The Lions' Run
a thrilling WWII tale of rebellion and daring - an instant New York Times bestseller
Published on 3. February 2026
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-4449-7878-0 (ISBN)
Description
Small acts of bravery can have extraordinary consequences. . .
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an unforgettable WWII novel about an orphan who discovers unexpected courage when he becomes involved with the Resistance in France during Occupation.
"A beautiful story of bravery and resistance. The Lions' Run reminds us that, more than size or strength, heroism begins with heart." RUTA SEPTYS, international bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray
"Tremendous... a vivid, enthralling novel." THE OBSERVER
Petit eclair. That's what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas. He's tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he's tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his village. He longs to show how brave he can be.
The chance arrives when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and cares for them in an abandoned stable. There he meets Alice, the daughter of a horse trainer, who is hiding her beloved young horse from
German soldiers.
Soon Lucas begins to realise they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbour in town may be harbouring a Jewish family.
Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.
Perfect for fans of Ross Montgomery, Phil Earle and Michael Morpurgo, this incredible story told in short chapters, illuminates a little-known aspect of World War II history. Featuring a beautiful cover and map illustrated by highly acclaimed artist and 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Laureate, Jon Klassen.
Praise for The Lions' Run:
"Lucas DuBois is proof that a mere kitten can be the bravest of lions by always standing up for what's right." ALAN GRATZ, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
"Heart-pounding and heart warming, this story of a boy standing against injustice will have you racing through the pages to its startling, triumphant end." KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY, Newbery Honoree for
The War That Saved My Life
"[Lucas'] resolve to protect the defenseless leads him to his most daring-and dangerous-act of bravery yet, one that will keep readers in suspense through the book's heart-stopping final pages." The Wall Street Journal
"Pennypacker's illuminating and stirring historical fiction will leave middle grade readers feeling deeply inspired, righteously angry and firmly resolved." The New York Times
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an unforgettable WWII novel about an orphan who discovers unexpected courage when he becomes involved with the Resistance in France during Occupation.
"A beautiful story of bravery and resistance. The Lions' Run reminds us that, more than size or strength, heroism begins with heart." RUTA SEPTYS, international bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray
"Tremendous... a vivid, enthralling novel." THE OBSERVER
Petit eclair. That's what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas. He's tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he's tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his village. He longs to show how brave he can be.
The chance arrives when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and cares for them in an abandoned stable. There he meets Alice, the daughter of a horse trainer, who is hiding her beloved young horse from
German soldiers.
Soon Lucas begins to realise they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbour in town may be harbouring a Jewish family.
Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.
Perfect for fans of Ross Montgomery, Phil Earle and Michael Morpurgo, this incredible story told in short chapters, illuminates a little-known aspect of World War II history. Featuring a beautiful cover and map illustrated by highly acclaimed artist and 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Laureate, Jon Klassen.
Praise for The Lions' Run:
"Lucas DuBois is proof that a mere kitten can be the bravest of lions by always standing up for what's right." ALAN GRATZ, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
"Heart-pounding and heart warming, this story of a boy standing against injustice will have you racing through the pages to its startling, triumphant end." KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY, Newbery Honoree for
The War That Saved My Life
"[Lucas'] resolve to protect the defenseless leads him to his most daring-and dangerous-act of bravery yet, one that will keep readers in suspense through the book's heart-stopping final pages." The Wall Street Journal
"Pennypacker's illuminating and stirring historical fiction will leave middle grade readers feeling deeply inspired, righteously angry and firmly resolved." The New York Times
Reviews / Votes
Tremendous... a vivid, enthralling novel. * The Observer * The Lion's Run is a tender and illuminating novel that celebrates the courage of children * The Times * With a tight plot and young characters who actively resist and thwart the Nazis while remaining tenderhearted, The Lion's Run is sure to delight readers ages 8-12 as well as their teachers * Historical Novel Society * Written in sparing, evocative prose, it is accessible enough for the middle-grade target audience, while offering much thought-provoking content for older readers, exploring ideas of courage, integrity and the bonds between people and animals... a book to read and share and talk about - historical fiction at its best. Chilling, breath-taking and ultimately hopeful * Children's Books Ireland * A powerful story of heroism and the importance of standing up for what is right * Books for Keeps * With poignant and moving storytelling, this is a narrative that will stay with the reader long after they finish * Books for Topics * Superb * The Wall Street Journal * Pennypacker's illuminating and stirring historical fiction will leave middle grade readers feeling deeply inspired, righteously angry and firmly resolved * New York Times * The Lion's Run will likely leave readers with big thoughts about courage and the ways we respond to injustice and atrocities * Shelf Awareness * Pennypacker returns with another gorgeously written adventure, exploring friendships between humans and animals, resistance and courage. This is a well-researched book, steeped in historical detail which provides an interesting perspective likely to broaden young readers' view of who was involved during the war and how. * The School Librarian * Pennypacker's illuminating and stirring historical fiction will leave middle grade readers feeling deeply inspired, righteously angry and firmly resolved * New York Times * A beautiful tribute to bravery in its many forms and the power that children and women can wield * Booklist * Instant New York Times bestseller * New York Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hachette Children's Group
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 10 years
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
362 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4449-7878-0 (9781444978780)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Sara Pennypacker
The Lions' Run
a thrilling WWII tale of rebellion and daring - an instant New York Times bestseller
E-Book
02/2026
Hodder Children's Books
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Sara Pennypacker was a painter before becoming a writer, and has two absolutely fabulous children who are now grown. She has written more than twenty children's books including Pax (illustrated by Jon Klassen), Here In The Real World, the Clementine and Waylan series (both illustrated by Marla Frazee); Stuart's Cape and Stuart Goes to School (both illustrated by Martin Matje), Meet the Dullards, and others. Sara splits her time between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Florida, USA.