Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published in USA
Nov 2013
144 pages
Genre: Novels
Publication Information
This is the story of a hen named Sprout. No longer content to lay eggs on command only to have them carted off to the market, she glimpses her future every morning through the barn doors, where the other animals roam free, and comes up with a plan to escape into the wild - and to hatch an egg of her own.
An anthem for individuality and motherhood, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly has captivated millions of readers in Korea, where it is a contemporary classic. Now the novel is making its way around the world, where it has the potential to inspire generations of readers the way Jonathan Livingston Seagull or The Alchemist have. And with Nomoco's evocative illustrations throughout, this first English-language edition beautifully captures the journey of an unforgettable character in world literature.
Click to the right or left of the sample to turn the page.
(If no book jacket appears in a few seconds, then we don't have an excerpt of this book or your browser is unable to display it)
"The book explores the joys of parenthood and the sacrifices required to nurture the next generation, the healing bonds of friendship, and the tug-of-war between nature and nurture. Spare but evocative line drawings by the Japanese artist Nomoco add to the subtle charm of this slim volume." - Publishers Weekly
"A subtle morality tale that will appeal to readers of all ages." - Kirkus
"Recalling Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970), this slim but powerful tale will resonate with readers of all ages, who can take it at face value or delve deeper into its meditations on living courageously and facing mortality." - Booklist
"A very special little book. I absolutely loved it, and I find myself still thinking about Sprout." - Lisa See, author of the New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and Shanghai Girls
"Sometimes the simplest character, expressed in the sparest prose, embarks upon life's most heroic journey. Meet Sprout, a plucky hen whose modest dream to hatch a single egg will take her down a path that leads to her true place in the natural world." - Adam Johnson, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestseller The Orphan Master's Son
"This entertaining and plaintive tale is South Korea's Charlotte's Web for youth and adults alike." - Krys Lee, author of Drifting House
The information about The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's online-magazine that keeps our members abreast of notable and high-profile books publishing in the coming weeks. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added.
Sun-mi Hwang is a celebrated writer in South Korea, where she has published more than twenty books and won many awards. She lives in Seoul, South Korea.
Chi-Young Kim is the translator of the nationally bestselling Korean novel Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. She lives in California.
Nomoco is a Japanese designer and illustrator currently based in London. She has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions in London, Milan, Tokyo, Singapore, and New York. She also produces work under her full name Kazuko Nomoto.
"A powerful, provocative debut ... Intelligent, honest, and unsentimental." - Kirkus, starred review
About the book
Never Coming Back
by Alison McGhee
A moving exploration of growing up and growing old, and the ties that bind parents and children.
Reader Reviews
The Wisdom of Sundays
by Oprah Winfrey
Life-changing insights from super soul conversations.
Visitors can view some of BookBrowse for free. Full access is for members only.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends books that we believe to be best in class. Books that will whisk you to faraway places and times, that will expand your mind and challenge you -- the kinds of books you just can't wait to tell your friends about.
Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info & giveaways by email.
