Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?

The only bad thing about this delightful story is that it is over. And there aren't any more. Yet. Sophie Brown continues her journey as an Unusual Poultry Farmer (that is, a farmer of unusual poultry, not an unusual farmer--though I suppose a 13-year-old girl isn't your usual farmer either). She seems to have a handle on her small but boisterous flock, when her summer comes to an end and she finds herself plunged into the fraught world of middle school, and she receives a delivery of eggs which she must nurture until hatching. Her family is also joined by her cousin Lupe, who is living with them while she goes to college nearby. Lupe becomes an enthusiastic member of Sophie's chicken crew, and figures out how to use Redwood, the show more dilapidated farm Sophie inherited, to best advantage. Anxiety ensues when one of the new chicks proves to be unusual indeed, and maybe even dangerous, and Sophie frets that the Unusual Chicken Inspector will remove it from her care. But of course, this is a heartwarming middle-grades story, so things always work out as they should. I really hope Kelly Jones writes more of these books. I believe she lives in my town, so if I don't see another installment soon, I may have to find out where she lives and do a little stalking. Just kidding. Maybe. show less

Sophie Brown has moved to a new town where she has inherited a farm with unusual chickens that have super powers! Jones goes into quite a bit of detail about the incubator and hatching the eggs. I loved it, but it may contain too much detail for young, or most, readers.

There are new characters and new chickens and new adventures for Sophie and her friends and family. Plus there's a tease of even more new chickens and adventures to come! I love this series and I love recommending it to young readers because we all need a little unexpected magic in our lives.