Chicken Boy

I really wanted to hate this book. The main character, Tobin, is a Southern fried trailer trash. I immediately assumed he was little better than the chickens he raised: no brains, no work ethic, no dreams, and no pride. By the end of the novel, the author had turned my own prejudices against me. As Tobin comes to realize there’s more to chickens than meets the eye, the reader realizes the same about Tobin and his family. If chickens can have souls than maybe Southerners can too. (Aw, c’mon son. It’s a joke. Why some of my best friends are Southerners.)

Tobin McCauley does not have an easy time of it. His mom died five years ago, his father is hardly ever around (not even enough to keep groceries in the house), he doesn't have any friends, he doesn't even try to do more than pass his classes at school... But all that changes when he gets into a fight in gym class defending the honor of his English teacher. It's then that he meets Henry Otis, a charismatic boy who, for some reason, wants to be Tobin's friend. Henry talks Tobin into helping him raise chickens for an extra-credit project and somewhere along the way Tobin finds that things start falling into place. Little does he know how fragile that peace can be, though, and when something happens that tests his family, Tobin's not sure show more if they'll come through or be torn to pieces in the process.

This book is about chickens. But on a deeper level it's about family. And love. And what keeps a family glued together. And what can tear them apart. From the book's description I was expecting something funny and light. This book certainly has its funny moments, but I would definitely not call it light. There's a lot of substance here. show less

Tobin (7th grade) lives with his widower father and three older siblings. Nobody keeps up the house or the yard, and the kitchen is usually empty. After his mother died, everyone just let things go to pot. His maternal grandmother, eccentric in her own right, is his best and only friend. But then Henry comes along. Henry is a fellow student who drafts Tobin to assist him and his brother in a chicken farming enterprise. Henry's little brother, Harrison, is mainly interested in profit, but Henry is more interested in proving that chickens have souls.
To his surprise, Tobin finds that he likes having his peculiar friend, and he begins to like the chickens too. He starts taking more interest in school, and life in general.
But then his show more grandmother reports his father to social services, saying he lives with an unfit parent.
Tobin, his father, and his grandmother all have things to learn about being a family. But Henry and the chickens remain steady. show less

This 2007 Dorothy Canfield Fisher award nominated book is an engaging story of a 7th grade boy and his family and school life through hard times. This would be a great read for students to either gain an understanding of how a fellow student might end up in foster care and why as well as the difference in economic spectrums from which different kids come. As a chicken-loving adult, I enjoyed the love of chickens portrayed in this quick read.

I would never have picked this book up if it had not been selected for ALA's Notable Book Award. I thought it would be a funny little tale about a boy that raises chickens and is then forced to eat them, but I was oh so wrong. Instead this book leads you onto a totally different path, one of new meaning, hope, and a promise of a better future. Although reluctant readers may be worried about the page length (202 pages), the font, spacing and general layout make this a fairly quick and enjoyable read, particularly for those who can empathise with Tobin's dysfunctional family, troubles in school, and need to have a friend despite not wanting to let his guard down. For those willing to see deeper meaning, they will enjoy the symbolism show more throughout this well-written novel. show less

Good southern coming-of-age book for middle school boys. The characters occasionally seemed a little mature for their ages, but likeable none-the-less. I don't know why the mother always has to die in boy's coming of age stories, but it does seem to be an over-riding theme including this book. A custody battle, although not bad, between the main character's father and grandmother is a central theme as well as raising chickens and whether or not chickens have souls and friendship. Oddly it all ties together and works. I ejoyed this one and will recommend it.

I wanted the retro red & gold silhouette cover, but got this, with the photo of the boy with the puppy-dog eyes, instead.  Good story, but a little workmanlike, with some implausible bits, and not as quite as special & fresh as the other cover.  I definitely want to know Henry and Harrison better, though.  Btw, Henry is a vegetarian (well, almost, he does eat fish.  And eggs, of course).