The Trouble With Chickens

Choose one chicken character and analyze their character traits and role in the story. What makes them unique? What do their speech and actions reveal about their personality and motivations? Support your answer with particular examples from the text.

How does the author’s choice to tell the story from J.J.’s point of view influence understanding of his feelings and experiences? How does this shape the reader’s connection to the characters and plot development? How would the narrative change if it were told exclusively from Vince’s point of view?

What role do secondary characters play in supporting or hindering J.J. in his quest? Choose one secondary character and analyze their impact on the main story arc.

What is the role of humor in The Trouble With Chickens? Identify specific quotes where humor alleviates tension or enhances characterization.

What role does the setting of Barb’s farm play in J.J.’s character development? What elements of the physical environment contribute to his transformation and experiences with Purpose and Belonging?

Identify a moment in the story where a character faces a moral dilemma. How does the character navigate this situation, and what does it reveal about their character? How does it connect to the novel’s key themes?

Choose two characters from the text and compare them. How do they differ in their Approaches to Problem-Solving? How do their differences influence the outcome of the story?

The Trouble with Chickens develops the themes of Friendship and Betrayal and The Value of Teamwork as J.J. must work with the chickens, who he does not fully trust or initially like. What tactics does J.J. use to collaborate with them and resolve conflicts? How do these approaches change over time? What does this reveal about the importance of working together, even with individuals who are dissimilar to you?