Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
The Hen Who Dreamed she Could Fly
The heart-warming international bestseller
By Sun-mi Hwang
Illustrated by Kazuko Nomoto / Translated by Chi-Young Kim
Published by Oneworld Publications
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
'Bewitching' Independent
'A very special little book. I absolutely loved it.' NYT-bestselling author Lisa See
THE UNFORGETTABLE KOREAN BESTSELLER CAPTIVATING READERS ACROSS THE WORLD
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. 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.
'Bewitching… a fabular bestseller told from the point of view of a homeless hen, which will make grown men and women cry.' Independent
'A very special little book. I absolutely loved it.' NYT-bestselling author Lisa See
THE UNFORGETTABLE KOREAN BESTSELLER CAPTIVATING READERS ACROSS THE WORLD
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. 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.
'Bewitching… a fabular bestseller told from the point of view of a homeless hen, which will make grown men and women cry.' Independent
About The Illustrator
Nomoco was born in Japan and currently lives in London. She is a graduate of the London College of Communication and Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, UK. She has exhibited her work in London, Milan, Tokyo, Singapore and New York. Inspired by nature, she specialises in ink drawing.
Product Details
- Publisher: Oneworld Publications (February 27, 2014)
- Length: 144 pages
- ISBN13: 9781780745350
Raves and Reviews
'Already regarded as a modern classic… A fable for our time, outstanding in the quality of its layered, lyrical prose.' Carousel
‘Bewitching… a fabular bestseller told from the point of view of a homeless hen, which will make grown men and women cry.’ Independent, 'Books of the Year'
'Will bring a tear to many a young eye.' School Librarian
'Has charms for all ages.' Glasgow Herald
“It has the plain language of a folktale but also its power of dark suggestion.”
– NPR.org, “The Best Books Coming Out This Week”
“Beautifully and simply written . . . Sprout [is] one of the most likable protagonists of the year. With her defiance of the rules, curiosity and tireless efforts, Sprout stays with and inspires the reader long after the slim story is finished.”
– Bookreporter
“Perfect to read in a single sitting, although the story’s loving spirit is sure to linger. It’s also the ideal gift to share with anyone and everyone who holds a place in your heart.”
– BookDragon
"An adroit allegory about life..in the vein of classics like Charlotte's Web and Jonathan Livinvston Seagull...A subtle morality tale that will appeal to readers of all ages."
– Kirkus Review
"A simply told but absorbing fable...Spare but evocative line drawing...add to the subtle charm."
– Publishers Weekly
'The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly breaks down the boundaries between the animal and the human and takes us on the intensely personal journey of a lonely hen whose simple, fierce desires guide her to surprising places. This entertaining and plaintive tale is South Korea’s Charlotte’s Web for youth and adults alike.' Krys Lee, author of Drifting House
'Everything wonderful about the world is contained in this small gem of a novel, which brims with dream-fulfilling adventures and the longing that underlies love.' Kyung-sook Shin, New York Times-bestselling author of Please Look After Mom
'A note-perfect masterstroke of a novella that captures the contemporary indignation we often accept in tempering our own ambitions, so that we can at least lead undramatic lives.' Toronto Star
"A very special little book. I absolutely loved it, and I find myself still thinking about Sprout. She embodies all the best characteristics of deep-hearted mother-love: loyalty, sacrifice and courage."
– Lisa See, author of the New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan 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. Heart, determination, and empathy are the only skills Sprout needs to navigate this perilous passage in Sun-mi Hwang’s lovely The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly, a novel uniquely poised at the nexus of fable, philosophy, children’s literature, and nature writing.”
– Adam Johnson, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestseller The Orphan Master’s
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Hen Who Dreamed she Could Fly eBook 9781780745350
