THE CHICKEN DANCE
Jacques Couvillon
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Fiction
ISBN: 9781599900438
336 pages

Eleven-year-old Don Schmidt leads a lonely and solitary life. Trained early for complete submission by his aloof parents, Don never speaks unless spoken to. That includes everyone, even other children. Any attention he receives is limited to screeching criticism from his mother and harsh teasing from the kids at school, especially popular Leon. His father goes to work and then comes home to stare at the TV, basically ignoring him. There is one exception to Don’s lonely world --- the chickens.

A few years ago, the family had some financial troubles. Then a relative of Mr. Schmidt’s dies, leaving them a house in Louisiana. Of course, the will states a few unusual terms and conditions. In order to inherit the house, the Schmidts will have to maintain a minimum of 25 chickens. Mrs. Schmidt despises the chickens and constantly fears catching diseases from them; Mr. Schmidt could care less, but he feeds them in order to maintain the will’s stipulations. Don loves the chickens; they are his friends and the only ones who listen to him.

When Don’s father goes away on a business trip, it is up to his disgruntled mother to tend the chickens. Don scratches up some courage and asks her if he could take over the care of his feathered friends. To his surprise and delight, she agrees, and Don delves into the chicken farming world, taking charge and upgrading their meager standard of living. He also buys a book on everything there is to know about chickens, including the different kinds and their egg-laying capabilities. When the annual chicken judging contest arrives, he is ready.

Don wins the contest for his age group, leaving the rest of the contestants in his dust. And then his world changes dramatically. People in town recognize him and calls out hellos, kids want to sit by him at lunch, Leon wishes to be best friends and everyone is interested in buying Don’s famous eggs. Don’s mother eventually sees how this new-fangled fame can benefit herself and starts haggling eggs for favors. But when she has him cleaning out the closet to prepare for a dinner party with some influential people, Don discovers a clue to a family secret that will change his life forever.

Most people probably don’t think much about chickens, or regard them with a high value, but actually they offer much to anyone who bothers to open their eyes. It’s the same with kind-hearted Don Schmidt. His moving tale, set in the 1970s, offers many surprises and insights into one particularly damaged and dysfunctional family. Jacques Couvillon’s first novel is a blue-ribbon winner, and readers eagerly will be awaiting his next book.

    --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND

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