By Jennifer A. Nielsen
New York: Scholastic Press, 2025. Fiction. 339 pgs.
Jax is a twelve-year-old that lives in Walkonby, Kansas. He dreads living with his aunt and uncle (and his five cousins) who are all bullies. On his birthday, Jax decides to do something about it. He builds a raft and moves onto a lake next door on neighbor Mr. O’Keefe’s property. There Jax declares his independence and creates The Free State of Jax (his own micronation where he is the president and nobody can bully him any longer). While trying to keep away from his obnoxious family, Jax discovers a mystery surrounding Mr. O’Keefe. Now Jax has to try to decide what is more important—his new-found independence or helping the person who let him declare sovereignty over his land.
Jax is a clever boy. In fact, many times the grownup characters that are interacting with him describe Jax like a 30-year-old lawyer instead of just a kid. Also, Jax takes matters into his own hands and builds a lot of healthy relationships along the way. Readers who wish they could be in charge of themselves or those who love a mystery will thoroughly enjoy reading about Jax and his clever plan to escape a bad situation. Also, what kid doesn’t dream of being totally in charge and having their own place with their own rules? This is a great look into what could happen if that dream were a reality.
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