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.
“What about Roxane?” Alexander asked.
“Your prisoner bride?”
“Such disrespect is worthy of death!”
“There is no possible way that you could love her or that she could truly love you.”
“What gives you the insight to speak so assertively about matters you know nothing about?”
“Daughter of Oxyarthes, the man who surrendered the Iron Gates to you, makes for a very political marriage.”
“Continue,” said Alexander.
“At a feast celebrating your latest victory a number of young women were brought in for entertainment. You spotted one of them whose beauty far surpassed the others and you decided on the spot to marry her once you learned she was the daughter of Oxyarthes. You needed to cement a strong relationship with the local leaders. What better way to do this than through marriage? You didn’t share a common language and never even spoke to each other beforehand. She never was given a choice. So she is your prisoner bride.”
“You have a vague outline of the past. I suppose it is remarkable that you have as much ...
