Kelly Jones (2)

A kind friend sent me [b:Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer|22926534|Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Unusual Chickens #1)|Kelly Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409597870l/22926534._SX50_.jpg|42139665] because of the [b:Extraordinary Chickens|1006590|Extraordinary Chickens|Stephen Green-Armytage|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442691719l/1006590._SX50_.jpg|992716] saga show more (for years goodreads would not stop recommending me this one book of chicken photos). It proved ideally suited to a specific Monday situation: I couldn't sleep until 2:45am because my brain wouldn't shut up after reviewing [b:White Skin, Black Fuel: On the Danger of Fossil Fascism|56708410|White Skin, Black Fuel On the Danger of Fossil Fascism|Andreas Malm|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623412638l/56708410._SY75_.jpg|88659555] then had to work from home the next day. Thus I was falling asleep at 3pm and read [b:Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer|22926534|Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Unusual Chickens #1)|Kelly Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409597870l/22926534._SX50_.jpg|42139665] to keep myself awake. It's an undemanding read for an adult, but a really charming and amusing one.

The plot follows a girl called Sophie who moves from LA to a farm that her parents inherited when her great-uncle died. There she discovers that her great-uncle kept very unusual chickens, which become her responsibility. I very much liked the epistolary format, with periodic recipe or worksheet interjections. Sophie's letters create a strong and appealing character voice. The illustrations, in a style that reminded me of Quentin Blake, are also truly delightful. I appreciated the importance Sophie accorded to the library and her friendship with the postman.

According to the friend who sent it to me, [b:Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer|22926534|Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Unusual Chickens #1)|Kelly Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409597870l/22926534._SX50_.jpg|42139665] has been banned by a Florida county, which is baffling. It has one reference to a background female character having a girlfriend, one reference to ICE, some supernatural elements, and a mixed race girl protagonist. Presumably someone thought this combination constituted a more serious threat to Florida than gun violence? I certainly had a fun time with it and will pass my copy along to friends with kids so they can enjoy it too. show less

This is a fabulous "what-if" book -- what if you were cleaning out your uncles' basement as a summer job and discovered the ghost of your great great great grandma in a sauerkraut jar?

Loved it. Loved the wonderfully supportive family, loved their ability to care for each other and set boundaries, loved the STEM focus, the conversations about being from a mixed-race family, the thoughtful moments that take on mental health and accommodations, the references to how many things Mom and Dad show more learned in their military service, the close connections with elders, and of course, the goats!

There are a few moments that feel a bit didactic -- I mean, there's a lot of teaching that goes on in this book (see list of the lots of things going on!) and sometimes it reads like an idealized version of how super emotionally mature people deal with the world. What that ends up doing for the book, though, is presenting people who tackle problems by taking a deep breath and thinking them through, rather than behaving dramatically, and I think that's a pretty nice version of the world. Also, it's funny, and the characters are easy to like.

Advanced reader's copy provided by the author. show less

Deeeeeeeelightful. I fell in love with the title, and the book did not disappoint -- regency? yes. Cool magic? oh yes, sewing glamours is amazing! Shenanigans? definitely. Also, fearless heroines (several), smart women, dastardly plots foiled and an ope door to a sequel. Hells, yes.

Completely and utterly delightful. Sophie and her parents move to rural California from LA after inheriting her great-uncle's grape farm. Desperate to find something to keep herself occupied all summer, Sophie ends up learning how to care for the strange chickens her uncle left behind.

Things that are great about this book:
* Sophie is biracial (Mexican American and white). She often mentions how people think she and her mom are the "help" or that she and her father aren't related. She also show more makes sure to point out the races of other kids and notes that even though she's used to being the only "brown" person in a room, she doesn't like it. I never see that in kids' books and it was great to see it here.
* I love a book in letter format.
* I love realistic fiction with a little fantasy thrown in to spice things up. Because whose inner world isn't fantastic?
* The rural setting was super and also something I've rarely seen in juvenile fiction written in the 21st century.

Would recommend for 4th-5th graders but content is also appropriate for 3rd graders reading at a high comprehension level. And adults, of course. I can't wait to read the next one. show less