TFK Kid Reporter Axel Foster read The Free State of Jax and interviewed its author, Jennifer A. Nielsen. Read Axel’s thoughts below.
The Free State of Jax is set in the fictional town of Walkonby, Kansas. Jaxon (Jax) Averett is an orphan. When his grandmother is no longer able to care for him, Jax is forced to move in with his cruel aunt and uncle and their gaggle of six children. The night before his 12th birthday, Jax decides he’s had enough. He takes a raft to the middle of his mysterious neighbor’s lake, and declares himself president of his own micronation.
Jax’s independence is tested by sabotage, war, greed, and even a tornado. With friendship and a deep belief in himself and his ideas, Jax’s country begins to take hold. Along the way, he uncovers the truth behind longstanding secrets in the town and within his family.
Author Jennifer A. Nielsen told TFK that she hopes kids find the book to be a “great opportunity to learn about what government is in a fun, friendly way.” She says the book is about life: “We have to laugh in the great parts but also learn how to deal with sadness and stress. What Jax goes through is just life itself.”
One of the book’s core messages is also Nielsen’s advice for young writers: “Be patient with yourself,” she says. “Don’t ever give up.”
Readers looking for an adventure that travels the ups and downs in the life of a person and that of a nation will love The Free State of Jax.
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