“Heartbreakingly beautiful – the gift of the human-animal bond.”
–TEMPLE GRANDIN, Author, Animals in Translation
“A mother’s heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of her son’s epic struggle to stay alive. Sometimes hope comes in the form of a perfect match or a loving family; other times hope arrives in the form of a soul mate with feathers. This book is proof that the transcendent human-animal bond can offer a very real kind of salvation.”
Julie Barton
New York Times Bestselling author of Dog Medicine, How My Dog Saved Me From Myself
“A lovely tale that shows us how human thoughts and words are not always necessary to form great friendships and unbreakable bonds.”
John Elder Robison
New York Times Bestselling author of Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s.
“Emotions are raw and the anxiety is palpable, yet this remarkable story is told with such wit and grace, punctuated by her son, Andrew’s hilariously quirky commentary that it makes it impossible to put down. As a physician, I rarely have the opportunity to see the toll that complex medical challenges take on individuals and on relationships. Kristin provides a beautiful reminder of the strength gathered from unique animal companions and tender mercies offered by human friends and strangers alike.”
Troy R. Torgerson, MD PhD
Pediatric Immunology/Rheumatology
University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital
“The Chicken Who Saved Us is a testament to the power of love and the power of family. Adams’ provocative tale of her son’s medical journey is told with grace, humor and most of all compassion. She captivates the reader with every twist and turn of her story, endearing us with witty banter between her autistic son and backyard chicken. But her true gift is in her ability to have faith in the unseen while transforming the medical world into a place where magic occurs.”
Corbin Lewars
Author of Creating a Life
“This remarkable story reminds us of a great lesson our animals teach: To accept others and ourselves right where we are. Readers will be captivated by this tender and brave story of a young autistic boy whose best friend is a chicken named Frightful. Their achingly honest conversations will invite you into their world where superheroes come alive and miracles happen. The Chicken Who Saved Us shows us that it’s not always dogs, cats, or horses that can touch and enrich the human soul. A backyard chicken can do it, too.”
Christi Dudzik, MC, LMHC
Owner, Healing Paws Inc., Animal Assisted Therapy
“If you’ve ever received news you didn’t know how you’d endure or spent days pacing the halls of a hospital, you will want to read Kristin Jarvis Adams’ The Chicken Who Saved Us. Adams’ story is filled with wisdom, wit, and laughter and is one that shows us undeniably that love can triumph over any curve ball life hurls our way.”
Theo Pauline Nestor
Author of Writing Is My Drink: A Writer’s Story of Finding her Voice (And a Guide to How You Can Too).
“From the moment I first heard the story of Andrew and Frightful, I knew it was one that needed to be told. Rich with humor and wisdom, this captivating memoir is an honest, raw, and candid look at a family’s resilience in a time when there seemed to be no answers. Adams cleverly brings us inside her world as she enlists the aid of a chicken to help her navigate the medical system on her son’s behalf. This book will become a beacon of hope for readers who find themselves in some of life’s most difficult situations.”
Andrea Duffield MBA MA CCC-SLP B.Sc.Ed
President, MOSAIC Rehabilitation, Inc.
“This quietly urgent and utterly human telling of a story about faith, family, and a beloved pet chicken named Frightful, keeps us rooting for Andrew, compelling us to turn the page again and again to find the ending we all hope for and rejoice at the power that resides in even the most fragile among us. Kristin Jarvis Adams invites us by her side and keeps us there through this formidable journey.”
Donna Miscolta
Author of Hola and Goodbye: Una familia in stories
“This is a book I wish every parent could read, and not just parents of children with communication and behavioral differences. Having worked with children with autism and other developmental conditions, I often see parents struggling to come to terms with the fact that the ‘playbook’ of raising a child may be completely different from what they expected. Letting go of how you thought it would play out can be extremely challenging for a parent, but ultimately accepting and embracing that path, wherever it may lead, can be the first critical step towards happiness.”
Gary Stobbe, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington
Director, Adult Transition Program, Seattle Children’s Autism Center