Is When Chickens Have Teeth a Good Choice for Homeschoolers?

Yes! And here’s why:

When Chickens Have Teeth is a character-driven middle grade novel ideal for Christian homeschool families and faith-based classrooms. Rooted in the rich culture of Haiti, this story follows 13-year-old Frislin Destine as he leaves home to support his family, only to face fear, homesickness, and the challenge of loving his enemy.

This novel encourages:

• Discussions about empathy, forgiveness and prayer

• Exploration of real-world hardship through a spiritual lens

• Cultural appreciation of life in Haiti

• Application of Jesus’ teachings to real-life conflicts

Recommended for ages 8–12. Includes themes of faith, sacrifice, family responsibility, and moral growth—making it a great addition to literature-based curricula or Christian book fairs.

Enhance your curriculum experience with The When Chickens Have Teeth Companion. This booklet provides additional information about the country of Haiti, as well as 6 devotionals leading them to consider how they can apply Frislin’s life lessons to their own lives.

Is When Chickens Have Teeth a True Story?

When Chickens Have Teeth is set in the year 2012. I choose to set the novel in that time period because that is around the time my brother was traveling to Haiti. As he was one of my sources of information, what I knew about Haiti would fit in with that time period. It also gave me the opportunity to mention the huge earthquake that devastated the southern part of the country in 2010.

When Chickens Have Teeth is set in the tiny island country of Haiti. But where in the world is Haiti? Haiti is one third of the island of Hispaniola. It is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and on the south by the Caribbean Sea. It is less than 400 miles from the island of Cuba. In the Caribbean that’s practically a next door neighbor!

Was Frislin a Real Person?

Frislin is loosely based on a real boy who went to live at the Hope Children’s Center in Cap Haitien, Haiti. My brother Ron was a co-founder of the Center more than 30 years ago and has made many mission trips with his son, Matt. The story of Frislin bravely leaving his family to move to another city captured my imagination. The other children in the story and the events of the story are fictional. I wondered how his life would change? Could he grow in his faith? Could he learn to forgive someone who had injured him? It’s a story of inspiration and friendship.

What About That Title?

I came across the phrase When Chickens Have Teeth in a biography by Dr. Paul Farmer about his life and ministry in Haiti. It is titled Mountains Beyond
Mountains. It’s an idiom (like “when pigs fly” or “raining cats and dogs”) taken from a French phrase that means something is never, ever going to happen.

Is Voodoo Real?

In my novel When Chickens Have Teeth the bully threatens the Pastor and children. “You will give me my money, or I will go to the houngan (witch doctor) and tell him to put a voodoo curse on you.”

Pastor Honorat has no fear. He tells the children, “Remember, greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. I do not fear the witch doctor. He has no power over me or this house.”

Voodoo believes everything has a spirit. The people believe in magic spells and sorcery. They often attribute illness to this sorcery or evil spirit and look to the hougan to cast out the spirit and heal them.

Though many people believe in this power, as Christians we know God is greater, and if we trust in Him we can be sure evil cannot touch us.

Find out more about Haiti and enjoy 6 Bible-based devotions that will help you grow in faith and learn how to forgive. The When Chickens Have Teeth Companion is a great aid for personal study or homeschool use. Find it here: Companion

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