Chicken

by Chase Night

For sixteen-year-old Casper Quinn, there's only one good thing about attending a fire-and-brimstone Pentecostal church in Hickory Ditch, Arkansas, and that's Brant Mitchell, the pot-smoking, worship-leading golden boy he's gone and fallen in love with. But just as the sparks between them finally start to fly, a political firestorm erupts over everyone's favorite fast food chicken chain, Wings of Glory.

Caught in the middle of the cultural crossfire, Casper and Brant will do whatever it takes to protect their secret. But feelings aren't the only thing Brant has been hiding in this magical Southern Gothic romance, and when the truth comes out, Casper's faith in him will be put to an unimaginable test.

Fans of Jeff Zentner, John Corey Whaley, and Patrick Ness will devour this timely yet timeless tale of first love, fried chicken, and the things we give ourselves permission to believe in. CHICKEN will keep teens and adults alike swooning and swearing 'til the very last bite.

Genres: Fiction, Religion, Contemporary, LGBT, Young Adult

374 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

Chase Night is an author, editor, and bookhat model, living in Arkansas with his partner and their animals.

Reviews

[Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had been a long time since a book's ending had me baffled and blown away for all the wrong and the right reasons. This book plays with the reader on a very meta level (or at least I felt it like so), making oneself readjust the notion of the type of story they are reading and challenging our ideas of what is the magic and what is the realism of this magical realism genre jewel. In shorter words, amazing read! :)

[Brian G. Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy. Crap. I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading Chicken, but it blew my expectations out of the water. Chase Night masterfully captures the beauty and terror of growing up gay in a Christian community. HIs depiction of young first love is specific to these characters and yet also universal. There were times when I laughed out loud and times when I couldn't help but respond orally as I was reading (and one bout of messy messy crying).

Chicken is a genre changer for young adult fiction in general and gay representation in media in particular.

Mostly though, it's just really darn fun to read.

[John Vanderslice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the easiest 5 star review I've ever given. What a wonderful and humane book. It advertises itself as YA, but all that really means is that the narrator is an adolescent, and there are plenty of "adult" literary books that feature the same. If no one told me this is a YA book I would have never called it one. What it is is a smart and deeply sympathetic presentation of what it is like to grow up "different" in an extremely conservative, Pentecostal, small town Arkansas millieu. The narrator of the book, Casper Quinn, tries to go along and not stand out like a sore thumb, but he can't help himself. He's simply too different, both on the outside and inside, but mostly on the inside. His best friend Brant Mitchell is different too, as it turns out, although it is much harder to tell with Brant, as he plays the role of the earnest, clean cut, devoted young Christian boy to perfection. No one in town, not even Brant and Casper's girlfriends, suspect how different the boys are. Well, actually, the girls do suspect it (but they're not sure of it).

But there's also another little lingering problem, suggested by a back cover blurb that explains that Brant Mitchell has "two secrets." This second secret is subtly rendered by the author, and I think most readers won't figure it out in advance, although in full disclosure I should admit that I had it figured out almost immediately. So possibly others will too. I won't lay a big spolier inside this review, so just trust me that the second secret is intriguing, has been amply if subtly prepared by the author, and has important metaphorical ramifications for the book. How's that for a tease? The other element to point out is that the time period of the book is the summer of 2012, when the Chic-fil-A/homosexuality controversy was at its height and conservative Christians everywhere in America were flocking (no pun intended) to the restaurant chain to buy and eat as much of its chicken as possible. It all amounted to ridiculous grandstanding, rightly lampooned by Night in his novel; but at the same time, the very vocal and physical support by Casper's church for the restaurant chain puts Casper in a complete moral quandary. I think readers will enjoy see what Casper does as a result, when the mental pressure really cranks up.

This is a superb book, brilliantly written and effectively characterized. Most of all, it's deeply sympathetic--toward everyone. It's a mark of Night's refined sensibility--both as a writer and as a person--that readers won't and shouldn't hate the Pentecostal characters, even though Night is not on their side. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

[Emily Qualls · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much praise to heap on this novel: hopeful, heartbreaking, meaningful, important, etc. I could go on and on, because there’s just something about Chicken that hit me hard and will likely stay with me for the rest of my life.
While reading this novel, bittersweet déjà vu was my constant companion. I was raised in a small, conservative Arkansas town as a preacher’s daughter who just didn’t fit the mold. Casper, Brant, their friends, their families, and their enemies all seemed so familiar as I read. They are complex people with motivations, beliefs, regrets, and secrets that made them as real to me as the community I grew up with.
With his debut novel, Chase Night has struck that mystical balance between a compelling story and an insightful commentary on the world we live in. Anyone who has ever felt out of place in the Bible Belt will find in Chicken something that resonates powerfully with that part of themselves.
There is no town in Arkansas called Hickory Ditch. Casper and Brant don’t exist. Nevertheless, there is truth in this story.

[Catherine Tinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow.

I remember summer 2012 when the Chick-fil-a hubbub happened and it seemed that almost everyone at my Southern Baptist megachurch was armed with their wallets and ready to appreciate the hell out of the fast-food chain.

But something I've wondered since, is sure, you've stuck it to people who disagree with you and put money into the pockets of a company run by Christians, but what part of the Gospel are you communicating to the LGBT community? What aspect of hope or love are you showing to a community who faces a higher risk of suicide or assault?

Definitely recommend this read.

[Colin Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully readable book with lovable characters and a compelling storyline. Highly recommended!

[Rebecca Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I impulse purchased this book off the back of a recommendation on twitter and was totally blown away by it. I started reading it straight away (usually books have to languish a while on the bookcase until I 'get round to them') and then couldn't stop until I finished reading it the next day!
The writing is fantastic and I was instantly transported to another time and place and got a real sense of the culture and mindset without any of it feeling forced at all. I absolutely loved both Casper and Brant, the main characters and I was really rooting for them throughout the book. I literally laughed out loud at a couple of parts ("1st Annual Hunger for God Games" scene) and I cried too, which is a sign of brilliant storytelling as that doesn't often happen to me when I'm reading, even though I'm generally a bit weepy in real life!
This book manages to be gritty without being bleak and has supernatural undertones without detracting from the very real-life issues playing out. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking of reading it- or even if you weren't before- then you should!

[Brian Cubbage · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel by Chase Night is not what it appears at first blush. It begins as a quirky, occasionally funny story of closeted gay teens in rural Arkansas dealing with their relationship in the context of their family dynamics and their Pentecostal religion. Yet there are ominous overtones throughout that blossom fully in the last forty pages, when Chicken becomes a very different book. The transition is almost jarring, and it leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

In an Afterword, Night offers a handy explanation for the incongruity. Although this is Night's first novel to be published, it turns out that it is a side project, a detour, that Night felt he had to take while writing another pair of Southern gothic novels (neither of which has seen publication as of this writing). Night envisions that Chicken will be the middle novel of a projected trilogy, and based on the projected titles, the Southern gothic elements will doubtlessly predominate.

Chicken is a good debut effort by Night. He takes serious efforts to put the two incongruous parts of the story together, and when it works he pulls off Southern fiction that is reminiscent of Fannie Flagg. I hope that he is able to publish the remainder of the trilogy, because my biggest regret is that this book leaves too many unanswered questions about characters I came to care about.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm digging my goodreads account out of its years-old grave just for this review.

I finished Chicken, and holy shit, what a wild ride! It was raw, honest, sad, strange, and beautiful. A love letter. I was especially thrown by the magic element near the end, which i didn't know about because i didn't re-read the description (that I originally read years ago) before plunging in! It felt like it came out of nowhere, but there were hints in previous chapters that only hit me in retrospect! Fantastic!!! This is one specific ass book. It's not very conventional, but for it's audience, it really hits! 4.75.

[Tanner John Heick-Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gay love story SO MUCH! So endearing, sweet, cute, with a touch of supernatural thrown in. The southern homophobia and "Chik-Fil-A but not" realities are great and this is so well written and well done. I think Night is straight which makes this novel even more remarkable with his ability to portray the longing and emotion of two gay teens. It made me want to be that queer teen boy in love again. A super charming book no matter your orientation or age filled with humor, love and social commentary and a little creature feature to boot. 💖

[Pablito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merryl Streep would love Chicken! Mike Pence would not. Geraldine Paige would looove Chicken! Kid Rock, were he able to read, not so much. Truman Capote would have loved Chicken! Mike Huckabee, the anti-Christian 'chrustian', would loathe it.

Do you see where this going?

I wouldn't pretend to cast the two main characters, Casper and Brant, but a movie this should be. This is not to say that it reads like a screenscript; it does not. The great Southern fiction icon Flannery O'Connor would have relished these church-goers and the Arkansasese they speak. What old Flannery would not have enjoyed is the weak copy-editing, and this first novel really, truly deserves to be presented typo-less. It's a great read by a writer with a true ear for the rhythms of dialogue and dialect and a genuine feel for these characters, whom he loves. I daresay you will as well.

[Sandra Bruxvoort · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story knocked the breath out of me. Let me tell you: Chase Night’s Chicken is absolutely wonderful.

If you’ve ever lived in or around the Bible Belt, read this book. If you’re familiar with the conservative south, small-town America, or any other derivative of any of these places, read this book. Even if you’re easily offended or can’t relate to any of these places, still, read this book.

Night’s Chicken is a story of courage and love—forbidden love. The real monsters take the form of you and me, and the beasts are the redeemers of humanity. Presented as a YA novel, all ages would benefit from reading this book. Just do yourself a favor and read it.

I moved back to Northwest Arkansas in July 2012—when this book takes place. The story gave me flashbacks of some heavily covered press events from that summer. You might remember the Chick-Fil-A headlines that year. Night’s book is smartly written, the humor well-timed in the face of heavy topics. It kept me from falling into a deep depression for what the main characters, Casper and Brant, endured.

There’s an intense scene on page 271 between Casper, his parents, and his sister Laramie. The scene about sent me into a shock. I didn’t know whether to laugh like an all-out crazy person or to just burst into tears. Chicken did that a lot. It ricocheted between the sad indecencies of a close-minded society and the saving humor found in epiphanic realizations.

I read somewhere that Night plans to turn Chicken into a trilogy, with Chicken as book two. If true, I can’t wait to get my hands on The Natural State and Demoniac. I adore Casper Quinn and Brant Mitchell. But even with the disclosure of a coming trio, let me tell you, Chicken is brilliant as a standalone novel.

After reading this book, I visited Night’s Instagram out of curiosity. Take a gander. It’s apparent he had lots of inspiration in crafting the story of Casper and Brant. I can’t wait to read more of their story.

See my original review on Story Darling.

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Chase Night's debut novel, Chicken. I mean I really literally just put it down, and I have a ton of emotions swirling around inside. I mean, wow. It was that good. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I'm so happy I did! If you're looking for a well-written, funny, heart-breaking, pop-culture referencing, beautiful, poignant, gay YA novel, then you've found it.
I guess I should give a quick summary. Our protagonist is Casper, a 16 year old closeted ginger living in Hickory Ditch, Arkansas; an ultra-religious community in the bible belt full of people who love Jesus and hate those gosh darn liberals. Casper has a feminist girlfriend who loves Doctor Who, a little sister who is glued to the television, and a best friend who he's...kind of in love with. Brant. We follow Casper through the month of July and into August, and watch him try to map out his way. And prepare yourself for a punch in the gut, because this book will have you RIGHT there with Casper every step of the way. Night's attention to detail had me absorbed. I could've reached out and touched the scenery around me, and this was ultimately what drew me in. It's been so long since I've fallen into a book that way. Anyone who has ever lived in a small southern town (and anyone who hasn't, for that matter!) could picture Hickory Ditch like a photograph in their mind.
This book is so important. While it's labeled "YA," Chicken reads so beautifully that as an adult, it didn't feel like Young Adult fiction. It felt like a story fueled by emotion, by beautiful writing, and characters who I kind of want to wrap up in a hug. Read this book. Read it again, then recommend it to someone else. Read this important, honest piece of LGBTQA fiction. Casper and Brant's story is seared onto my heart. Thank you, Chase Night, for writing something that made me want to read and read and read until the book was finished!

[J. Jobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well wrought it’s difficult to know where to begin in praising it. The story is modern, with a myriad of current references from Tumblr to Rihanna, from the Lion King to the Titanic. The characters are real and their struggles are real. The LGBTQ subject matter is timely. And anyone who has lived in religious small town Arkansas or any small town in The South may easily relate. Yet with all the familiarity this book defies stereotypes and rises above. Night’s crisp language surprises and entertains, sparking the imagination and keeping the reader turning page after page. Here there is hope and humor in the face of damnation. You will fall in love with this story, these characters, and this new up-and-coming author.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEED:
1 - To hug the main character(s).
2 - A sequel to this.

This book is described as a "Southern Gothic YA novel with an infusion of magical realism." If that doesn't sell it right there, I'll tell you this is a beautifully written look at coming of age as a gay kid in a Christ-haunted southern community. Honestly, depending on where, when, and how you grew up, this might hit painfully close to home. The ending of this story took my breath away, and inspired my very short list of needs above. Very, very well done.

Oh, and yes, this is a kissin' book.

[Lezidezi Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt a connection to this book mainly because I live in Arkansas and everything was relatable and made total sense until the last few pages of the book. Things got a little on the weird side and even then I could hold on and just go with it, but then there is basically no ending. I understand you set yourself up for a trilogy, but there was no conclusion at all and it was kind of a wimp's way of ending a book.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible writing, and this is Chase's debut novel. My only disappointment is that it hasn't gotten more press coverage. In my opinion, Chicken is just as relevant YA fiction as Thirteen Reasons Why, but even better written, and one I highly recommend.

[Jay Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a magical LGBT book that'll change your life and your perspective forever, it's Chase Night's CHICKEN. It offers an intense look at the subject with a lot of kissing, as a symbol for triumph over social norms. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much depth to this novel, layers and layers to pick apart and ponder. Definitely not what I expected reading a YA novel. I would recommend it to anyone familiar with the fundamental Christian culture and sensitive to the LGBTQ community.

[mg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really beautiful writing, great characters...and the book totally had me - right up until the end.

I'm so, so, so, so, so, so disappointed by the ending. BLAST!!!