Don't be 'Chicken' 

“Chicken” is a short story written by Kathy Stinson, an award-winning author for young people, which magnificently deals with adolescents' first sexual experiences and pregnancy in such a realistic way that teenagers will easily be able to identify with. 

The plot revolves around two teenagers, a girl and the new guy from B.C. Bram, that are painting a church basement alone and he proposes her to play 'Chicken'. The game consists of a challenge, in which one of them puts a finger on the other person’s forehead and moves it down and the first one to say ‘stop’ is the chicken. Although the girl knew that he has just been a daddy and that her mother had warned her that being alone with a boy like Bram was asking for it, she accepted. The open ending is what makes this story even more attractive.

I am convinced that this story is a powerful tool to work with our students, because the topics are of their interest and at the same time, we will give them (and perhaps ourself) the possibility to do away with taboos. Moreover, Stinson's writing style catches the attention of any reluctant young reader. You can not miss it!