Novelist, screenwriter, and director S. Craig Zahler continues to impress with his latest-published book, Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child. Following the footsteps of Tim Burton, Caroline Thompson, and the David Lynch of The Elephant Man, Hug is a gothic representation of the outsider that is beautifully and masterfully executed.
The title character, Hug, is born an anomaly: razor sharp teeth jut out of his mouth, mismatched eyes work at different rhythms, his head can fully rotate, his hair is completely white, and his weakened heart could give at any moment. From birth, he is passed from one caregiver to another, paving the way for a series of misadventures that involve evil headmasters, oppressive orphanages, berry picking with genius scientists lacking common sense, and explorations of supposedly haunted mansions.
Zahler’s perspective puts Hug into the same realm of quality as its influences, and it’s also what makes the book so wholly unique. Hug is a victim to circumstance, but never one that manufactures sympathy. Zahler’s love and care for his creation is always clear, but he never cheapens it by creating contrivances for the reader’s comfort. While the book almost reads like a young adult fantasy, the frank reality of its protagonist’s suffering (and his indomitable spirit) never leaves the reader’s consciousness— even when the book delves into its magical flights of the fantastical.
The story’s foundation is so intricately laid that by the time the book reaches its crushingly beautiful conclusion, the reader can already see its details coming right before they occur. This is not the result of lazy storytelling, it’s rather due to intricately thoughtful writing that intellectually and emotionally falls into place during its final, flawless pages. Zahler proves himself to be an expert and refined storyteller with Hug Chickenpenny, a tear-inducing and great read that is destined to become a classic.
It was recently announced that The Henson Company will be producing a feature film adaptation of Hug Chickenpenny with Zahler at the helm. While the proposed black and white film with a combination of puppetry and live performances sounds highly promising, it’s important to note that, in book form, the story of Hug Chickenpenny has already been realized to its fullest. If a film results from the announcement, it will no doubt be a fantastic one, but it will only be able to highlight greatness that already exists in its purest and most uncompromised form.
GRADE: A
