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Red Kayak
Cheating for the Chicken Man
A companion novel to Priscilla Cumming's highly acclaimed The Red Kayak and The Journey Back
Thirteen-year-old Kate Tyler must ask herself how far she will go to protect her older brother, J.T., when he returns home after nearly a year in a juvenile detention facility, only to find himself ostracized and bullied as he attempts to make a fresh start. Kate compromises her own values and risks getting herself into serious trouble as she launches a secret campaign to protect her brother long enough for him to find his place in the family – and in the world – again.
As a follow-up to Red Kayak, Cheating for the Chicken Man brings J.T., Kate, and Brady Parks together again as they struggle with the complicated issues of fairness, friendship, and forgiveness.
Thirteen-year-old Kate Tyler must ask herself how far she will go to protect her older brother, J.T., when he returns home after nearly a year in a juvenile detention facility, only to find himself ostracized and bullied as he attempts to make a fresh start. Kate compromises her own values and risks getting herself into serious trouble as she launches a secret campaign to protect her brother long enough for him to find his place in the family – and in the world – again.
As a follow-up to Red Kayak, Cheating for the Chicken Man brings J.T., Kate, and Brady Parks together again as they struggle with the complicated issues of fairness, friendship, and forgiveness.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 15, 2018
'"Did you ever know somebody who became a complete stranger?"
Kate looked at him. Her mother, she thought immediately, although she didn't say so.' (pg. 238)
Despite the ugly cover, I knew I just had to read this when I came across it in my library, because, CHICKENS. As someone who's family owns 30+ of these adorable creatures, I always freak out when I see a book with chickens.
THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. CHICKENS. XD
2. Kate use to be homeschooled, and she is AMAZING. I get so annoyed when I read books about ex-homeschooled kids and how they can't seem to fit in in school because they are freaks and how they don't have any friends or a life, and they can't interact well, and blah, blah, blah, how lucky they are to have escaped homeschooling.
KATE WASN'T LIKE THAT. FINALLY A NORMAL HUMAN WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE SCHOOLED AT HOME UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL.
It even mentions her past friends at her homeschool group and the skills they learned.
3. The mental illness representation.
4. The take on bullying. I loved how the book showed that not all bullies are heartless human beings, and are, in fact, usually hurting themselves.
5. The family. Kate's family has their issues, with her brother returning from juvie with scars on his soul and reputation, and her mom suffering from depression and agoraphobia, but they all truly love each other, and I love how that is shown in the end.
6. The light it sheds on chicken farms. I loved how the book showed the cruelty of chicken farms and the unhealthiness of raising chickens in that way, not enough people are aware of the conditions of meat chickens. Kate, her mom, and her brother struggle to save the chickens and not get shut down by the companies as a side plot.
Free range chickens is definitely something more people need to support.
7. The theme of forgiveness.
And lastly, but most importantly, the innocence. There was no swearing, nothing crude or suggestive, it was so refreshingly clean. Although it does deal with suicide, animal cruelty, and extreme mental illnesses such as PTSD. So I'd recommend this book for thirteen and up.
5 stars. I'm going to have to buy this book.
Kate looked at him. Her mother, she thought immediately, although she didn't say so.' (pg. 238)
Despite the ugly cover, I knew I just had to read this when I came across it in my library, because, CHICKENS. As someone who's family owns 30+ of these adorable creatures, I always freak out when I see a book with chickens.
THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. CHICKENS. XD
2. Kate use to be homeschooled, and she is AMAZING. I get so annoyed when I read books about ex-homeschooled kids and how they can't seem to fit in in school because they are freaks and how they don't have any friends or a life, and they can't interact well, and blah, blah, blah, how lucky they are to have escaped homeschooling.
KATE WASN'T LIKE THAT. FINALLY A NORMAL HUMAN WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE SCHOOLED AT HOME UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL.
It even mentions her past friends at her homeschool group and the skills they learned.
3. The mental illness representation.
4. The take on bullying. I loved how the book showed that not all bullies are heartless human beings, and are, in fact, usually hurting themselves.
5. The family. Kate's family has their issues, with her brother returning from juvie with scars on his soul and reputation, and her mom suffering from depression and agoraphobia, but they all truly love each other, and I love how that is shown in the end.
6. The light it sheds on chicken farms. I loved how the book showed the cruelty of chicken farms and the unhealthiness of raising chickens in that way, not enough people are aware of the conditions of meat chickens. Kate, her mom, and her brother struggle to save the chickens and not get shut down by the companies as a side plot.
Free range chickens is definitely something more people need to support.
7. The theme of forgiveness.
And lastly, but most importantly, the innocence. There was no swearing, nothing crude or suggestive, it was so refreshingly clean. Although it does deal with suicide, animal cruelty, and extreme mental illnesses such as PTSD. So I'd recommend this book for thirteen and up.
5 stars. I'm going to have to buy this book.
April 17, 2022
This book was not how I expected it to be. At first glance, I thought the book was mainly about a girl taking care of chickens, but BOY was I wrong! (i probably should have read the summary tho) First I really liked how MC's father tied into the plot by causing lots of problems, such as her mother having agoraphobia. It was really satisfying to see their character's situations solved in the end as well. I also enjoyed Kate and Curtis's relationship, and how they related to each other by being overprotective over their brothers. (Even though Curtis was the one bullying Kate's brother.)
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars was because of how the MC kept all these "secrets" from her friends and family when she could have COMMUNICATED, such as talking to her best friend Jess. All of her problems would have been resolved if she had just done that!! And also in the end she still kept her secrets even though everything was over.
I also think that if we saw Jt's perspective it would have given the story a better ending, rather than seeing Kates's POV.
But yeah, overall this was a short and sweet book, that can be read by all ages.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars was because of how the MC kept all these "secrets" from her friends and family when she could have COMMUNICATED, such as talking to her best friend Jess. All of her problems would have been resolved if she had just done that!! And also in the end she still kept her secrets even though everything was over.
I also think that if we saw Jt's perspective it would have given the story a better ending, rather than seeing Kates's POV.
But yeah, overall this was a short and sweet book, that can be read by all ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2019
I was not at all impressed with this book. 2.5 stars.
It does deal with a lot of high-stakes topics, more than most young reader "family pulling together in the aftermath of tragedy" books. Despite this, somehow it manages to plod, uninteresting even when action is happening. Kate is in high school, but she comes off as younger. There is nothing wrong with this book, it's just lifeless.
It does deal with a lot of high-stakes topics, more than most young reader "family pulling together in the aftermath of tragedy" books. Despite this, somehow it manages to plod, uninteresting even when action is happening. Kate is in high school, but she comes off as younger. There is nothing wrong with this book, it's just lifeless.
January 15, 2016
Need to read all the books.
I like this book because of the storyline. I think any age can read this book and then thoroughly enjoy. I knew after reading the red kayak there just said to be more to the story. I'm so glad that the authors sought to do two more bulbs. But now I'm just wishing there was more I think I know the book is in store.
I like this book because of the storyline. I think any age can read this book and then thoroughly enjoy. I knew after reading the red kayak there just said to be more to the story. I'm so glad that the authors sought to do two more bulbs. But now I'm just wishing there was more I think I know the book is in store.
November 25, 2020
Many years ago, I read The Red Kayak as I sat in the balcony at my sons' piano recital, videotaping their performances. I've never confessed that to anyone. The storyline was so compelling, though, that I simply could not put it down, and I relished the thought of putting it in the hands of my students so they could contemplate the moral maze Brady had to make his way through after learning his friends, Digger and JT, had committed an act that led to the death of a toddler.
Digger's story in the follow-up novel, The Journey Back, dealt with his troubled past and how he found some closure after escaping from the juvenile detention facility he was sent to after being convicted.
The original story comes full-circle in Cheating for the Chicken Man, the story of JT's release from juvenile detention nine months after his father's death. At 15, JT is now responsible for the workings of the family chicken farming and the upkeep of their farm. He must also return to school and face whatever social trials that still need to be convened. JT's mother suffers from depression, his sister, Kate, is worried about his return to school, and unspoken question hover over the reasons why he never wrote home during his incarceration.
Making matters worse, Kate is blackmailed into cheating for one of the bullies who torments JT. If she does the work, the bully promises to leave JT alone. If she doesn't, the bullying will continue. Kate is caught in a moral maze Priscilla Cummings is so good at presenting readers. Kate is an honest and caring sister, and cheating grates on her moral being, but she loves her brother and does not want to see him harmed or, worse, caught in a fight that will violate his probation and send him back to juvenile detention.
So she cheats and wonders who she will get herself out of it.
Digger's story in the follow-up novel, The Journey Back, dealt with his troubled past and how he found some closure after escaping from the juvenile detention facility he was sent to after being convicted.
The original story comes full-circle in Cheating for the Chicken Man, the story of JT's release from juvenile detention nine months after his father's death. At 15, JT is now responsible for the workings of the family chicken farming and the upkeep of their farm. He must also return to school and face whatever social trials that still need to be convened. JT's mother suffers from depression, his sister, Kate, is worried about his return to school, and unspoken question hover over the reasons why he never wrote home during his incarceration.
Making matters worse, Kate is blackmailed into cheating for one of the bullies who torments JT. If she does the work, the bully promises to leave JT alone. If she doesn't, the bullying will continue. Kate is caught in a moral maze Priscilla Cummings is so good at presenting readers. Kate is an honest and caring sister, and cheating grates on her moral being, but she loves her brother and does not want to see him harmed or, worse, caught in a fight that will violate his probation and send him back to juvenile detention.
So she cheats and wonders who she will get herself out of it.
September 3, 2017
It has been a long time since I have read a good book that deserved five stars. Cheating for the Chicken Man deserves five stars from me. I did not know that this book was connected with the Red Kayak. Let me tell you one thing, you do not need to read the Red Kayak to understand this book. Kate's father's death is explained, J.T.'s punishment for his prank is explained, everything that you need to know to understand this book is said. This story is told different than other stories would be. Usually the main character is the one that has been through a lot (I'm not saying that Kate did not go throw a lot, because she did, I'm just saying that J.T. went through much more in my opinion). So I thought what was going to happen is the story will be told in J.T.'s POV, it was in Kate's. It was Kate doing things, cheating, so her brother's life can be back on track. What I also liked about this book is that it told me that everything is not what it seems. I am talking about Curtis. At first I hated that kid so much, but after awhile the kid started to grow on me. When he started helping Kate, he was growing on me even more. It was interesting to see how two people that were enemies became friends. I highly recommend this book to others!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2018
As the third story of The Red Kayak series there is an expectation the narrator would be J.T. who was sent to juvie detention for his involvement with the accident that caused the death of a little boy. Yet, the author does something unexpected--she tells the story more from J.T.'s sister's point of view. This third person narration involves J.T.; however, it's through Kate's eyes that the reader understands how life has changed for their family.
As with the other two books, Cummings includes great detail and provides realistic dialogue and situations creating an engaging, somewhat suspenseful read. Many timely issues are covered: bullying, social groups, personal ethics, family dynamics, and are covered with thoughtful insight.
What prevents this from being a five for this reader is the ending. The entire book is centered on Kate's personal code of ethics, yet at the end, where a huge impactful denouement statement could be made, it unravels. It seemed rushed, as if the story had no where to go but simply end.
Also, J.T. like the other two boys should have had his story shared through his eyes, not his sister's. While Kate's view provides a strong stand alone story, it doesn't satisfy hearing J.T.'s side of the experience and he is a multi-faceted character.
As with the other two books, Cummings includes great detail and provides realistic dialogue and situations creating an engaging, somewhat suspenseful read. Many timely issues are covered: bullying, social groups, personal ethics, family dynamics, and are covered with thoughtful insight.
What prevents this from being a five for this reader is the ending. The entire book is centered on Kate's personal code of ethics, yet at the end, where a huge impactful denouement statement could be made, it unravels. It seemed rushed, as if the story had no where to go but simply end.
Also, J.T. like the other two boys should have had his story shared through his eyes, not his sister's. While Kate's view provides a strong stand alone story, it doesn't satisfy hearing J.T.'s side of the experience and he is a multi-faceted character.
February 28, 2019
Cheating For the Chicken Man, by Priscilla Cummings, is a fiction novel. J.T. is the main character, and lives on a chicken farm. He is bullied a lot at school, because of his religiousness, and because he lives on a chicken farm. J.T.’s sister, Kate, is also one of the main characters. She works to make J.T. more included at their high school, and goes to far extents to stop the bullying. This novel is well written and has the main theme of anti bullying. J.T.’s sister, Kate even writes papers for the bully, because if she did this, the bully said he would stop. “Curtis: My brother looked out for me when nobody else did.
Kate: Guess you'd do just about anything for ur brother, right?
Curtis: U name it.
Kate: Interesting because I have an older brother I love a whole lot, too. And look what I’m doing for him.”
This shows how Kate cares for her brother enough to rate a paper for the bully, in order to make him stop.
Kate: Guess you'd do just about anything for ur brother, right?
Curtis: U name it.
Kate: Interesting because I have an older brother I love a whole lot, too. And look what I’m doing for him.”
This shows how Kate cares for her brother enough to rate a paper for the bully, in order to make him stop.
May 16, 2017
I picked this book up to read not realizing that it was part of The Red Kayak series. I was pleasantly surprised when the characters and situations started to become familiar. Being able to relate back to The Red Kayak really increase my enjoyment of this book. It's nice to see when a story goes on and you find out what happens to the characters.
This was a good continuance of the initial story which if you have not read I urge you to. After that I also hope you will continue and follow up with this.
Not a new story, but a good one!
This was a good continuance of the initial story which if you have not read I urge you to. After that I also hope you will continue and follow up with this.
Not a new story, but a good one!
November 6, 2017
I, personally, think that Cheating for the Chicken Man by Priscilla Cummings is a heartfelt story. I believe this because in this story, we can understand life problems and family drama that goes on with real families. It teaches readers about trustworthiness, and gives the reader a lot of feeling for the characters. For example, in Chapter 1, we already see Kate and Kerry starting to live without their father being around. Their father had passed from a cancer. I recommend this book to any reader who adores emotional realistic fiction, or who wants to read something to be attached to.
April 14, 2023
“Cheating for the Chicken Man” piggybacks off of “Red Kayak”, which I haven’t read, so at times, I was confused. The book was too busy for me. You learn about JT coming home, Kate struggling with entering high school, and so many other minor ideas that could up what the book is supposed to be about. It took me weeks to finish it because it was too much in so little time (chapter-wise). I think it would benefit readers to read “Red Kayak” even though it doesn’t appear to be necessary, to understand the characters better.
November 19, 2018
I enjoyed the continuation of this story but I still feel that book two was best but of course you need all three to complete it. In this last book it revolves more around J.T. and his sister Kate. What will life be like for J.T. and his family upon his return home from the detention camp? This book had a good storyline I just felt that book two's story flowed better and just brought me in more however the trilogy as a whole was very enjoyable chill to read.
February 8, 2025
Although this is listed as juvenile fiction as well as fiction, it is a good lesson for adults as well as school children. It is a story about a family of chicken farmers. The son is bullied at school and it spills over into the family. Sister, Kate, decides to take action to help her older brother and cheats against her intelligence and morals. Things happen to the family and the farm. Bullies can be reformed, things can turn around, but at what cost?
April 3, 2018
Grades 6-9. A follow-up to Red Kayak. What happens when your brother returns from a year in juvenile detention? What happens when your father has died and the chicken farm, which you detest, depends on you for its survival? Bullies, farming ethics, cheating, friendship. Great issues and point-of-view. Very worthy of the original book.
June 13, 2017
Even though this is a companion novel to Red Kayak, it is a stand alone. One does not need to read Red Kayak first.
This story about learning to live with consequences, tragedy, heart-ache, and what one will do protect a loved one.
This is a great contender for Div 2.
This story about learning to live with consequences, tragedy, heart-ache, and what one will do protect a loved one.
This is a great contender for Div 2.
September 1, 2018
Third book in the Red Kayak trilogy. This one is from the sister’s point of view - and it tried to do too much. School issues, environmental issues, depression, grieving - whew - so many! I am glad I finished it - Red Kayak was the best of the three.
November 27, 2018
I thought this book was amazing! It was so fun and out there that I really enjoyed it and that's coming from a person that doesn't like reading all that much. I actually was so into it I read 200 pages without noticing.
November 7, 2021
This had some really great moments, and it would be good for discussions about complex moral situations. I haven't read the companion novel, because I didn't realize this went with The Red Kayak; I feel like parts of this book might have made more sense if I had.
August 28, 2025
Great Read! Told from Kate's point of view and Book 3 of Red Kayak series, these books can stand alone but also complete a trilogy. Great conversation tools around cheating, secrets, peer pressure, bullying, the influence of "quotes" and clichés on morality or on society as a whole...
September 28, 2017
Good story with strong messages about the tough decisions teens have to make as they navigate school, bullies, friends, and life in general.
June 25, 2018
I think that this book is the best out f the trio. I think this will open some bullies eyes and realize that everyone's going through something, even if they don't know it themselves.
January 3, 2020
i really liked this book
September 3, 2020
I love a chicken related story.. thought this was great. I found it hard to put the book down. Sounds like it's the second book after the 'red kayak' although the first is not chicken related by the sounds of it. I am still very tempted to read it, as I like the authors style of writing.
July 10, 2016
The third book in the series that started with Red Kayak centers around J.T., one of the boys convicted of 2nd degree murder in the death of a young boy on the river. With the death of her father and her mother in a downward spiral, Kate's grandmother is trying to hold the family together. Kate isn't sure what to expect when J.T. comes home. All she knows for sure is that she'll do just about anything to help her brother adjust to life back home. And they slowly slip back into their lives during the summer. "This was how her life used to be. This was how it was supposed to be. It had a name, too: normal. And normal had never felt so good..."
But then comes the first day of high school and Kate begins to feel the stress: straight A's are her only chance at a scholarship; dress codes and make up; and Jess is making new friends. All this seems like a big deal until J.T. starts to experience bullying ... again ... and by the same bully that hassled him in middle school, Curtis Jenkins. Kate is incensed. J.T. doesn't want to do anything about it. "Stay out of it. The words echoed in her head. But how could Kate stay out of it when J.T.'s world was disintegrating before her eyes?" She even goes to the office herself to report the incident. They have her fill out a form. A form! "Everybody focused on J.T. and how he was being bullied. Everyone seeing it and talking about it -- but nobody stopping it!"
As her frustration mounts and it seems nothing is going to change, Curtis comes to talk to her. He has a simple solution to suggest. If Kate does his Creative Writing assignment, he'll make sure that the bullying stops. How can Kate even consider cheating? If anyone found out, it could destroy her chances of getting a scholarship. But how can she not do it if it will help J.T.?
A story about second chances and taking responsibility for one's own actions.
But then comes the first day of high school and Kate begins to feel the stress: straight A's are her only chance at a scholarship; dress codes and make up; and Jess is making new friends. All this seems like a big deal until J.T. starts to experience bullying ... again ... and by the same bully that hassled him in middle school, Curtis Jenkins. Kate is incensed. J.T. doesn't want to do anything about it. "Stay out of it. The words echoed in her head. But how could Kate stay out of it when J.T.'s world was disintegrating before her eyes?" She even goes to the office herself to report the incident. They have her fill out a form. A form! "Everybody focused on J.T. and how he was being bullied. Everyone seeing it and talking about it -- but nobody stopping it!"
As her frustration mounts and it seems nothing is going to change, Curtis comes to talk to her. He has a simple solution to suggest. If Kate does his Creative Writing assignment, he'll make sure that the bullying stops. How can Kate even consider cheating? If anyone found out, it could destroy her chances of getting a scholarship. But how can she not do it if it will help J.T.?
A story about second chances and taking responsibility for one's own actions.
August 29, 2015
Cummings presents another moral dilemma in this companion novel to Red Kayak, in which Kate Tyler must determine what she is willing to do in order to protect her brother, J.T. Recently returned from juvenile detention and forced to bear the burden of running the family's chicken farm since their father's death, J.T. Is struggling to get his life back on track when faced with the same cruel taunts and harassment at school from a former bully. Desperate to protect him, Kate is confronted by the bully herself, and a proposition too good to be true. He will end her brother's torture, but only if she helps him cheat. Complicated, real, and inevitable, Kate is drawn into making decisions that lead her down paths she never thought she'd go. In many ways, this is a a more compelling read than Red Kayak because Kate's situation is more relatable, though both novels are written beautifully with brilliantly drawn characters. Told from Kate's point-of-view, this is such a believable situation that middle school & high school students will readily follow along. Although fans of Red Kayak will certainly enjoy extending their acquaintance with these characters, it is not necessary to read RK to enjoy CFTCM. Highly recommended.
November 28, 2015
A 4 1/2star for me. Great read. A companion novel to The Red Kayak, however this book stood well on its own. Lots of issues for discussion: cancer, death of a parent, depression, bullying, cheating, friendship. The previous list of issues makes this sound out to be a downer of a novel, but this book was well written and more suspenseful and lesson the depressing side.
Thirteen-year-old Kate Tyler must ask herself how far she will go to protect her older brother, J.T., when he returns home after nearly a year in a juvenile detention facility, only to find himself ostracized and bullied as he attempts to make a fresh start. Kate compromises her own values and risks getting herself into serious trouble as she launches a secret campaign to protect her brother long enough for him to find his place in the family – and in the world – again.
As a follow-up to Red Kayak, Cheating for the Chicken Man brings J.T., Kate, and Brady Parks together again as they struggle with the complicated issues of fairness, friendship, and forgiveness.
Thirteen-year-old Kate Tyler must ask herself how far she will go to protect her older brother, J.T., when he returns home after nearly a year in a juvenile detention facility, only to find himself ostracized and bullied as he attempts to make a fresh start. Kate compromises her own values and risks getting herself into serious trouble as she launches a secret campaign to protect her brother long enough for him to find his place in the family – and in the world – again.
As a follow-up to Red Kayak, Cheating for the Chicken Man brings J.T., Kate, and Brady Parks together again as they struggle with the complicated issues of fairness, friendship, and forgiveness.
June 17, 2016
The story centers around Kate Tyler, the sister of J.T., one of the protagonists in Cummings's Red Kayak. Kate is entering high school, her brother is just back from spending a year in a juvenile detention center, and her father has just died of cancer. The family owns a chicken farm, and soon, J.T. is being bullied at school with signs calling him the Chicken Man. Kate takes it upon herself to stand up for her brother, even going so far as to agree to do the bully's homework so he'll leave J.T. alone. A side story revolves around the family's chicken farm, with J.T. doing some off the books scientific research about their chicken feed and Kate taking the baby chicks that are different and hiding them instead of letting them be killed. Cummings really hits the reader over the head with the behind-the-scenes dealings at chicken farms. I think it may turn some readers off.
March 10, 2016
A thoughtful examination in novel form of what motivates bullies and the ethics of factory farming; Kate and her family had been through a lot: her dad had just died from cancer, her brother was in juvenile detention for being part of a prank that resulted in the death of a child, and her mother suffered from panic attacks and depression. When her brother is released from juvenile detention, high school freshman Kate is faced with choosing between two evils in order to rescue her brother from bullies.
March 21, 2016
This is the second in a series, but I read it without reading the first. It took me a while to get into the story. Now I will have to go back and read the first.
Kate's father has just died, and her family is dealing with coping and running the chicken farm without him. JT comes home from the juvenile detention center. Mom refuses to leave the farm, and sometimes the house. Things are not going well, and then school starts. JT transition back to school is not easy.
One good thing that Kate learns is that even bullies have a story. All of the characters are complex.
Kate's father has just died, and her family is dealing with coping and running the chicken farm without him. JT comes home from the juvenile detention center. Mom refuses to leave the farm, and sometimes the house. Things are not going well, and then school starts. JT transition back to school is not easy.
One good thing that Kate learns is that even bullies have a story. All of the characters are complex.
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