What do you think?
Rate this book
Chicken Boy
Meet Tobin McCauley. He's got a near-certifiable grandmother, a pack of juvenile-delinquent siblings, and a dad who's not going to win father of the year any time soon. To top it off, Tobin's only friend truly believes that the study of chickens will reveal...the meaning of life? Getting through seventh grade isn't easy for anyone, but when the first day of school starts out with your granny's arrest, you know you've got real problems. Throw on a five-day suspension, a chicken that lays green eggs, and a family feud that's tearing everyone to pieces, and you're in for one heck of a ride.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
36 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
Frances O'Roark Dowell
45 books402 followersWhile Frances O'Roark Dowell (Dovey Coe, The Secret Language of Girls, Trouble the Water) is best known for her award-winning novels, she also hosts the popular "Off-Kilter Quilt" podcast, where she talks about her latest quilt projects with friends and fellow quilters around the globe. Her own little corner of the globe is Durham, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog named Travis. Connect with her online at FrancesDowell.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
March 18, 2024
A flat rating of two stars may come up short of what I'd like to give this book. I'm not sure I would rate Chicken Boy two and a half stars, but I'd at least consider it.
When attempting to write a book in a first-person voice noticeably accented by the verbiage and tonal flow of a particular geographic region, I think it's nearly always the writer's goal to get the reader to hear the accent in his or her head. Certain words or phrases can help achieve this effect; in Chicken Boy, it's the oft-repeated "son" that Tobin uses at times to end his sentences, even just in his own thoughts. It adds a discernible twang to the entire narrative, making the story sound as if it were being related by a real southerner. And Tobin makes a very good narrator, telling his life story on an even emotional keel, never getting too high or too low. Come whatever may be waiting around the bend, Tobin is willing and able to take it all in stride.
Tobin is a new seventh grader at his school the year when his life begins to change for the better. His mother died several years ago, his father is heavily involved in his job, and he's never had any friends; until, that is, he meets Henry in gym class. The fact that Tobin and Henry meet at all comes as a result of a flukey fight that Tobin has with a much bigger kid who was making rude remarks about the one teacher who seems to understand Tobin at all. Seeing Tobin, always an enigma to the class and normally so reserved, take up the cause of a teacher's honor is enough of a positive impression for Henry to join him in the scrum against the bigger kid. Detentions and suspensions follow, but something has changed for Tobin now that he has a friend, though he doesn't yet have any idea that his life will never again be quite the same.
Initially hesitant to lend his part to a friendship with Henry since he's never had friends before, Tobin soon realizes that Henry is quite an interesting person. Enamored of chickens (!) to the extent that he keeps a few of his own in a coop at his house, Henry's enthusiasm for the feathered animals eventually spreads to Tobin, who comes to understand that he may have underestimated chickens in the past. They're not just some foolish barn animal; chickens really seem to listen when he talks to them, which is more than he can say for his family and most of his teachers. Chickens are eccentric birds, for sure, but sometimes one can learn to look past a few personality quirks and see through to the good qualities that make an animal, or a person, worth knowing.
As Tobin is earning a more solid understanding of his life through better knowledge of chickens, a battle looks to be brewing between his father and his granny, who lives within walking distance of their house and hasn't gotten along with Tobin's father at all since her daughter, Tobin's mother, passed away. Now there's even some talk beginning that she might be interested in having Tobin come live with her for a while, but could he really bring himself to move out of his house even if his father is hardly ever around for him?
It all seems to come back to the chickens for Tobin. By trying to figure out what all is going on in the heads of these flightless birds, and wondering if there's more to their minds than just a few nerves attached to a little rock of a brain, Tobin gains insight into the primary relationships in his own life. The people that he knows may not always take the best courses of action, but just as with the chickens, it can be okay to like them despite their shortcomings and eccentricities, to sacrifice a certain amount of personal stability for the privilege of having friends and family in his life. It may be a bumpy ride, but it's a ride worth taking.
I like author Frances O'Roark Dowell's writing style. She never fails to dream up a good story concept, and her well-earned reputation for creating memorable characters will only be enhanced by her work in Chicken Boy. This is a short, to-the-point novel that should go by quickly for most readers, but will likely leave them with the feeling that they are a little bit better off for the experience of having read it. I know I feel that way.
When attempting to write a book in a first-person voice noticeably accented by the verbiage and tonal flow of a particular geographic region, I think it's nearly always the writer's goal to get the reader to hear the accent in his or her head. Certain words or phrases can help achieve this effect; in Chicken Boy, it's the oft-repeated "son" that Tobin uses at times to end his sentences, even just in his own thoughts. It adds a discernible twang to the entire narrative, making the story sound as if it were being related by a real southerner. And Tobin makes a very good narrator, telling his life story on an even emotional keel, never getting too high or too low. Come whatever may be waiting around the bend, Tobin is willing and able to take it all in stride.
Tobin is a new seventh grader at his school the year when his life begins to change for the better. His mother died several years ago, his father is heavily involved in his job, and he's never had any friends; until, that is, he meets Henry in gym class. The fact that Tobin and Henry meet at all comes as a result of a flukey fight that Tobin has with a much bigger kid who was making rude remarks about the one teacher who seems to understand Tobin at all. Seeing Tobin, always an enigma to the class and normally so reserved, take up the cause of a teacher's honor is enough of a positive impression for Henry to join him in the scrum against the bigger kid. Detentions and suspensions follow, but something has changed for Tobin now that he has a friend, though he doesn't yet have any idea that his life will never again be quite the same.
Initially hesitant to lend his part to a friendship with Henry since he's never had friends before, Tobin soon realizes that Henry is quite an interesting person. Enamored of chickens (!) to the extent that he keeps a few of his own in a coop at his house, Henry's enthusiasm for the feathered animals eventually spreads to Tobin, who comes to understand that he may have underestimated chickens in the past. They're not just some foolish barn animal; chickens really seem to listen when he talks to them, which is more than he can say for his family and most of his teachers. Chickens are eccentric birds, for sure, but sometimes one can learn to look past a few personality quirks and see through to the good qualities that make an animal, or a person, worth knowing.
As Tobin is earning a more solid understanding of his life through better knowledge of chickens, a battle looks to be brewing between his father and his granny, who lives within walking distance of their house and hasn't gotten along with Tobin's father at all since her daughter, Tobin's mother, passed away. Now there's even some talk beginning that she might be interested in having Tobin come live with her for a while, but could he really bring himself to move out of his house even if his father is hardly ever around for him?
It all seems to come back to the chickens for Tobin. By trying to figure out what all is going on in the heads of these flightless birds, and wondering if there's more to their minds than just a few nerves attached to a little rock of a brain, Tobin gains insight into the primary relationships in his own life. The people that he knows may not always take the best courses of action, but just as with the chickens, it can be okay to like them despite their shortcomings and eccentricities, to sacrifice a certain amount of personal stability for the privilege of having friends and family in his life. It may be a bumpy ride, but it's a ride worth taking.
I like author Frances O'Roark Dowell's writing style. She never fails to dream up a good story concept, and her well-earned reputation for creating memorable characters will only be enhanced by her work in Chicken Boy. This is a short, to-the-point novel that should go by quickly for most readers, but will likely leave them with the feeling that they are a little bit better off for the experience of having read it. I know I feel that way.
May 15, 2014
First off, this could have been a four star book if it wasn't for the rather abrupt ending. I accept that sometimes ending a book this way is a decent author's choice, but I still don't like it.
Overall this was a quick, enthralling read. The characters are unforgettable and relate to. It was easy to imagine that this was the family that lives down the road. Though it is a very simple story, it has a lot of deeper moments too it that make it a good read for both younger and older audiences.
Definitely made me want to start raising chickens.
Overall this was a quick, enthralling read. The characters are unforgettable and relate to. It was easy to imagine that this was the family that lives down the road. Though it is a very simple story, it has a lot of deeper moments too it that make it a good read for both younger and older audiences.
Definitely made me want to start raising chickens.
September 2, 2018
A sweet story. “The Glass Castle” light.
With no mom at home, Tobin lives with his dad and three, high school drop out siblings. Left to fend for himself, most of the time, Tobin doesn’t have enough to eat, proper clothing to wear, or a clean, safe place to call home. School life is no better. And then he is befriended by Hank. Hank, the young chicken farmer, recognizes Tobin’s hidden gifts and pushes him. Just as Tobin starts to break out, he is blindsided.
Wonderful characters in which to fall in love.
An ending, that comes way too quickly, but leaves one with hope.
With no mom at home, Tobin lives with his dad and three, high school drop out siblings. Left to fend for himself, most of the time, Tobin doesn’t have enough to eat, proper clothing to wear, or a clean, safe place to call home. School life is no better. And then he is befriended by Hank. Hank, the young chicken farmer, recognizes Tobin’s hidden gifts and pushes him. Just as Tobin starts to break out, he is blindsided.
Wonderful characters in which to fall in love.
An ending, that comes way too quickly, but leaves one with hope.
September 19, 2025
A pleasant coming of age story with nice characters who generally figure things out and get along in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2021
I enjoyed reading it because it had a good storyline and was a good quick read. It has a lot of funny moments. It also talks about real life problems that kids could relate to. Its a really good book.
November 21, 2013
I loved this book so much! But what I liked where the characters. That has to be mostly why I would most definitely recommend this book.
The characters in this story truly made the whole book even better! I love the traits and background story for each of the characters in the novel. Like on pages 69-72 where Granny met Henry for the first time. I love Granny’s personality! How she’s somewhat crazy yet so wise and how she remembers so much! Another thing I liked extravagantly was on pages 14 and 15 where Tobin was aloof from the other kids. I liked his lonely state almost as much as I felt bad for him. And when Henry helped him out on page 16? That had to have been the best thing ever. Let’s just say, I really liked the characters.
The next best thing in this novel was the overall story line. I loved how Henry and Tobin came together on page 16. Such a unique situation in my opinion! A lone kid gets in a fight, Henry helps him, it’s so heartwarming! Another thing I loved about the storyline had to be how the author brought in the death of Tobin’s mother. He wasn’t like; “Oh, my mother is dead.” Or something like that from Tobin’s point of view. He brought it about in the first few chapters of the book where the author doesn’t mention a thing about a mother being in the family.
Now, I think we can all relate to being alone. Relate to family struggles. The thing I like about this book is that you can take these situations and know that they can really happen. Maybe they have happened. I know I can make the self connection of being alone and bullied. On page 8-10, Tobin was made fun of for his speech. He uses the word ain’t to substitute the word isn’t which is what many people do. But since Tobin was doing so, the other kids took the trouble to mock him for it. Another place I see text to self connections in this book is most definitely with the whole family issues. Throughout the whole book, Tobin’s family had different problems that they eventually overcame. I liked this addition to the book due to knowing that so many other people went through similar issues.
I really hope my little review made you want to read this amazing story! And if you do read it, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Happy reading!
The characters in this story truly made the whole book even better! I love the traits and background story for each of the characters in the novel. Like on pages 69-72 where Granny met Henry for the first time. I love Granny’s personality! How she’s somewhat crazy yet so wise and how she remembers so much! Another thing I liked extravagantly was on pages 14 and 15 where Tobin was aloof from the other kids. I liked his lonely state almost as much as I felt bad for him. And when Henry helped him out on page 16? That had to have been the best thing ever. Let’s just say, I really liked the characters.
The next best thing in this novel was the overall story line. I loved how Henry and Tobin came together on page 16. Such a unique situation in my opinion! A lone kid gets in a fight, Henry helps him, it’s so heartwarming! Another thing I loved about the storyline had to be how the author brought in the death of Tobin’s mother. He wasn’t like; “Oh, my mother is dead.” Or something like that from Tobin’s point of view. He brought it about in the first few chapters of the book where the author doesn’t mention a thing about a mother being in the family.
Now, I think we can all relate to being alone. Relate to family struggles. The thing I like about this book is that you can take these situations and know that they can really happen. Maybe they have happened. I know I can make the self connection of being alone and bullied. On page 8-10, Tobin was made fun of for his speech. He uses the word ain’t to substitute the word isn’t which is what many people do. But since Tobin was doing so, the other kids took the trouble to mock him for it. Another place I see text to self connections in this book is most definitely with the whole family issues. Throughout the whole book, Tobin’s family had different problems that they eventually overcame. I liked this addition to the book due to knowing that so many other people went through similar issues.
I really hope my little review made you want to read this amazing story! And if you do read it, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Happy reading!
January 3, 2011
Tobin's mother is dead. His father isn't really caring for him in any way except providing a place to sleep. His grandmother is crazy, but cares for him. Oh, yeah, Tobin's grandmother blames his father for the death of his mother causing them both to hate each other. Tobin is caught in the middle and he really doesn't expect much out of himself and no one expects much from him. In fact, if he can just stay out of trouble he will be doing a lot better than his older siblings.
Tobin's loner tendencies lead him to Henry. Henry is a lover of chickens. In fact, Henry believes that you can learn a lot just from watching and studying chickens. Henry convinces Tobin to joing he and his brother in their enterprising chicken business. Tobin finds that by opening himself up to Henry, and the chickens, he has a lot more potential than he knows.
Then he is stuck in the middle of a fight between his dad and grandmother and must use his lessons to find his own truth.
The text is a little hokey, with Tobin's voice using words that you cannot see a middle schooler saying. The ending is rushed creating a work that is not truly satisfying.
Tobin's loner tendencies lead him to Henry. Henry is a lover of chickens. In fact, Henry believes that you can learn a lot just from watching and studying chickens. Henry convinces Tobin to joing he and his brother in their enterprising chicken business. Tobin finds that by opening himself up to Henry, and the chickens, he has a lot more potential than he knows.
Then he is stuck in the middle of a fight between his dad and grandmother and must use his lessons to find his own truth.
The text is a little hokey, with Tobin's voice using words that you cannot see a middle schooler saying. The ending is rushed creating a work that is not truly satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2008
Tobin McCauley's new friend and seventh-grade classmate, Henry Otis is obsessed with chickens. He and his younger brother are raising five and they want Tobin to join them in their chicken business. As Henry puts it, “Tobin, my man, you are going to learn about chickens. And when you to learn about chickens, you will learn about life.”
Tobin’s really more interested in getting something to eat. Since his mama died five years ago there’s not much food around the house. His older brothers, his sister and his dad aren’t home all that much and there’s nothing in the refrigerator except a jar of clam juice, two cans of beer, and seven bottles of his sister’s nail polish. It’s enough to drive him to his Granny’s house, at least she’s got some food, and she’s at home now since the judge revoked her license for thirty days because she ran over the sidewalk driving Tobin to school on the first day. It scattering all the kids, but he did get there on time, after the police report was done.
Tobin’s really more interested in getting something to eat. Since his mama died five years ago there’s not much food around the house. His older brothers, his sister and his dad aren’t home all that much and there’s nothing in the refrigerator except a jar of clam juice, two cans of beer, and seven bottles of his sister’s nail polish. It’s enough to drive him to his Granny’s house, at least she’s got some food, and she’s at home now since the judge revoked her license for thirty days because she ran over the sidewalk driving Tobin to school on the first day. It scattering all the kids, but he did get there on time, after the police report was done.
September 3, 2011
Tale of a dysfunctional red-neck family which has sort of fallen apart since the mother got sick and died. The father spends most of his time at work or away, the kids have had run-ins with the law and the youngest, Tobin, is quickly becoming a problem child at his local middle school.
What makes this work is that it's told from the point of view of Tobin. He's still got a childish optimism buried beneath the thorny exterior he's cultivated and when he makes friends with chicken obsessed kid from his school, he starts to become human again.
What makes this story compelling is how believable it is and how commonplace all the story elements are. The kids are likeable, the parents and grandparents become understandable by the end and its only toward the end that we start to see the whole picture.
At just over 200 pages and aimed at the ages 10 and up set, it's a fast worthwhile read.
What makes this work is that it's told from the point of view of Tobin. He's still got a childish optimism buried beneath the thorny exterior he's cultivated and when he makes friends with chicken obsessed kid from his school, he starts to become human again.
What makes this story compelling is how believable it is and how commonplace all the story elements are. The kids are likeable, the parents and grandparents become understandable by the end and its only toward the end that we start to see the whole picture.
At just over 200 pages and aimed at the ages 10 and up set, it's a fast worthwhile read.
May 31, 2008
This book was breath taking and made me have other thoughts. Even though this book may look small, it makes you think about how you feel if something bad happens. Tobin McCauley tells an amazing story of having a granny's arrest and going further into how it affects him. He gets a 5-day suspension in gym class because he stood up to a bully and this he made a new friend called Harrison who felt touched by how much Tobin is suffering. They become good friends and decide to observe chickens. Sometimes I picture me as a freshman in the first day of school having horrible things happening. I recommend this book to anyone with it's intense details and how we all feel on the first day of school-worried.
June 18, 2007
The McCauley family has disintegrated with the death of their ma and for Tobin, a new 7th grader, this means being driven to school by granny (who drives on the sidewalk and is arrested on the first day of school), being suspended within the first week for fighting, and going home to a dirty kitchen piled high with moldy food but nothing to eat.
What saves Tobin's downward spiral is Henry, who has a passion for studying chickens that he shares with Tobin and who guides and encourages Tobin to learn about chickens, and by extension, life.
Wonderfully Southern (check Amazon's excerpt of the opening chapters), it's the narrative voice that'll hook you...
What saves Tobin's downward spiral is Henry, who has a passion for studying chickens that he shares with Tobin and who guides and encourages Tobin to learn about chickens, and by extension, life.
Wonderfully Southern (check Amazon's excerpt of the opening chapters), it's the narrative voice that'll hook you...
March 17, 2008
I realized, and I guess not for the first time, how much I truly enjoy southern fiction while listening to this in the car. The temptation to listen to it again was very strong.
Tobin's family was trying to heal from the death of his mother, now five years gone. Tobin's father wasn't holding up his end of the bargain.
Tobin and his best/only friend try to figure out the meaning of life by raising and studying the life and times of a few chickens.
Very sweet and sometimes laugh out loud funny.
Tobin's family was trying to heal from the death of his mother, now five years gone. Tobin's father wasn't holding up his end of the bargain.
Tobin and his best/only friend try to figure out the meaning of life by raising and studying the life and times of a few chickens.
Very sweet and sometimes laugh out loud funny.
August 4, 2008
This is juvenile fiction about Tobin McCauley who is just starting 7th grade. Beyond that little is straight forward. Tobin lives in a dysfunctional family, a father who is not doing a very good job of physically caring for his children after the death of his wife and a family which has not properly dealt with the grief of their loss. Despite the heavy topic, their is much humour and eventual the beginnings of healing. When family fails to fulfill nurturing rolls, mercifully others often step in to fulfill those rolls.
April 19, 2008
A wonderful book with terrific voice from all of its characters. Sad, but engaging and terrifically funny, the main character, Tobin McCauley, is a seventh grader in Raleigh, NC. The book tells his story of coming to terms with being the new kid in school, seeing his grandmother arrested in front of his school on the first day and watching his family unit fall apart. I loved every minute of reading this story and highly recommend it to anyone of any age.
February 28, 2012
I thought this would be a good book for my 11 year old boy ,who is a reluctant reader at best, to read for a school book report. Well he tore through this book in a week, stayed up at night to read it and the ending " ... made me cry Mum, it was sad then happy."
I think this book is a good introduction to reading "novels" ,a sometimes difficult transition for boys who previously read only Calvin and Hobbes and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
I think this book is a good introduction to reading "novels" ,a sometimes difficult transition for boys who previously read only Calvin and Hobbes and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
July 27, 2010
What a great book! It caught my eye because of the boy on the cover. A perfect model for Tobin. I read it in one afternoon at the beach. The author made him so real for me, I couldn't help caring about him. I'm going to urge my kids to read it. Of course that means they will read anything BUT this book, but I'll try!
July 18, 2012
I enjoyed this one. It was very realistic, but wasn't overly depressing or too mushy-gushy. Nobody learns a very special life lesson. There's no family secret that tears everybody apart. It's a very simple story of a kid trying to make the best of his circumstances and (very!) imperfect family situation.
February 2, 2014
This book was really good. Tobin McCauley is starting 7th grade. After his grandma parks on the sidewalk to drop Tobin off at school, she gets arrested. To make things worse, he gets suspended for fighting. Then his grandma makes him go over to Henry Otis's to see his chickens. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes animals. This book was really good!
July 23, 2008
Not only did I love Tobin McCauley, I loved everything else about this story of an unlikely friendship between two boys engaged in a chicken-raising enterprise. As a bonus, I learned a lot about chickens, too. Did you know that Araucanas lay blue eggs?
April 10, 2015
Tobin lived with his grandmother on a farm with his juvenile delinquent siblings. Tobins best friend believes that the study of chickens brings out the true meaning of life. Tobins first day of school starts with the arrest of his grandmother.
Read
April 13, 2015Chicken Boy is a nice quick read for anyone who needs one. It it very interesting and weird and is not for a specific group of people to read. I definitely recommend to all of my peers who are looking for a quick read and need a quick book to read.
July 6, 2008
Loving this book....As good as Dovey Coe was.
Reading it in one day really gave me the chance to step into his life. Some kids can be amazing in the face of adversity.
Reading it in one day really gave me the chance to step into his life. Some kids can be amazing in the face of adversity.
August 3, 2013
Loved this book about the power of friendship to change a life. I already have a lesson planned using chapter 1 for the beginning of the school year.
September 10, 2013
If you liked Freak the Mighty you might like this book!
May 29, 2015
I found this book quite by accident. It's a cute story about how raising chickens impacts a young boy's family life. The boys in the story remind me of my son.
August 21, 2016
Listened on audio. This is a very moving and gripping story about a troubled boy and his family. I found the unresolved ending a bit unsatisfying but loved the rest of it.
June 16, 2020
This book is about a 7th grade boy’s journey into the foster care system. Near the beginning of the story, Tobin is hungry. There’s nothing at all in the refrigerator to eat. His older sister and brothers have fought over the last of the dry cereal for dinner. As he looks around the house, he sees the dirty dishes piled high in the sink, on the counter, on the table. The living room is covered in dust and grime and things that don’t belong in a living room. But no one ever cleans it. No one ever goes to buy a bunch of food to fill the refrigerator or the cabinet shelves. If Tobin complains, eventually his dad will order a pizza or something, but until he complains, no one will think about the fact that he’s hungry or even that he’s around.
His father works, his sister and brothers are busy, and when they come home, they flop on the couch and watch TV. It’s how things have been ever since Tobin’s mother died from cancer, a couple of years ago. His granny lives across town, but she and his dad are always fighting. Granny thinks it’s Dad’s fault that Mom died. Tobin doesn’t know who’s right. When he meets a new friend at school, a friend who raises chickens as a hobby, and Tobin sees how Henry and his family live—in a nice clean house, with good food to eat—he realizes that his life could be different, and he sets out to do something about it.
(REVIEW: Other reviews say this book is too neat a package; he meets a kid who pursues his friendship even though Tobin appears unlikable. Reviews also say that the foster care system is too nicely portrayed—that it’s not realistic. I like the peek into a positive foster care situation, where a non-juvenile-delinquent is placed temporarily with nice folks who don’t try to be his mom or dad but do try to support and help Tobin. Where a social worker doesn’t know all the answers, but facilitates meetings and eventually the siblings and dad start to figure things out on their own. Where the home life of Tobin is tough but not abusive—Dad is depressed due to Mom’s death and his guilt about it, and he’s stepped away from his duties. The foster care system gives him a wake up call. He doesn’t fight it, but he treats the system with grateful respect and takes on “getting better” as a job so he can get Tobin back. It’s a temporary situation and a helpful one.
How many books show foster care in any positive light? Or any child in foster care as other than a troubled youth to be pitied? This shows the other side. There are kids in foster care like Tobin and his family, and there are foster families like the one he stays with. This book may help classmates of foster kids be more understanding, and may give a foster kid hope. Bad title, and chicken thing is hard to relate to, but still a decent book. Caudill nominee, 2008)
His father works, his sister and brothers are busy, and when they come home, they flop on the couch and watch TV. It’s how things have been ever since Tobin’s mother died from cancer, a couple of years ago. His granny lives across town, but she and his dad are always fighting. Granny thinks it’s Dad’s fault that Mom died. Tobin doesn’t know who’s right. When he meets a new friend at school, a friend who raises chickens as a hobby, and Tobin sees how Henry and his family live—in a nice clean house, with good food to eat—he realizes that his life could be different, and he sets out to do something about it.
(REVIEW: Other reviews say this book is too neat a package; he meets a kid who pursues his friendship even though Tobin appears unlikable. Reviews also say that the foster care system is too nicely portrayed—that it’s not realistic. I like the peek into a positive foster care situation, where a non-juvenile-delinquent is placed temporarily with nice folks who don’t try to be his mom or dad but do try to support and help Tobin. Where a social worker doesn’t know all the answers, but facilitates meetings and eventually the siblings and dad start to figure things out on their own. Where the home life of Tobin is tough but not abusive—Dad is depressed due to Mom’s death and his guilt about it, and he’s stepped away from his duties. The foster care system gives him a wake up call. He doesn’t fight it, but he treats the system with grateful respect and takes on “getting better” as a job so he can get Tobin back. It’s a temporary situation and a helpful one.
How many books show foster care in any positive light? Or any child in foster care as other than a troubled youth to be pitied? This shows the other side. There are kids in foster care like Tobin and his family, and there are foster families like the one he stays with. This book may help classmates of foster kids be more understanding, and may give a foster kid hope. Bad title, and chicken thing is hard to relate to, but still a decent book. Caudill nominee, 2008)
May 24, 2017
I did not really get hooked on this book, until the end portion, when I stayed up to finish it. It is not exceptionally riveting or anything. However, the writing is very enjoyable, and I liked quite a few of the phrases that dotted the story line. I do not agree with the description line for the book that says, "a family feud tearing the family apart". It is more like the aftermath and struggles from a death in the family that is making the family dysfunctional. In fact, the family does not fight all that much - just a feud between the father and the mother-in-law that does not dominate the storyline, or the lessons learned.
I picked this book up because we have just gotten involved recently with chickens, and I think that is why I and one of the kids liked this book as much as we did. If we had no connection to chickens, I would not have checked the book out, I don't think. I also think it would not have resonated as much with us as it did, if we were not involved with chickens ourselves. The chicken factor was definitely a draw for us.
I recommend this book for late elementary and middle school readers who love to read, and read a lot of books, enjoying many different plots and styles. Unless there is a compelling reason, I would wait to get it for the reluctant reader, who finds many books boring, because there are a lot more action packed and riveting alternatives that would hook a reader who does not enjoy books as much as avid readers. I also recommend this book to any kid who is interested in sociology, psychology and family dynamics from the loss of a loved one. The story is as much about a family thrown into depression and avoidance from loss as it is about chickens.
I picked this book up because we have just gotten involved recently with chickens, and I think that is why I and one of the kids liked this book as much as we did. If we had no connection to chickens, I would not have checked the book out, I don't think. I also think it would not have resonated as much with us as it did, if we were not involved with chickens ourselves. The chicken factor was definitely a draw for us.
I recommend this book for late elementary and middle school readers who love to read, and read a lot of books, enjoying many different plots and styles. Unless there is a compelling reason, I would wait to get it for the reluctant reader, who finds many books boring, because there are a lot more action packed and riveting alternatives that would hook a reader who does not enjoy books as much as avid readers. I also recommend this book to any kid who is interested in sociology, psychology and family dynamics from the loss of a loved one. The story is as much about a family thrown into depression and avoidance from loss as it is about chickens.
August 14, 2022
I haven't checked, but I hope there is a sequel. Chicken Boy left me hanging...
Tobin is going into seventh grade and has a reputation to either live up to or demolish, he spends a large part of the book between the two. He lives with his father- who is always at work, two brothers- who were always trouble, and a sister- who is gone most of the time. There is never food in the house and he spends a lot of time home alone or hanging out at his eccentric grandmother's house a few streets over.
One day, while defending his favorite teacher's honor, he meets a new student and soon becomes reluctant friends with. This kid, Henry, is crazy about chickens. Henry and is brother, Harrison, soon talk Tobin into joining their "chicken business" for Harrison and "extra credit study" for Henry.
Tobin becomes pulled into the confrontation between his father and maternal grandmother that threatens to pull his family apart.
I will recommend my students read this book as part of our ELA syllabus in sixth grade. Although we technically do not study NC in sixth grade, the students may be familiar with many of the places mentioned in the narrative. I found myself picturing the different areas as I was reading.
Tobin is going into seventh grade and has a reputation to either live up to or demolish, he spends a large part of the book between the two. He lives with his father- who is always at work, two brothers- who were always trouble, and a sister- who is gone most of the time. There is never food in the house and he spends a lot of time home alone or hanging out at his eccentric grandmother's house a few streets over.
One day, while defending his favorite teacher's honor, he meets a new student and soon becomes reluctant friends with. This kid, Henry, is crazy about chickens. Henry and is brother, Harrison, soon talk Tobin into joining their "chicken business" for Harrison and "extra credit study" for Henry.
Tobin becomes pulled into the confrontation between his father and maternal grandmother that threatens to pull his family apart.
I will recommend my students read this book as part of our ELA syllabus in sixth grade. Although we technically do not study NC in sixth grade, the students may be familiar with many of the places mentioned in the narrative. I found myself picturing the different areas as I was reading.
April 23, 2020
Tobin's mother has died of cancer. His father and grandmother are both lost in their grief, and feuding. The family is being neglected and has been falling apart over a long period.
Tobin is the troubled seventh grader (that is year 8 in the UK, so presumably he is 12, going on 13) who sees more of his grandmother than his own father, and is suffering from neglect. Failing in school, he has become something of a rebel. That is, until the day he sticks up for a teacher, lands himself in a fight and finds a friend. A friend who is passionate about chickens.
This is a heartwarming story about a boy finding salvation through friendship. It was an extremely satisfying read, and young adults should definitely enjoy it.
I give it four stars, not five, mostly because it is also a little unconvincing in a places. In particular, Tobin is really far too nice for the rebel he is supposed to be.
That is not to say that he has to be not nice to make this a good story. Just that the internal conflict was not wholly convincing.
Nevertheless I enjoyed this book and young adult readers and any who enjoy a good story should enjoy it too.
Tobin is the troubled seventh grader (that is year 8 in the UK, so presumably he is 12, going on 13) who sees more of his grandmother than his own father, and is suffering from neglect. Failing in school, he has become something of a rebel. That is, until the day he sticks up for a teacher, lands himself in a fight and finds a friend. A friend who is passionate about chickens.
This is a heartwarming story about a boy finding salvation through friendship. It was an extremely satisfying read, and young adults should definitely enjoy it.
I give it four stars, not five, mostly because it is also a little unconvincing in a places. In particular, Tobin is really far too nice for the rebel he is supposed to be.
That is not to say that he has to be not nice to make this a good story. Just that the internal conflict was not wholly convincing.
Nevertheless I enjoyed this book and young adult readers and any who enjoy a good story should enjoy it too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews