Paddy Mounter

The hardcover edition of this book is beautiful. The story has merit because it was written to teach children about the horrors of battery farming. Personally I didn't enjoy the story that much - the sense of humour isn't really mine, there's no character depth or even any defined or likeable characters (they're more of an amorphous group), and the story was a LOT more bleak than I expected. Many of the chickens die in their bid for freedom and even after they escape the farm, they go on a show more perilous journey with many hazards, losing more as they go along, which I found surprising considering I thought from the length and presentation of the book that it is aimed at fairly young children. However, children would probably enjoy it, and since it carries an important message, it'd be worth showing it to them. (Side note: other than the basic premise of 'chicken escape' I didn't see any similarity between this and the movie Chicken Run, which I believe the author suspected might have ripped him off.) show less

The battery hens at Sunny Cluck Farm are far from happy. Being squashed into a dirty, smelly cage is not a chicken's idea of a good time. Too scared and disorganised to protest, the chickens put up with their lot as best they can, until Attila, the hen with attitude, arrives on the scene.