by Frances O'Roark Dowell
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| List Price: | $5.99 |
| Amazon Price: | $5.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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Product Description
Meet Tobin McCauley. He's got a near-certifiable grandmother, a pack of juvenile-delinquent siblings, and a dad who's not going to win father of the year any time soon. To top it off, Tobin's only friend truly believes that the study of chickens will reveal...the meaning of life? Getting through seventh grade isn't easy for anyone, but when the first day of school starts out with your granny's arrest, you know you've got real problems. Throw on a five-day suspension, a chicken that lays green eggs, and a family feud that's tearing everyone to pieces, and you're in for one heck of a ride.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Interesting Thing..., 2008-05-17
Well maybe I am just easily pleased, but I really do enjoy this book. Yes, DO as in, I still read it every month or so when I'm broke and can't buy any new books. The characters are simple, but I would have gotten confused if they were too complex, I am no critic, just a person who reads what they can find and afford. I relate to this book, though it may be a little goofy or hard to believe, the dilemma of not knowing whether to stay loyal to your own family or surrender to something that is better yet equally uncomfortable is one I know of only too well. So if you are looking for something simple and not terribly intense, than I recommend this book, if not, well good luck to you.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
My reveiw on Chicken Boy, 2008-01-11
How much do you know about chickens? The book is written by Frances O'Roark Dowell . The story takes place in North Carolina. Tobin (main character) has the last name of McCauley, his family has a record for getting in trouble. Tobin is neglected from his peers and never talks to anyone. That is until he meets Henry. From that moment on Henry never leaves Tobin's side. Now Henry is obsessed with chickens. He gets Tobin involved in the chicken business that he and his brother Harrison are in. At the same time Tobin's family issue becomes horrible. As the book goes on Tobin finds the souls in these chickens and his life becomes better.
I thought this was a good read for people who like realistic fiction stories. I recommend this story to people in middle school for the main character is in 7th grade. Also a story that has a fast paced story line and a sarcastic point of view from the main character. I dislike the lack of content in the book. The ending happens too fast in my opinion. But overall it is an awesome read and I highly recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
See the world through new eyes, 2007-02-13
Chicken Boy, by Frances O'Roark Dowell, sounds very childish and silly, but is a very true and can almost be sickening. The boy, Tobin, lives with is brothers and sisters in an old house behind a gas station. They live in pretty much a pig sty. This is mainly because Tobin's mother died of cancer and since then, their house has been a mess and his Grandma and dad will not talk to each other. This book gives you a real life feeling, it shows you how other people's lives can be. Tobin goes back to school and he doesn't have any friends. There is only one class he likes, and that is English. His teacher really believes he can do great things when no one can. One day, he gets in a fight with a boy and another boy, Harrison, helps him. Tobin and Harrison become good friends. Harrison raises chickens and is using them for a science extra credit project. Tobin gets to know all the chickens and soon gets involved with taking care of them. He buys his own chickens and takes care of them. He gets very close to them and learns that he can relate to them more than some humans and they give him a new outlook on life. This book is really touching because even through all Tobin is going through, he always goes to see the chickens.
By Grace
6 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
 Am I just missing the charm?, 2007-01-11
I've given this book two tries---- once with my eyes and once with my ears (iPod). I just can't get through it. Sometimes the starred reviews in SLJ and Booklist completely mystify me-- this is a book that needs some filling in. The characters have the complexity of line drawings. I bet there's a good book here; it just needs a few more drafts.
For example, the protaganist's new friend--- I'm sure there are less believable characters in literature, but I can't think of any at the moment. And the little goofy bits of description--- the father remarks that the boy's school smells like every other school, like chalk. Ok, who here can dredge up the odor of chalk? Have I just missed the odor of chalk all these years working in a school? It all reminds me of narrators who refer dramatically to the smell of blood-- when really that's a remark that only a vampire character is justified in making. Have I been missing the well-known smell of blood all these years, too? Good lord, the smell of chalk. Granted, the father character also says the school smelled of gym socks, and that smell would apply to the locker room. Quibbles, yes. But when the characters are so dull, my mind drifts to the little annoying flaws of language. Whose doesn't?
When I saw Chicken Boy was up for a 2008 Grand Canyon Reader Award, I thought I would just chime in here. Different strokes, I guess--but kids will be bored by this book. Librarians, be ready to contend with the smell of boredom.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Another Winner from Dowell, 2006-02-01
Frances Dowell is one of the finest young people's authors
out there today. From the masterful and gripping Dovey Coe
to the canny Secret Language of Girls, to the thoughtful
and gripping world of Chicken Boy, Dowell shows again and
again that she understands kids and their concerns. Her books
have both strong storytelling and a moral code. She makes characters that provoke lively discussion between parents
and kids and teachers. There's so much gloss out there today,
books that seem more concerned with showing girls how to be pretty and boys how to be cool. Dowell's books show kids and grownups how to be loving, responsible, kind human beings.
And she does it with grace and style and wonderful stories.
Her characters seek to improve and expand their hearts and
minds.
Dowell's books are essential.
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