The Hero Cake as a prize, initially presented as a mysterious reward, ends up being somewhat unconvincing. While this twist adds surprise, it may not fully satisfy readers who were expecting a more symbolic conclusion, especially in light of the uplifting identity revelation that precedes the end.
The storytelling and illustrations are simple and straightforward. The language even feels rudimentary at places, lacking polish.
The positive aspect of this story is that the individuals who raise the rooster accept its gender and behaviour. Children’s reaction to it provides many opportunities to discuss this story with them. Accepting someone as they are is a challenge, but it’s not impossible.
The illustrations by Fahad Faizal add another layer to the narrative, vividly bringing the story to life. The gray colour palette reflects the oppressive atmosphere of fear and dullness in the school, which is sharply contrasted by the bright colours that appear when Laila enters the scene.
This is an important book for children to read, to perhaps start to understand that not all of us are the same, and that sometimes some of us cannot confidently express ourselves.
In both stories, the illustrations do not add anything much. In two instances, they even contradict the description–in the first story, the boy is described as having the sheer standing but is shown sitting on the mat; candles are shown instead of the clay diyas as described in the text.