Anyone Up for Chicken? Book Review for Chicken Boy, by Francis O' Roark Dowell From Frances O'Roark Dowell, bestselling and acclaimed author of Dovey Coe and winner of the Edgar Award, comes the novel, Chicken Boy.
Chicken Boy offers a storyline which really leads the reader on an emotional and heartfelt journey.
The story tells the tale of Tobin McCauley and his dysfunctional family.
As the story unfolds, the reader learns of his mother's de4ath; giving a glimpse as to why his family slowly fell apart.
The story shows that with the loss of his mother, Tobin's father basically shut down regarding his parenting responsibilities.
Being left to basically fend for himself, Tobin often turns to his "Granny," for support.
Tobin's grandmother (whose daughter was Tobin's mother), has a strong dislike towards Tobin's father; the main issue being his inability to "man up" after his wife's death, to properly raise his children.
During Tobin's daily personal challenges, he manages to make a friend at school.
This new friend, along with his younger brother, has a great passion for raising chickens! It seems that quite a bit can be learned about life through the eyes and heart of a chicken.
Consequently, the boys convince Tobin to go into the chicken business.
At this point, life starts to become more manageable for Tobin; that is until he convinces his grandmother that he should live with her.
This prompts Tobin's grandmother to call Social Services on Tobin's father.
While this may have seemed as a violation of trust, it turns out to be just the jolt that Tobin's father needs to begin clawing out of his desperation.
As Tobin's father begins to come out of his depressive slumber, he begins to regain control of his family, who so desperately needs their father's guidance and love.
It's during this turbulent time that true healing actually begins for Tobin and his family.
Tobin's father realizes that he was not alone in mourning for the loss of his wife; his children needed him, for they had lost their mother, as well.
Within this revelation, the family is able to slowly turn desperation into a new found determination to regain the family that had become a group of lost souls.
While the reader may have to search deep to find the actual metaphorical connection between the life of a chicken and the human spirit, following Tobin on his journey to self-discovery and family redemption is well worth any reader's attention.
Chicken Boy offers a storyline which really leads the reader on an emotional and heartfelt journey.
The story tells the tale of Tobin McCauley and his dysfunctional family.
As the story unfolds, the reader learns of his mother's de4ath; giving a glimpse as to why his family slowly fell apart.
The story shows that with the loss of his mother, Tobin's father basically shut down regarding his parenting responsibilities.
Being left to basically fend for himself, Tobin often turns to his "Granny," for support.
Tobin's grandmother (whose daughter was Tobin's mother), has a strong dislike towards Tobin's father; the main issue being his inability to "man up" after his wife's death, to properly raise his children.
During Tobin's daily personal challenges, he manages to make a friend at school.
This new friend, along with his younger brother, has a great passion for raising chickens! It seems that quite a bit can be learned about life through the eyes and heart of a chicken.
Consequently, the boys convince Tobin to go into the chicken business.
At this point, life starts to become more manageable for Tobin; that is until he convinces his grandmother that he should live with her.
This prompts Tobin's grandmother to call Social Services on Tobin's father.
While this may have seemed as a violation of trust, it turns out to be just the jolt that Tobin's father needs to begin clawing out of his desperation.
As Tobin's father begins to come out of his depressive slumber, he begins to regain control of his family, who so desperately needs their father's guidance and love.
It's during this turbulent time that true healing actually begins for Tobin and his family.
Tobin's father realizes that he was not alone in mourning for the loss of his wife; his children needed him, for they had lost their mother, as well.
Within this revelation, the family is able to slowly turn desperation into a new found determination to regain the family that had become a group of lost souls.
While the reader may have to search deep to find the actual metaphorical connection between the life of a chicken and the human spirit, following Tobin on his journey to self-discovery and family redemption is well worth any reader's attention.