1. Though they have been historically divisive in Merinac, how do the rival chicken shacks work to bring the Pogociello and Moore families together in the present of the novel?

2. Discuss the different paths Amanda and Mae take after their childhoods in Merinac. How did their upbringing dictate their adulthood choices to stay in the town or to leave?

3. What role does the reality TV show “Food Wars” play into the two families’ dynamics? Discuss the disconnect between what viewers see on the show compared with what goes on behind the scenes. Do you think this theme of appearance versus actuality applies to reality television as a whole?

4. Consider the various connotations the word “chicken” has in the book. How do the different characters “play chicken” with one another?

5. Do Mae and Amanda find their current situations fulfilling? In what ways are they both stuck in their personal and professional lives? How do they break out of those patterns?

6. How do Amanda’s various family members react when they find out they’ve been picked for “Food Wars”? How do you think you would respond?

7. What role does food play in the characters’ lives? How did the descriptions and sensory details about food affect your reading experience? Did you know much about the traditions of the Midwest before reading THE CHICKEN SISTERS?

8. How does the small-town setting of Merinac make a story like this possible? Do you think it could take place in a large city? Discuss how small-town life plays into the heart and spirit of THE CHICKEN SISTERS.

9. What do you think is in store for both Amanda and Mae?