I definitely wanted to have Don as a kid of mine. Jacques used Don’s narration to show us how much of a ‘child’ he was. I absolutely loved every minute I spent reading it. I have just, literally just, finished reading the book as well, and what I liked the most about the ending is that Don has finally decided to step up for what he believes in (with letting KC help him make his final decision of whom he has to live with). I especially liked the chicken aspect as I grew up with chickens myself! Were this a movie and I a test audience, I may have actually booed the ending! It just didn’t ring true to the rest of the book. That’s why I totally hated the ending of the book, in which suddenly we are supposed to have empathy for them and Don chooses to stay with his lousy mother, instead of escaping from her. They are mean to Don, incredibly stupid, and basically rotten people–but it’s funny because it’s so over-the-top. It’s clear that they lie all the time, especially about Dawn, Don’s sister whom they say died of scarlet fever. His parents, on the other hand, are revolted by the chickens, and in fact seem to be revolted by Don, Horse Island, and everything about their lives. Don loves the chickens and learns everything he can about them. They live on a farm in a community that reveres chickens. Don lives with his two parents on Horse Island. I thought this was hilarious, along the lines of Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

My lovely husband brought this home on Saturday from BEA (Book Expo), so it is an advance reading copy (the book is due out August 21).

The chicken dance by jacques couvillon