Sara Pennypacker
LightNews LightNews
banner
sarapennypacker.bsky.social
Sara Pennypacker
@sarapennypacker.bsky.social
64 followers 16 following 45 posts
New York Times bestselling author of PAX, PAX JOURNEY HOME, CLEMENTINE, HERE IN THE REAL WORLD, and LEEVA AT LAST.

Coming February 3, 2026 - THE LIONS' RUN!
Posts Replies Media Videos
sarapennypacker.bsky.social
Thank you. Can't wait!
February 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
sarapennypacker.bsky.social
THE LIONS' RUN is on sale February 3, 2026, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Preorder now! us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
A graphic containing the opening of the first chapter of THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. It reads, "A little freedom. Lucas had only a few deliveries this afternoon, and if he was quick with them, he'd finally have a couple of hours to himself before he'd have to show up back at the abbey. Lately, his life felt like a coat that was too small, so tight he could barely move. The same damp stone walls confined him while he slept, ate, and went to classes; nuns and teachers monitored his every step, and the other abbey boys crowded him for trouble or position. And the occupation, of course, nearly four years of it. The Germans with their restrictions and checkpoints, the sharp "Halt!" and "Nein!" of their orders. A couple of hours wasn't much freedom, but he knew [...]" The chapter continues in the next graphic. A graphic containing the continuation of the first chapter of THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. It reads, "just where he wanted to spend them. His prized fishing lure was already in his pocket. First, though, to the greengrocers' to pack up the orders. He hurried to his bike and even that felt like an escape. Just as he dialed open the padlock, though, he heard a commotion of curses and cat yowls coming from the rear of the abbey grounds. Lucas paused. He hadn't been fishing since the fall. But those sounds. Sighing, he snapped the lock back on and followed them. Two pairs of thrashing legs extended from the toolshed. Sister Marie-Agnes was standing beside the legs, waving an empty sack and shouting, "Get them all! Every one!" Lucas easily identified the boys under the shed by their pants abbey orphans had only two sets of clothes, "One for wear and one for wash," Mother Antoinette always said as she pulled them from the ragman's cart— and he took a step back to stay hidden. At fifteen, Marcel and Claude were the oldest boys at the abbey, both mean as cornered rats, and Lucas was their favored target. His heart fell as he realized who the cat must be. He'd been wondering for weeks where the church's friendly tabby was hiding, hoping she'd find a better place to have her kittens this [...]" The chapter continues in the next graphic. A graphic containing the continuation of the first chapter of THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. It reads, "year. The spring before, she'd chosen a pile of altar cloths in the sacristy. When the organ began playing one Sunday morn-ing, they'd started mewling. Sister Marie-Agnes had stormed down the aisle, bagged them up, drowned them, and was back before the final hymn, the hem of her habit dripping canal water. Now, she called, "Too many mouths to feed as it is. But spare the mother, she's a good mouser." Claude and Marcel wriggled out, fists full of struggling fur, the mother cat tearing fiercely at their legs. Even from the distance he was keeping, Lucas sensed how scared those kittens were. Anger flared hot in his chest. The little tabby kept fighting as they stuffed her kittens into the sack. Lucas cheered silently when she leaped to Marcel's shoulder and slashed at his face, drawing bright red lines from brow to chin. But then Marcel flung her off and she hit the corner of the stone shed with a thud Lucas felt in the pit of his gut. The cat staggered back to cower under the shed, as if she understood there was nothing she could do. When Marcel cinched the sack, Lucas squeezed his eyes shut. There was nothing he could do, either. Two against one; the two known to relish brawls, Lucas famous for running from them." The chapter continues in the next graphic. A graphic containing the end of the first chapter of THE LIONS' RUN by Sara Pennypacker. It reads, "Still, when the boys left, the sack bumping off Claude's shoulder, he made himself get on his bike and follow them at a safe distance. He had no illusions he'd suddenly grow brave enough or stupid enough to challenge those boys. Petit Eclair, that was him, after all. And he knew it would make him miserable for days to see the drownings. But he also knew he would feel ashamed if those kittens died alone without even a witness. And he was sick of feeling ashamed."
January 12, 2026 at 5:47 PM