I don’t usually read books like this, I normally read animal stories or crime, but I enjoyed Chicken and Chips more than I expected.

The story kept me interested all the way through and I didn’t find any boring parts. It flowed really well and there were always things happening, so I stayed engaged from start to finish.

It was interesting reading from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy, as I’m not one myself. Jake felt like a realistic character, especially with the mix of normal teenage stuff like friends and girls, alongside what was going on at home.

The book focuses a lot on Jake’s dad and his alcoholism, and how it affects Jake, his mum and his sister. I thought this was shown well, especially the difference between how his dad is when he’s sober compared to when he’s drunk.
Jake’s sister has learning difficulties, which I would have liked to see explored a bit more, especially as I have personal experience of this.

The ending surprised me. Jake’s dad dies, and Jake says that he and his mum don’t have to worry about him anymore now he’s gone. It felt sad but also kind of relieving at the same time.

Overall, this was an interesting and engaging read, even though it’s not the type of book I’d normally choose.

Strong 4.5 stars

Review written by Ava-Mai aged 14