Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell

You probably know someone like Tobin. A big chip on his shoulder and lots of attitude. Comes from a family of juvenile delinquents and seems destined to follow in that path. But Henry sees something different in Tobin. He sees someone worth knowing. Someone who might just be a friend. When Henry invites Tobin over to see his chickens, everything chages for Tobin. He begins to realize that he might just have some good features after all. As Henry and Tobin work on their science project about chickens, Henry learns about Tobin. How his mother died. How his home life is far from ideal. About his crazy grandmother. And how much he comes to love those chickens.