Before I checked this book out from the library I had never heard of it. The description compared it to Animal Farm and Charlotte’s Web and its short length made it an easy choice to read.

“Sprout was an egg laying hen, which meant she was raised for her eggs. She had come to the coup over a year before. Since then all she had done was lay eggs. She couldn’t wonder around, flap her wings, or even sit on her own eggs. She had never stepped outside the coop. But ever since she had seen a hen running around the yard with the adorable chicks she had hatched Sprout had harbored a secret desire to hatch an egg and watch the birth of her chick.”

Hwang quickly introduces the reader to Sprout and the “secret desire” of her heart. The reader then follows Sprout on her life journey as she refuses to lay eggs and is sent to die, only Sprout survives and is now free.

Sprout learns the dangers of the wild including the weasel. She also finds an egg and sits on it until it hatches. Sprout then learns she has been sitting on a duck egg. It doesn’t matter to her, the animal that hatched is her son and she will raise him as such.

Hwang portrays the difficulties that Sprout has trying to raise a duckling and does an excellent job of showing Sprout’s love and determination throughout.

Overall this was a compelling story that shows the cycle of life. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.