Scan barcode
A review by catapocalypse
The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked this up on a whim at my library, having never heard of the book or author. I adore chickens, so I was delighted by the premise and the cute illustrations!
I didn't expect this to be as sad as it is throughout! Sprout the hen has lived her life laying eggs in a cage on a small farm, but dreams of living in the yard beyond and raising her own baby from an egg. She manages to escape this confined life, but quickly finds that things are not so idyllic outside, even motherhood.
It's hard to say more about the events in the story without spoiling this short, sad, but sweet little book. The storytelling may feel simple on the surface, but it handles things like bigotry and elitism, the love of found family being no lesser than that of biological family, the balance between a mother's wishes and what she must sacrifice, and the confidence that can be gained by living life on your own terms, even if it's very hard.
I'd like to get my own copy for rereading, and honestly, I'm curious to learn more about the author and the context of the story!
I didn't expect this to be as sad as it is throughout! Sprout the hen has lived her life laying eggs in a cage on a small farm, but dreams of living in the yard beyond and raising her own baby from an egg. She manages to escape this confined life, but quickly finds that things are not so idyllic outside, even motherhood.
It's hard to say more about the events in the story without spoiling this short, sad, but sweet little book. The storytelling may feel simple on the surface, but it handles things like bigotry and elitism, the love of found family being no lesser than that of biological family, the balance between a mother's wishes and what she must sacrifice, and the confidence that can be gained by living life on your own terms, even if it's very hard.
I'd like to get my own copy for rereading, and honestly, I'm curious to learn more about the author and the context of the story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Bullying