Scottish Book of the Week: Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens

For this week’s instalment of reading my way around Scotland through children’s books, we have a wacky science fiction story set in Aberdeen. Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens, by Alex McCall is a good bit of fun and an easy read. And there’s even a sequel too – Revenge of the Giant Robot Chickens!

Book Details

Title: Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens
Author: Alex McCall
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended reading age: 8+

Scottish Setting

The story is set in contemporary Aberdeen. There are a lot of local locations mentioned, including Aberdeen University, Central Library, The Bon Accord and Union Square shopping centres, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Kittybrewster Primary School, the train station, and Pittodrie Football Stadium, and others. Readers familiar with Aberdeen will also recognise street names such as Union Street, King Street, Clifton Road, George Street, Market Street, Upperkirkgate and more!

“The Aberdeen outside wasn’t in ruins, like you’d expect a city to be after the world had ended. The granite buildings had managed to endure for centuries. Eight months without being looked after hadn’t had much effect. The grass in the small island across the street had grown long and leaves were everywhere, but that was the only notable difference. That and the silence. This used to be a busy part of the city but now there was no one. It was like the set of a TV show, waiting for the actors.” (Chapter 1)

Plot Summary

It’s a chicken apocalypse: giant robot chickens have taken over Aberdeen, and then the whole world! The adults were the first to be captured. Dead or alive? Nobody really knows. Only the children remain, scavenging for food and clothes in deserted shops and trying to survive in a city that’s been completely overrun by terrifying mechanical poultry.

But Jesse and his friends aren’t ready to give in just yet and let the chickens win. Jesse keeps things going with his relentless chicken jokes, even when there’s not much to laugh about, and he and his friends soon discover that surviving the apocalypse means dealing with more than just the giant robot birds. With different gangs of children fighting for control, they’ll need quick thinking and a fair bit of courage to stay one step ahead of the feathered invaders, make sense of the chaos, and somehow find a way to fight back.

“And there it was, crossing the bridge, heading towards the Art Gallery and the centre of town as if having a leisurely weekend stroll. One of the things that had been hunting us for two thirds of a year. A giant mechanical chicken.” (Chapter 1)

Conclusion

I’m still not entirely sure what to make of this book and honestly, I think that’s part of the fun. It’s completely bonkers in the best possible way. It’s silly, chaotic, and very hard to take seriously, which feels exactly right for a book with giant robot chickens in it. If you’re after something a bit mad and full of energy, this is definitely one to try. I already have the sequel lined up on my TBR pile!

Bonus Info

Alex McCall grew up in Aberdeen. Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens was his first novel for children; it won the Kelpies Prize for Writing 2013 and the Scottish Children’s Book Awards 2015.

Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens is available from uk.bookshop.org (Affiliate Link) or you can order it from your favourite indie bookshop.