who believe in them...look out!" www.hbook.com/story/the-wr... @mackidsbooks.bsky.social
Sara Pennypacker, a blonde, white woman, smiles next to a display of her new book, THE LIONS' RUN. A white woman with glasses smiles on the other side of the display and holds up her hands, gesturing towards it. The women are standing in a bookstore with rich yellow walls and white bookshelves in the background.
I stopped by the beautiful @caminobks.bsky.social in Del Mar, California this past weekend and left lots of signed copies of THE LIONS' RUN! Thanks for the warm welcome, Alison.
@mackidssl.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky
A graphic promoting Sara Pennypacker's appearance at the Tucson Festival of Books. The text reads, "TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. MAR 14-15 2026. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CAMPUS. www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org" In the background, there is a photo of the University of Arizona campus. In the foreground, there is a headshot of Sara Pennypacker beside the cover of her new book, THE LIONS' RUN.
I can't wait to attend the Tucson Festival of Books next weekend! Will I see you there?
March 14: Panel with Erin Entrada Kelly and Daniel Nayeri: tucsonfestivalofbooks.org?action=displ...
March 15: Panel with Tracey Baptiste: tucsonfestivalofbooks.org?action=displ...
March/April 2026 #HBMag (wraparound cover from THE LIONS' RUN illustrated by Jon Klassen; Balzer + Bray/ @mackidsbooks.bsky.social )
See the Table of Contents here: www.hbook.com/story/march-...
#kidlit @sarapennypacker.bsky.social @marjorieingall.bsky.social @rpayne.bsky.social
"After a reader has finished this book, I want them to be filled with questions like: Is it ever okay to commit a crime to correct a crime? What is courage?"
I enjoyed this conversation about THE LIONS' RUN with @publisherswkly.bsky.social! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/... #BookSky
#HBOutoftheBox: Peek-a-boo! It's the complete March/April #HornBookMagazine wraparound cover. Art by Jon Klassen from THE LIONS' RUN (Balzer + Bray/ @mackidsbooks.bsky.social ) written by @sarapennypacker.bsky.social , gif (at link) by Mark Tuchman: www.hbook.com/story/march-... #HBMag
A graphic promoting the Teacher's Guide for THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. It is titled, "A TEACHER'S GUIDE FOR THE LIONS RUN," and beneath, there are two sections of text titled "About the Book" and "About the Author."
The @mackidssl.bsky.social team has created a wonderful teacher's guide for my new novel, THE LIONS' RUN!
You'll find lots of discussion questions, activities, historical resources, and more. www.mackidsschoolandlibrary.com/teachers-gui... #BookSky @mackidsbooks.bsky.social
A graphic promoting Sara Pennypacker's appearance at the Tucson Festival of Books. The text reads, "TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. MAR 14-15 2026. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CAMPUS. www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org" In the background, there is a photo of the University of Arizona campus. In the foreground, there is a headshot of Sara Pennypacker beside the cover of her new book, THE LIONS' RUN.
Readers, I'm thrilled to be attending the Tucson Festival of Books! I'll be speaking on panels with some truly incredible authors.
March 14: Panel with Erin Entrada Kelly and Daniel Nayeri
March 15: Panel with Tracey Baptiste
I'd love to see you there! tucsonfestivalofbooks.org?action=displ...
Did you hear? THE LIONS' RUN is an INSTANT New York Times bestseller & a #1 Indie Next List Pick!
This historical novel about an orphan during WWII who finds unexpected courage within himself when he becomes involved with the Resistance. It features stunning and impactful illustrations Jon Klassen
A great review of THE LIONS' RUN #audiobook, narrated by Graham Halstead, in Kirkus @audiofilemagazine.bsky.social!
"Halstead’s performance matches the breakneck pacing when Lucas stands up to German soldiers and confronts his own sense of insecurity." www.kirkusreviews.com/audiobook-re... #Booksky