Author: Heather Smith
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, LGBTQ, Canadian
Type: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Penguin Teen
First Published: March 5, 2019
Opening Lines: "I had one leg in the feathery yellow costume my boss called a uniform when Cam stomped into my room like a runway model on crack and thrust his chest out at the end of my bed. "Pops? Be honest. Do I have "--- he paused for effect -- "moobs?"
Book Description from GoodReads: Everybody has a story that will break your heart; a poignant coming-of-age YA for fans of David Arnold, from the author of the acclaimed The Agony of Bun O'Keefe, a Kirkus Best of the Year selection.
Poppy used to be an optimist. But after a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter is mocked online, she's having trouble seeing the good in the world. As a result, Poppy trades her beloved vintage clothes for a feathered chicken costume and accepts a job as an anonymous sign waver outside a restaurant. There, Poppy meets six-year-old girl Miracle, who helps Poppy see beyond her own pain, opening her eyes to the people around her: Cam, her twin brother, who is adjusting to life as an openly gay teen; Buck, a charming photographer with a cute British accent and a not-so-cute mean-streak; and Lewis a teen caring for an ailing parent, while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition. As the summer unfolds, Poppy stops glorifying the past and starts focusing on the present. But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
My Review: Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Smith's earlier book The Agony of Bun O'Keefe and like that book, Chicken Girl dives into several big topics facing teens and has an assortment of unique secondary characters.
Poppy was an interesting main character but not one I warmed up to easily. She's got quite a dark side (the disturbing YouTube videos made me cringe) - she's often imperfect, sometimes selfish and usually unsure of herself. But its through her connection with her parents, her twin brother, Cam and an eccentric group of friends that we witness Poppy learn who she is and who she wants to be. The varied group of secondary characters also share parts of their own stories allowing Smith to introduce many important topics.
I love that Smith doesn't shy away from big teen topics - including fat shaming, drugs, sex, homelessness, rape and homophobia - just to name a few. There's a lot going on in this wee book so the topics are unfortunately not dealt with in a lot detail, but their inclusion will engage and promote important discussions.
Chicken Girl is a short but sweet story about the hardships of growing up, learning to love yourself and the immense power that inclusiveness has on the individual. Filled with heart, humour (how I loved Poppy and Cam's blended words!), heartbreak and a wonderfully diverse cast, Chicken Girl is the whole Teen Fiction enchilada.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Penguin Teen for providing me with a complimentary copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
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