The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Read: July 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: ebook

I am a huge fan of Jennifer A. Nielsen, she writes incredible historical fiction for middle grade and YA readers. When I saw The Free State of Jax pop up in an upcoming Nielsen book, I had to read it. And I'm so glad I did!

The Free State of Jax is new territory for Nielsen, as she usually focuses on YA books, and this is geared toward younger readers - I recommend this for fourth grade and up. In fact, if this book was around when I taught fourth grade, it would have been the read-aloud for the government unit I taught.

See, Jax (also known as Jack from his crazy cousins, the Grimmitz's, whom he does NOT want to live with) has decided, that since he is no longer able to live with his grandmother (who has Alzheimers) and is being forced to live with the Grimmitz's, he is going to leave and declare his own country. Interestingly, he stakes his country's claim in the middle of Mr. O'Keefe's pond. Who's Mr. O'Keefe, you ask? Oh, just the recluse of a neighbor who has been accused of murdering his brother. (Aren't you glad you asked?!)

Unlike Nielsen's historical fiction, that vividly paints pictures of pivotal moments in history, the Free State of Jax sucks readers into his world, where he clings to his ever-evolving knowledge of some treaty that meas Jax can declare himself president of his micronation, along with a bunch of other legal garbldy-gook, empowers Jax to stand up for himself against his cousins, who sound like a pretty rotten bunch to live with.

What makes this story so endearing is the way the community comes together to support Jax in his quest for independence. While Jax is set on doing this alone, he realizes, thanks to some local kids from his school, that sometimes asking for help is actually harder than accepting help. And everyone deserves help.

Among the twists and turns of the founding of the Free State of Jax, readers will learn a lot about government, a bunch about teamwork, and oodles about learning to trust again. Mr. O'Keefe, the murderer, becomes a surprise ally for Jax as he battles (quite literally) with his cousins on his fight for freedom. 

I think readers will really enjoy this adventure with Jax, Mr. O'Keefe, Alicia and her mom, Officer Pressman and his wife, and even Aunt Helga and Uncle Clive and the whole Grimmitz crew. Each character adds a little something to this special story, where readers will find themselves eagerly devouring each chapter, while wishing the story never ends!