Young adult
A gritty yet heartfelt coming-of-age story about teenager Jake, who navigates school bullies, first crushes, and the stigma of his alcoholic father, using wit and resilience to survive the chaos of adolescence and home life.
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Being a teenager is never easy – but for Jake, it’s harder than most. His dad, known locally as the “chicken and chips man”, is a hopeless drunk, the town’s running joke, and Jake’s biggest embarrassment.
At school, things are no better. Darius, the resident bully, seems to take special pleasure in tormenting him – especially about his father. And then there’s the chaos of adolescence itself: a whirlwind of hormones, confusion and new desires. Jake finds himself daydreaming about Kelly, while fending off the unwanted attention of Rosalind, the headmaster’s interfering daughter.
Between dodging bullies, managing crushes, and dealing with his chaotic home life, Jake must summon all the courage and quick thinking he can muster. But will his wit and grit be enough to face the challenges that lie ahead?
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
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
A powerfully insightful work which does not shrink from dealing with intense issues. it might be too intense for some YA readers, but in general it's going to be pretty good. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
