Books like The cockfighter by Frank Manley
Almost thirteen, Sonny Cantrell lives in the shadow of his father Jake, the owner of the Snake Nation Cock Farm in the Southern United States. When Jake gifts him a three‑time champion rooster named Lion, Sonny’s desire for companionship is fulfilled. Yet the thrill and violence of cockfighting immediately test his innocence. Torn between his father’s demands and his growing conscience, Sonny must decide whether to follow the ruthless traditions of the sport or forge his own path. His choice leads to a profound moral crisis and a courageous step into adulthood, as he wrestles with the consequences of breaking family expectations and the ethical weight of animal combat.
First publish date: 1998
Genre: Coming of Age/Childhood Coming of Age
Authors: Frank Manley
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