Chapter One Hundred Seven: The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a novella that comes to us from South Korean author Sun-Mi Hwang.  This little book doesn't take long to read--I read it in one sitting--but it is definitely a case of a good thing coming in a small package.  The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly has a sort of traditional, fable, or fairy-tale feel to it, possibly because its protagonist is a hen who talks.  All of the animals in this story can talk, in fact, but not to humans, just to each other.  Anyway, Sprout is a plucky hen who escapes the egg-laying coop where she's spent most of her unhappy life to live as a free hen so she can accomplish her one great dream: to hatch one of her eggs and raise a child.  She faces both dangers and joys outside the coop--not everything about her new life is as great as she hoped it would be.  This story could end up feeling a bit too heavy-handed in its possible allegories, but Sprout is such an endearing and engaging character that the story feels natural and is able to focus on her at least as much as the messages being conveyed about the importance of love and family.  I found it to be a very moving piece of writing.  If you're looking for something quick to read but long to linger in your thoughts, I'd highly suggest The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly.