"This spare tale set in Pakistan has wonderful energy and use of language: short, staccato sentences that capture Saba's fear give way to smooth soaring language signaling her jubilant victory. Illustrator Christie gives us vibrant Picasso-esque chickens done as if in fingerpaints. He matches their vitality with an equally powerful landscape of oranges and yellows that frames Saba's pink house. But his greatest triumph is the character of black-haired, bright turquoise-garbed Saba: close-ups of her cowering in terror and apprehension give way to her raucous blitz of the outdoors and the offensive chickens. This place-specific story has a universal heart."