The Mildly Chaotic World of Chi Kenny by Khushboo Shah is a dystopian dramedy that centers around the protagonist, a chicken named Chi Kenny, and his fight for justice. The book introduces a disquieting alternate universe where animals call the shots, and humans are only non-verbal ‘Homins’ housed in a factory. Chi Kenny leads a peaceful existence with his mother and his Homin pets Adam, Eve, and their baby Apple. Their humdrum lives are turned upside down when a business magnate acquires their farm. Chi Kenny joins the factory as a statistician and is shocked to see Homins ill-treated and bundled together in cramped unhygienic cages. Homin parents are separated from their children and transformed into milk and meat-producing machines. They are also subjected to various yield-improving experiments with disastrous consequences. Chi Kenny decides to tackle the system by fighting for Homin rights in court with the help of a feisty Hippo lawyer.
Calling Chi Kenny’s world ‘mild chaotic’ is a major understatement; it is an absolute circus filled with greedy capitalists, disgruntled grunting factory workers, rapping simians, research lab scientists, and news-sniffing felines. The author masterfully uses inversion as a technique to bring alive the cruelty rampant in the animal industry. She does not shy away from the gore; instead, she highlights it in grueling detail. Lab rats conducting unethical tests on humans, baby animals consuming Homin hamburgers and becoming obese, a pandemic outbreak due to unhygienic food consumption – the author nails all these scenarios and more, making it a hard-hitting read. Some images may be dark and disturbing but prompt the reader to pause and introspect.
The story is written in first person perspective, and the identity of the narrator is a mystery till the very end. The reveal is stunning and ties up loose ends nicely. The writing flows effortlessly and the characters have interesting names. The language is lucid and abounds with puns, wordplay and tongue-in-cheek humour. If I had to nitpick, not all the characters have much to do – perhaps this is to set the stage for a sequel where they play meatier (pun intended) roles.
Contrary to its cover, Chi Kenny is not a sunny and vibrant read. It is as cute as Annabelle the doll, with a pink cruelty-free faux leather bow. This book is one of a kind – intelligent, emotional, whimsical, and intriguing. Beneath the innocent face of the protagonist lies a world that will upend yours. When the truth hits you, will you stand up as Chi Kenny did, or will you chicken out?
