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Dreaming of Flight
An unexpected connection becomes the saving grace for two unlikely friends in a heart-stirring novel about love, loss, and moving forward by a New York Times and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author.
Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.
Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people—one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.
Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.
Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people—one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2022
2803 people are currently reading
6042 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
72 books6,159 followersCatherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 50 published and forthcoming books.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 724 reviews
May 12, 2022
The blurb for this book is well done including “Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.”
I think that the blurb almost tells too much of the story, I prefer to go in “semi-blind” but I do look at my friends' star rating. That’s why I always try to be honest even if it lands me in OUTLIER LAND!!
Parts of the book included some heavy topics such as grief, learning to trust again, being open with your emotions, etc.
The main character, Stewie, is a treat to read about. Who could not love this little boy, he’s almost too perfect to believe! I’m going to go with the following guide for this one:
MY PROS:
*Absolutely wonderful main character, I wish I would have known a little more about how he gets along at school, although they do touch on that.
*The premise of a young character and an older woman finding something they share isn’t new but it’s very well done in this book. There is so much older people and children can learn from each other!
CONS:
*The pace was slow. However this is a new author for me and she may have been “showing how mundane Stewie’s life really was??”
*I would have liked to know more about his relationship with his brother and sister.
I wondered about whether Stewie was autistic and how much it affected his personality.
All in all that is a nice and easy read which I think I would classify more as YA, it’s certainly appropriate for ages 13 and up.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
I think that the blurb almost tells too much of the story, I prefer to go in “semi-blind” but I do look at my friends' star rating. That’s why I always try to be honest even if it lands me in OUTLIER LAND!!
Parts of the book included some heavy topics such as grief, learning to trust again, being open with your emotions, etc.
The main character, Stewie, is a treat to read about. Who could not love this little boy, he’s almost too perfect to believe! I’m going to go with the following guide for this one:
MY PROS:
*Absolutely wonderful main character, I wish I would have known a little more about how he gets along at school, although they do touch on that.
*The premise of a young character and an older woman finding something they share isn’t new but it’s very well done in this book. There is so much older people and children can learn from each other!
CONS:
*The pace was slow. However this is a new author for me and she may have been “showing how mundane Stewie’s life really was??”
*I would have liked to know more about his relationship with his brother and sister.
I wondered about whether Stewie was autistic and how much it affected his personality.
All in all that is a nice and easy read which I think I would classify more as YA, it’s certainly appropriate for ages 13 and up.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
May 5, 2022
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a prolific writer, known for feel good stories with a message. I read 4 other books by her before this one, two of which were 3 stars and the other two were 4 stars. I don’t always rush to read a new one by her because sometimes they are a little too sappy and a little too predictable for my tastes, but when I need a feel good, heartwarming story or a story of people who need each other and connect in beautiful ways, a CRH book is the place to go.
Eleven year old Stewie Little cares too much . He cares about his hens and that he delivers fresh eggs to his customers, about his older brother Theo who is disabled, about his Gam who has passed away. He wants to solve every problem of everyone close to him. All of which make the reader care about this thoughtful, grieving boy who holds a secret. He comes to care about Marilyn, whom he meets when delivering eggs. She reminds him of his Gam and as their relationship grows, we learn that she also has a secret. The book description tells you more than I will about the plot.
I’ll just say that the novel did not disappoint. I’m almost always partial to books from the point of view of young narrators who are wiser at times than adults and pretty much always steal my heart. Stewie definitely stole my heart in his part of the narrative as did Marilyn. Two lost, lonely people connecting with one another, especially at a time when they most needed each other made me cry multiple times, but at times the tears were not only for sadness. While it was predictable and yes a little sappy, I’m giving it 4 stars because it was the right book at the right time for me.
I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley
Eleven year old Stewie Little cares too much . He cares about his hens and that he delivers fresh eggs to his customers, about his older brother Theo who is disabled, about his Gam who has passed away. He wants to solve every problem of everyone close to him. All of which make the reader care about this thoughtful, grieving boy who holds a secret. He comes to care about Marilyn, whom he meets when delivering eggs. She reminds him of his Gam and as their relationship grows, we learn that she also has a secret. The book description tells you more than I will about the plot.
I’ll just say that the novel did not disappoint. I’m almost always partial to books from the point of view of young narrators who are wiser at times than adults and pretty much always steal my heart. Stewie definitely stole my heart in his part of the narrative as did Marilyn. Two lost, lonely people connecting with one another, especially at a time when they most needed each other made me cry multiple times, but at times the tears were not only for sadness. While it was predictable and yes a little sappy, I’m giving it 4 stars because it was the right book at the right time for me.
I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley
January 2, 2022
A no-brainer 5 stars!
Unbelievable! CRH hits yet another one out of the park. I never cease to be amazed by this author who continues to up her game after 40 plus novels. And she publishes them twice a year no less. Needless to say, she remains as always on my Top Five favorite authors list.
This story is about 11-year-old Stewie Little. Stewie is probably one of those “Highly Senstive People” you read about in today’s psychology self-help section. He never knew his parents and lives with his older brother and sister who struggle to make ends meet. The only adult family member he ever knew was his grandmother Gam, who was “not quite all there.” He loved Gam dearly even though she wasn’t a very nice lady. Stewie promised Gam he would care for her egg-laying chickens till they got old and died. When Gam dies, Stewie takes over the chicken chores. He cares deeply for Gam’s chickens and provides them with loving care. Stewie starts an egg-selling route where he meets Marilyn, a crocthety old woman that reminds him a lot of his Gam. At this point, we settle in for a hallmark CRH tale with a young person, an older person, and life lessons to be learned. Even though I’m an older person too, I love receiving these pearls of wisdom from Ms. Hyde.
The story revolves around Stewie’s highly sensitive nature and his struggles to cope, not only with Gams’s death, but with life in general. He feels it’s unfair that he never knew his parents, lost his only grandmother, and has no other family members but his two siblings. Also, somehow, he thinks it’s his role to help fix things for others, even when it seems impossible to do so. With time, Stewie and Marilyn grow closer, and Stewie takes it upon himself to help Marilyn even when her issues seem unsurountable and her own family won’t help. This isn’t a one-way street though. Stewie gets a lot of help in turn from Marilyn as well as from Dr. Briggs and others that come into his life.
This is yet another feel-good, heartwarming, life-affirming book of wisdom with great depth and poignancy by Ms. Hyde. Don’t be fooled into thinking she simply plugs different characters into the same story time and again. Each CRH book has its own personality and insights to share. TBR shelves are overwhelming for everyone. How do we pick what to read with the little time we have on earth to get through our books? I’ve settled on one thing, and that is to read every one of Ms. Hyde’s books—all 40 plus. What a joy that will be! I highly recommend Dreaming of Flights and all the Hyde books I have read to date to everyone.
I’d like to thank Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ms. Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Unbelievable! CRH hits yet another one out of the park. I never cease to be amazed by this author who continues to up her game after 40 plus novels. And she publishes them twice a year no less. Needless to say, she remains as always on my Top Five favorite authors list.
This story is about 11-year-old Stewie Little. Stewie is probably one of those “Highly Senstive People” you read about in today’s psychology self-help section. He never knew his parents and lives with his older brother and sister who struggle to make ends meet. The only adult family member he ever knew was his grandmother Gam, who was “not quite all there.” He loved Gam dearly even though she wasn’t a very nice lady. Stewie promised Gam he would care for her egg-laying chickens till they got old and died. When Gam dies, Stewie takes over the chicken chores. He cares deeply for Gam’s chickens and provides them with loving care. Stewie starts an egg-selling route where he meets Marilyn, a crocthety old woman that reminds him a lot of his Gam. At this point, we settle in for a hallmark CRH tale with a young person, an older person, and life lessons to be learned. Even though I’m an older person too, I love receiving these pearls of wisdom from Ms. Hyde.
The story revolves around Stewie’s highly sensitive nature and his struggles to cope, not only with Gams’s death, but with life in general. He feels it’s unfair that he never knew his parents, lost his only grandmother, and has no other family members but his two siblings. Also, somehow, he thinks it’s his role to help fix things for others, even when it seems impossible to do so. With time, Stewie and Marilyn grow closer, and Stewie takes it upon himself to help Marilyn even when her issues seem unsurountable and her own family won’t help. This isn’t a one-way street though. Stewie gets a lot of help in turn from Marilyn as well as from Dr. Briggs and others that come into his life.
This is yet another feel-good, heartwarming, life-affirming book of wisdom with great depth and poignancy by Ms. Hyde. Don’t be fooled into thinking she simply plugs different characters into the same story time and again. Each CRH book has its own personality and insights to share. TBR shelves are overwhelming for everyone. How do we pick what to read with the little time we have on earth to get through our books? I’ve settled on one thing, and that is to read every one of Ms. Hyde’s books—all 40 plus. What a joy that will be! I highly recommend Dreaming of Flights and all the Hyde books I have read to date to everyone.
I’d like to thank Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ms. Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
August 4, 2022
In a Nutshell: I kept swivelling across 4 and 4.25 and 4.5 for this book. The ending made sure it was a 4.5. Loveable characters, beautiful story, soothing writing.
Story:
Where the book worked for me:
😍 It's a story set in the contemporary timeline yet it has such a beautiful old-world feel to it. I loved those “good old days” vibes coming from every page.
😍 The characters are so wonderfully etched. The story is clearly that of Stewie and Marilyn and both of these are quite complex individuals. On the surface level, Stewie seems like any ordinary eleven year old but as he has grown up only with his grandma, there is a maturity in his thinking that isn’t common to his age group. His underlying insecurity, his firm need to help everyone, his passion for his hens, and every other quality of his will ensure that Stewie goes down as one of the sweetest boys in modern fiction.
😍 I loved the sibling bond across Stacey, Theo and Stewie. While there is only a little page space dedicated to the two elder siblings, it is enough to make them shine. I would have loved to know more about the two of them, of course, but this was Stewie’s story and any shift in focus would have diluted the impact of the main plot.
😍 Though it has a child protagonist, the book deals with loss and grief beautifully. There are quite a few lines that just made me want to stop reading and mull over them in my head. It was a very wise book in a way.
😍 It is such an unusual story of friendship that transcends age barriers.
😍 Special points for the way Theo’s cerebral palsy was incorporated in the story. Many books that have physically-disabled characters go out of the way to show the “limitations” of the person and somehow end up treating the character with gloved hands. But Theo is written almost like any other character. Yes, there is a bullying situation but it was written in a very realistic way. I loved how the author treated Theo exactly as she treated her other characters. When Theo comes in the story, you don’t think “cerebral palsy” or “physically disabled”; you only think “Theo”. That’s the power of her writing.
😍 The relevance of the title, and how it was incorporated throughout the story, either directly through the flight-restricted hens, or indirectly through so many characters who are ‘dreaming of flight’ but caught by the limitations of their situations.
😍 The ending. Nuff said.
😍 I completed this 300 pager in a day. Always a plus point for me if this happens.
Where the book still worked for me but might not work for others:
⚠ The book is tagged as “general fiction” or “women’s fiction”. But I received strong vibes of middle-grade fiction from it, and not just because of its main protagonist being an eleven year old. The simplistic writing style, the rambling tone, the situations, the characters, the emotions – all point to a children’s book. Luckily for me, I adore children’s fiction so this difference in genre didn’t make any dent in my enjoyment. But it may not work for those looking for a complex adult fiction.
Sometimes, you feel like picking up a book not for thrills or prose or complexities. You just need a soothing book, a calming book, a touching book, an emotional treat. That's the time you pick this book up. It is a beautiful coming-of-age story with minor flaws that you will be happy to overlook because of the sheer warmth contained within its pages. Definitely recommended when you are tired of the real world and want to lose yourself in a satisfying fictional story with loveable and memorable characters.
This wasn’t my first Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, and it certainly won’t be my last one.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Dreaming of Flight”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Eleven year old Stewart Little (Like the mouse, but not like the mouse) has never known his parents. He lives on the farm with his elder sister Stacey (a nurse in training) and his elder brother Theo (student, suffers from cerebral palsy). Stewie spends his free time taking care of his late grandma’s hens and selling their “fresh eggs” at a premium price in his village.
Marilyn is a crotchety old lady living at the far end of the village. She has a secret and to keep it, she maintains a firm distance from everyone.
When the paths of those two individuals intersect, Stewie sees in Marilyn a version of his beloved grandmother and he is determined to win her over. Marilyn is equally determined not to connect with this boy who doesn’t seem to leave her alone.
How will the relationship between these two dissimilar people move ahead?
The book is written in a limited third person narration from the points of view of Stewie and Marilyn.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 It's a story set in the contemporary timeline yet it has such a beautiful old-world feel to it. I loved those “good old days” vibes coming from every page.
😍 The characters are so wonderfully etched. The story is clearly that of Stewie and Marilyn and both of these are quite complex individuals. On the surface level, Stewie seems like any ordinary eleven year old but as he has grown up only with his grandma, there is a maturity in his thinking that isn’t common to his age group. His underlying insecurity, his firm need to help everyone, his passion for his hens, and every other quality of his will ensure that Stewie goes down as one of the sweetest boys in modern fiction.
😍 I loved the sibling bond across Stacey, Theo and Stewie. While there is only a little page space dedicated to the two elder siblings, it is enough to make them shine. I would have loved to know more about the two of them, of course, but this was Stewie’s story and any shift in focus would have diluted the impact of the main plot.
😍 Though it has a child protagonist, the book deals with loss and grief beautifully. There are quite a few lines that just made me want to stop reading and mull over them in my head. It was a very wise book in a way.
😍 It is such an unusual story of friendship that transcends age barriers.
😍 Special points for the way Theo’s cerebral palsy was incorporated in the story. Many books that have physically-disabled characters go out of the way to show the “limitations” of the person and somehow end up treating the character with gloved hands. But Theo is written almost like any other character. Yes, there is a bullying situation but it was written in a very realistic way. I loved how the author treated Theo exactly as she treated her other characters. When Theo comes in the story, you don’t think “cerebral palsy” or “physically disabled”; you only think “Theo”. That’s the power of her writing.
😍 The relevance of the title, and how it was incorporated throughout the story, either directly through the flight-restricted hens, or indirectly through so many characters who are ‘dreaming of flight’ but caught by the limitations of their situations.
😍 The ending. Nuff said.
😍 I completed this 300 pager in a day. Always a plus point for me if this happens.
Where the book still worked for me but might not work for others:
⚠ The book is tagged as “general fiction” or “women’s fiction”. But I received strong vibes of middle-grade fiction from it, and not just because of its main protagonist being an eleven year old. The simplistic writing style, the rambling tone, the situations, the characters, the emotions – all point to a children’s book. Luckily for me, I adore children’s fiction so this difference in genre didn’t make any dent in my enjoyment. But it may not work for those looking for a complex adult fiction.
Sometimes, you feel like picking up a book not for thrills or prose or complexities. You just need a soothing book, a calming book, a touching book, an emotional treat. That's the time you pick this book up. It is a beautiful coming-of-age story with minor flaws that you will be happy to overlook because of the sheer warmth contained within its pages. Definitely recommended when you are tired of the real world and want to lose yourself in a satisfying fictional story with loveable and memorable characters.
This wasn’t my first Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, and it certainly won’t be my last one.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Dreaming of Flight”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
May 13, 2022
EXCERPT: 'I agreed to read it to him. And then I said we could go over it word by word and see what words he knows and what ones he doesn't.'
'Excellent!' The principal clapped her hands together, startling Marilyn. 'That could make such a difference. I feel very optimistic now.'
Clearly a great weight had been lifted off the principal's shoulders. Marilyn had lifted it away. And it had been dropped squarely onto her own.
They both stood, an agreement that the meeting was ending.
'No good deed goes unpunished,' she thought as she stepped into the outer office. Somehow it had fallen to her not only to teach the boy to read, but to heal his traumatic life. And all she had wanted was to buy a few cartons of unusually fresh eggs.
ABOUT 'DREAMING OF FLIGHT': Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.
Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people—one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.
MY THOUGHTS: A sweet and touching story that has almost a timeless feel to it. Dreaming of Flight is a gentle tale that moves along at a slow pace (and that's not a criticism), one that focuses on feelings rather than technology and action.
Stewie is an odd but loveable boy. He is grieving the loss of his beloved 'Gam', who raised him from a baby along with his older brother and sister following the death of his parents in an accident. He struggles with school and his only friends are his late grandmother's hens, all of whom have names and distinct personalities.
Marilyn is an irascible older woman who cares for the daughter of a single mother in return for free room and board. Prickly and remote, she doesn't have a filter on her mouth and whatever she is thinking tends to pop out. She reminds Stewie of his Gam, who wasn't always the nicest
woman, and this keeps drawing him back to her.
The two form a wary friendship. But over time the bonds strengthen and deepen.
Dreaming of Flight is a quick and easy read. The relationship between the characters is complex, but is written about in a simple way. I enjoyed both the characters of Stewie and Marilyn and thought that CRHs depiction of them was perfectly drawn.
While I really enjoyed this book for myself, it could certainly also be used for tweens dealing with the death of a loved one
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#DreamingofFlight #NetGalley
I: @catherineryanhyde @amazonpublishing
T: @cryanhyde @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #deathanddying #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: I am the author of more than 30 published and forthcoming books. I'm an avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan-Hyde for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinion.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Excellent!' The principal clapped her hands together, startling Marilyn. 'That could make such a difference. I feel very optimistic now.'
Clearly a great weight had been lifted off the principal's shoulders. Marilyn had lifted it away. And it had been dropped squarely onto her own.
They both stood, an agreement that the meeting was ending.
'No good deed goes unpunished,' she thought as she stepped into the outer office. Somehow it had fallen to her not only to teach the boy to read, but to heal his traumatic life. And all she had wanted was to buy a few cartons of unusually fresh eggs.
ABOUT 'DREAMING OF FLIGHT': Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.
Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people—one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.
MY THOUGHTS: A sweet and touching story that has almost a timeless feel to it. Dreaming of Flight is a gentle tale that moves along at a slow pace (and that's not a criticism), one that focuses on feelings rather than technology and action.
Stewie is an odd but loveable boy. He is grieving the loss of his beloved 'Gam', who raised him from a baby along with his older brother and sister following the death of his parents in an accident. He struggles with school and his only friends are his late grandmother's hens, all of whom have names and distinct personalities.
Marilyn is an irascible older woman who cares for the daughter of a single mother in return for free room and board. Prickly and remote, she doesn't have a filter on her mouth and whatever she is thinking tends to pop out. She reminds Stewie of his Gam, who wasn't always the nicest
woman, and this keeps drawing him back to her.
The two form a wary friendship. But over time the bonds strengthen and deepen.
Dreaming of Flight is a quick and easy read. The relationship between the characters is complex, but is written about in a simple way. I enjoyed both the characters of Stewie and Marilyn and thought that CRHs depiction of them was perfectly drawn.
While I really enjoyed this book for myself, it could certainly also be used for tweens dealing with the death of a loved one
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#DreamingofFlight #NetGalley
I: @catherineryanhyde @amazonpublishing
T: @cryanhyde @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #deathanddying #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: I am the author of more than 30 published and forthcoming books. I'm an avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan-Hyde for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinion.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 6, 2022
Master storyteller Catherine Ryan Hyde has written another delightful and heartfelt novel about an intergenerational relationship. She has such a sensitive insight into people’s feelings and relationships and is somehow able to incorporate that into her wonderful characters.
Stewie Little is a lonely eleven year old boy growing up in a poor family. He lost both his parents when he was a baby and he and his older brother are being brought up his older sister, Stacey, a nurse whose salary only stretches so far. Stewie is a sensitive boy, with few friends and has a very direct way of seeing things as they are. He always wants to fix everybody’s problems and takes it hard when he can’t. He recently lost his grandmother, Gam who lived with them and even though she could be grumpy, he was very close to her and still missies her sorely. He’s taken over caring for Gam’s chickens and collects and sells their eggs to help out the struggling household budget. One day while out selling his fresh eggs, he meets an older woman called Marilyn who is somewhat difficult, reminding him of his grandmother, and over time the two develop a friendship. When Marilyn gets in trouble, Stewie does his best to help her and she in turn helps him with a secret shame he’s been doing his best to hide.
This is a wonderful coming of age story about a young boy learning how to cope with grief and loss and also learning how to not feel responsible for fixing everyone else’s problems. Over time, Stewie learns important lessons about coping with life from his sister and brother, as well as from a kindly psychiatrist and a host of elderly people and comes to realise that family is where you find it.
With thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for a copy to read
Stewie Little is a lonely eleven year old boy growing up in a poor family. He lost both his parents when he was a baby and he and his older brother are being brought up his older sister, Stacey, a nurse whose salary only stretches so far. Stewie is a sensitive boy, with few friends and has a very direct way of seeing things as they are. He always wants to fix everybody’s problems and takes it hard when he can’t. He recently lost his grandmother, Gam who lived with them and even though she could be grumpy, he was very close to her and still missies her sorely. He’s taken over caring for Gam’s chickens and collects and sells their eggs to help out the struggling household budget. One day while out selling his fresh eggs, he meets an older woman called Marilyn who is somewhat difficult, reminding him of his grandmother, and over time the two develop a friendship. When Marilyn gets in trouble, Stewie does his best to help her and she in turn helps him with a secret shame he’s been doing his best to hide.
This is a wonderful coming of age story about a young boy learning how to cope with grief and loss and also learning how to not feel responsible for fixing everyone else’s problems. Over time, Stewie learns important lessons about coping with life from his sister and brother, as well as from a kindly psychiatrist and a host of elderly people and comes to realise that family is where you find it.
With thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for a copy to read
April 22, 2022
Stewie Little was eleven years old and after school, he’d deliver the fresh eggs he’d collected that morning from his grandmother’s hens. They were very fresh eggs and his customers liked them better than shop bought eggs. The day he met Marilyn at the house at the end of the street, Stewie decided she reminded him of his beloved grandmother who’d passed the year before. Although Marilyn was guarded and prickly, Stewie liked her. Slowly they came to know one another until the day Marilyn was taken away…
Stewie lived with his sister Stacey and brother Theo as their parents had died when Stewie was a baby. Stacey did her best to care for her siblings, and Stewie’s egg money helped. Visiting Marilyn was important to Stewie and their discussions were lively. But he knew Marilyn had problems in her life – he just wasn’t sure how he could fix them. He wasn’t sure what was in his future either.
Dreaming of Flight is another exceptional novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde which I loved. Stewie is a very literal child, questioning everything with his caring nature. He’s an adorable child, a perfect character for the story alongside his hens, his siblings and his friends, all of whom are adults. Everything I’ve read by this author, I’ve loved, and fortunately for me, I have a lot more to read yet. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Stewie lived with his sister Stacey and brother Theo as their parents had died when Stewie was a baby. Stacey did her best to care for her siblings, and Stewie’s egg money helped. Visiting Marilyn was important to Stewie and their discussions were lively. But he knew Marilyn had problems in her life – he just wasn’t sure how he could fix them. He wasn’t sure what was in his future either.
Dreaming of Flight is another exceptional novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde which I loved. Stewie is a very literal child, questioning everything with his caring nature. He’s an adorable child, a perfect character for the story alongside his hens, his siblings and his friends, all of whom are adults. Everything I’ve read by this author, I’ve loved, and fortunately for me, I have a lot more to read yet. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2022
Five Shiny Stars
After reading this author's book "Stay" years ago and absolutely loving it, I snapped up any of her new releases. Unfortunately, subsequent offerings had an uneven track record, garnering 4 and 3 star reviews from me. So even though I had this advance reader copy on deck for six months, I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading it. And then the magic happened: this has to be my best fiction read of 2022!!
Perhaps it's the similar formula Catherine Ryan Hyde employed in her excellent book "Stay" repurposed here that enchanted me. A young, somewhat sad, thoughtful, extremely sensitive boy makes an emotional connection with an elderly woman and finds solace. Eleven year old Stewie Little (calls to mind the classic book & movie) lost both his parents when he was a baby, so because he never knew them he doesn't miss them. However, he was very close to his Gram who taught him how to raise chickens. She's already deceased as the book begins, and he is quite serious about caring for these chickens and retrieving their eggs. He uses his red Radio Flyer wagon to transport cartons of these eggs to neighboring patrons, selling them for higher prices than those available in stores. He honestly knows that his eggs are of a higher quality and are fresher than those in the stores, and has a convincing sales pitch to that effect. He splits the profits with his older sister Stacey who is going to nursing school and trying her best to fill in as parent to her younger brothers. Rounding out the family is older brother Theo who has a physical disability requiring him to wear leg braces. As the book begins, Stewie is finishing up delivering his eggs when he encounters a new potential customer in a home he never tried before. He is arrested by her appearance in the doorway because she reminds him so much of his deceased Gram, who he is still pining for. She is rather to the point and serious in the way she deals with Stewie, but he responds well to this, as his Gram was much the same in how she dealt with him. For an eleven year old, Stewie's like a little man, and his forthrightness, seriousness and sense of integrity is so admirable and refreshing, especially for one who has already lost so much in his short life.
The dialogue the author employs for each character is so enlightening, taut and meaningful. While reading this book I felt like I was learning important lessons about life. It made my heart light glow and I was moved to tears numerous times. I won't reveal any more to this story, because it is meant to be savored in full by the reader. Just know that this is a very beautiful story and I feel Blessed to have read it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
After reading this author's book "Stay" years ago and absolutely loving it, I snapped up any of her new releases. Unfortunately, subsequent offerings had an uneven track record, garnering 4 and 3 star reviews from me. So even though I had this advance reader copy on deck for six months, I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading it. And then the magic happened: this has to be my best fiction read of 2022!!
Perhaps it's the similar formula Catherine Ryan Hyde employed in her excellent book "Stay" repurposed here that enchanted me. A young, somewhat sad, thoughtful, extremely sensitive boy makes an emotional connection with an elderly woman and finds solace. Eleven year old Stewie Little (calls to mind the classic book & movie) lost both his parents when he was a baby, so because he never knew them he doesn't miss them. However, he was very close to his Gram who taught him how to raise chickens. She's already deceased as the book begins, and he is quite serious about caring for these chickens and retrieving their eggs. He uses his red Radio Flyer wagon to transport cartons of these eggs to neighboring patrons, selling them for higher prices than those available in stores. He honestly knows that his eggs are of a higher quality and are fresher than those in the stores, and has a convincing sales pitch to that effect. He splits the profits with his older sister Stacey who is going to nursing school and trying her best to fill in as parent to her younger brothers. Rounding out the family is older brother Theo who has a physical disability requiring him to wear leg braces. As the book begins, Stewie is finishing up delivering his eggs when he encounters a new potential customer in a home he never tried before. He is arrested by her appearance in the doorway because she reminds him so much of his deceased Gram, who he is still pining for. She is rather to the point and serious in the way she deals with Stewie, but he responds well to this, as his Gram was much the same in how she dealt with him. For an eleven year old, Stewie's like a little man, and his forthrightness, seriousness and sense of integrity is so admirable and refreshing, especially for one who has already lost so much in his short life.
The dialogue the author employs for each character is so enlightening, taut and meaningful. While reading this book I felt like I was learning important lessons about life. It made my heart light glow and I was moved to tears numerous times. I won't reveal any more to this story, because it is meant to be savored in full by the reader. Just know that this is a very beautiful story and I feel Blessed to have read it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
November 3, 2023
Stewart Little is eleven years old, he lives with his older sister Stacey and brother Theo. Stewie’s parents died in a motorcycle crash when he was a baby, his Gam raised her three grandchildren on her farm near Lake View and she passed away a year ago. Stewie looks after his grandmothers hens, he collects the eggs and sells them fresh to his local customer’s every day. Stewie is silently grieving for his Gam, his way of coping is to care for her flock of chickens and he gives Stacey a percentage of his egg money.
One day he notices a run-down house, he has some eggs left and he knocks on the door. Marilyn a grumpy older lady buys a carton of eggs, she reminds Stewie of his grandmother and he’s not put off by her attitude. Marilyn has a reason for her being distant and rude, she’s in hiding and her memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
Marilyn discovers Stewie has a secret of his own, she offers to help him and they become friends. When Marilyn’s past catches up with her, Stewie is determined to help his friend and he does. Stewie visits Marilyn, he brings her eggs, he meets the other residents at Eastbridge and it does wonders for his confidence.
I received a copy of Dreaming of Flight from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A coming of age story about friendship, love, loss, aging, the cycle of life and ways of dealing with grief. Stewie has the kindest heart, sweetest spirit, I wanted to give him a big hug and be his friend. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a brilliant way of writing, I cared about the characters in her stories and I feel close to them and and five stars from me.
One day he notices a run-down house, he has some eggs left and he knocks on the door. Marilyn a grumpy older lady buys a carton of eggs, she reminds Stewie of his grandmother and he’s not put off by her attitude. Marilyn has a reason for her being distant and rude, she’s in hiding and her memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
Marilyn discovers Stewie has a secret of his own, she offers to help him and they become friends. When Marilyn’s past catches up with her, Stewie is determined to help his friend and he does. Stewie visits Marilyn, he brings her eggs, he meets the other residents at Eastbridge and it does wonders for his confidence.
I received a copy of Dreaming of Flight from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A coming of age story about friendship, love, loss, aging, the cycle of life and ways of dealing with grief. Stewie has the kindest heart, sweetest spirit, I wanted to give him a big hug and be his friend. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a brilliant way of writing, I cared about the characters in her stories and I feel close to them and and five stars from me.
March 10, 2022
This is a very sweet book, and although the promotional copy didn’t say anything about it being a book for middle schoolers, it was a simple read. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gets complex issues across in a manner that’s easy to understand, but this was easier than usual.
Stewie never knew his parents, and when his beloved grandmother dies, he misses having an adult around. He still has his older sister who works and his brother, but it feels like the other kids at school are so lucky to have parents and grandparents and cousins. He continues to take care of the hens he cared for with his grandmother, and he takes the eggs to feed his small family and sells the extra to neighbors to help financially in a small way. This is how he meets the cranky Marilyn. He doesn’t mind that she’s cantankerous because his own grandmother was the same way. Bit by bit, they get to know each other, and he tries to help her where he can. To his surprise, their relationship helps him, too.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3, 2022.
Stewie never knew his parents, and when his beloved grandmother dies, he misses having an adult around. He still has his older sister who works and his brother, but it feels like the other kids at school are so lucky to have parents and grandparents and cousins. He continues to take care of the hens he cared for with his grandmother, and he takes the eggs to feed his small family and sells the extra to neighbors to help financially in a small way. This is how he meets the cranky Marilyn. He doesn’t mind that she’s cantankerous because his own grandmother was the same way. Bit by bit, they get to know each other, and he tries to help her where he can. To his surprise, their relationship helps him, too.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 3, 2022.
June 26, 2022
This beautiful, moving story has characters that are full of depth with my favourite being 11 yr old Stewie Little.
Stewie is a lonely boy who desperately misses his grandmother. After her passing he is determined to look after her chickens for her. Selling fresh eggs he meets Marilyn, a rest home resident who reminds him of his grandmother. Stewie's grief lessens and his life becomes enriched as he enriches the lives of the residents of the rest home.
This novel tugged at my heartstrings and will stay with me for a very long time!
Highly Recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Stewie is a lonely boy who desperately misses his grandmother. After her passing he is determined to look after her chickens for her. Selling fresh eggs he meets Marilyn, a rest home resident who reminds him of his grandmother. Stewie's grief lessens and his life becomes enriched as he enriches the lives of the residents of the rest home.
This novel tugged at my heartstrings and will stay with me for a very long time!
Highly Recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2022
Audiobook….read by Janet
Metzger, and Michael Crouch
…..9 hours and 21 minutes long
There are already 5,640 reviews… so I’m not going to add another descriptive review myself.
But…
…. It’s a sweet heartwarming story — where I knew the ending within the first hour of listening—
But…
…. it was alright with me.
I’ve been home - dealing with unwanted physical issues — and this easy listening predictable - comfy- flowing storytelling [with tons of heart and wonderful characters….especially between an older woman and a young sensitive boy]
kept me company….
while I was either on my back in bed or soaking in our pool.
Metzger, and Michael Crouch
…..9 hours and 21 minutes long
There are already 5,640 reviews… so I’m not going to add another descriptive review myself.
But…
…. It’s a sweet heartwarming story — where I knew the ending within the first hour of listening—
But…
…. it was alright with me.
I’ve been home - dealing with unwanted physical issues — and this easy listening predictable - comfy- flowing storytelling [with tons of heart and wonderful characters….especially between an older woman and a young sensitive boy]
kept me company….
while I was either on my back in bed or soaking in our pool.
May 21, 2022
Stewie Little is 11 years old at the beginning of this story and he and his brother live under the care of their older sister. They lost their parents when Stewie was a baby and, more recently, their grandmother with whom Stewie was very close. His grandmother raised chickens and Stewie has taken over looking after the hens and selling their eggs. One day he meets Marilyn while on his egg route and the story of his and Marilyn's relationship begins.
This is a nice slow-paced story with many heart-warming moments and includes many life lessons. Although I enjoyed the book, I didn't feel that it was a 5-star read, or even 4 stars, which makes me an outlier. There was no sense of time or place and, although he was a sweetheart, Stewie behaved more like a 9 or 10-year-old in my opinion. I know this is fiction but the fact that Stewie and his brother, who is about 15 and has cerebral palsy, are left alone overnight while their older sister works as a nurse seems rather ill-advised. I'd still recommend the book, to young and old alike, and give it 3.5 stars, rounded down.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which is available now. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a nice slow-paced story with many heart-warming moments and includes many life lessons. Although I enjoyed the book, I didn't feel that it was a 5-star read, or even 4 stars, which makes me an outlier. There was no sense of time or place and, although he was a sweetheart, Stewie behaved more like a 9 or 10-year-old in my opinion. I know this is fiction but the fact that Stewie and his brother, who is about 15 and has cerebral palsy, are left alone overnight while their older sister works as a nurse seems rather ill-advised. I'd still recommend the book, to young and old alike, and give it 3.5 stars, rounded down.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which is available now. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 18, 2022
Five glowing stars for this wonderful book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Ms. Hyde had a way of tugging at my emotions every time she puts words to a page. I have enjoyed many of her books and am always looking for a new one by this author. This book explores an intergenerational relationship between Steward Little (Stewie) and an elderly woman, Marilyn.
Stewie is the village provider of fresh eggs. He's taking care of the chickens his grandmother left when she died and sells the eggs to help his family. He loves those chickens! Stewie lives with his brother and his older sister. He never knew his parents as they died in a crash when he was just a baby. After losing his grandmother too, he is a very sad 11 year old. He meets Marilyn while selling his eggs. Marilyn is kind of prickly, like his grandmother, and she reminds him of her. Even though she is off-putting, Stewie develops a relationship with her. Marilyn has some secrets and she is in hiding, staying with a woman and her child. She lives there and babysits the child while the mother is at work.
The story is touching and I fell in love with Stewie. He's a wonderful boy and needs to find his place in life. This is a coming of age story as well as a story of love, loss, and grief. I couldn't put the book down and went through it quickly. When I was through i just wanted to read more, even though I liked the ending.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
Stewie is the village provider of fresh eggs. He's taking care of the chickens his grandmother left when she died and sells the eggs to help his family. He loves those chickens! Stewie lives with his brother and his older sister. He never knew his parents as they died in a crash when he was just a baby. After losing his grandmother too, he is a very sad 11 year old. He meets Marilyn while selling his eggs. Marilyn is kind of prickly, like his grandmother, and she reminds him of her. Even though she is off-putting, Stewie develops a relationship with her. Marilyn has some secrets and she is in hiding, staying with a woman and her child. She lives there and babysits the child while the mother is at work.
The story is touching and I fell in love with Stewie. He's a wonderful boy and needs to find his place in life. This is a coming of age story as well as a story of love, loss, and grief. I couldn't put the book down and went through it quickly. When I was through i just wanted to read more, even though I liked the ending.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 3, 2022.
April 27, 2022
Publication Date: 05th May 2022
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming!
Stewie is an adorable and hard-working eleven-year-old living with his older sister, Stacy, and brother, Theo. He sells farm-fresh eggs and prides himself on the quality of freshness of his eggs. During one such selling trip, he meets Marilyn, an elusive, rude old lady. She reminds Stewie of his dead Gam (grandmother), and he forms an instant attachment to her.
Marilyn isn’t looking for friends or family. She has secrets of her own. But how can she resist a young boy with soulful sad eyes and an honest face? Stewie feels everything deeply while Marilyn tries not to feel anything.
Their bond grows over the days, but the secrets are revealed. It can tear them apart or bring them even closer.
What I Like:
• Stewie is a cutie pie. I loved that kid. He is highly sensitive and feels everything a bit too much. But his heart is pure and innocent.
• It’s easy to connect to Stewie’s vulnerability, helplessness, fear, and pain. He may seem like a sort of perfect kid, but he is a work in progress (I’ve been using this term a lot).
• Marilyn does remind me a little of Ove, but she is her own person. The resemblance ends with them being grumpy yet kind.
• The book picks up pace after 45%. It goes even fast after 80%. Some of it seems more like it’s written for middle graders (in fact, I would recommend this book to MG readers) and uses an easy solution. But it doesn’t dilute the emotions.
• Oh, boy, I got teary-eyed and almost cried towards the end. Stewie’s vulnerability was heartbreaking and healing. Strange but true.
• Stewie and Theo have such clarity of thought and approach to their lives. Sometimes they appear older than their age. Yet, I kept thinking of Stewie as a nine-year-old. This is the second book where I picturized a pre-teen as an eight or nine-year-old, so guess my estimation is a little off.
• I relate quite a lot to Stewie’s thought process in certain aspects. Though he is a confused and sad little boy, he has great clarity about other issues. His concepts are specific and detailed (even if he goes a little overboard at times).
• The book has some touching quotes (though I didn’t mark them). It also tends to ramble, but the rambling suits the characters.
What Could Have Been Better:
• The book takes its own time to get going. It’s character-driven and makes sense that the initial focus would be on establishing the characters and the setting. That said, I finished it in 2.5 days (appx. 3 hours).
• There isn’t much detail about how Stewie took care of his hens. We know he loves them, but love doesn’t clean the coop or feed the birds. There are a couple of scenes, but I wanted a little more. (This is mostly because I happened to be researching chicken feed and found it rather funny. Do you know we can feed chicken pasta and scrambled eggs to chicken?)
• The book’s primary focus is on Stewie and Marilyn. That means Stacey and Theo pop in and out of the story. I wished there was more about them. They were just as beautiful, and getting to know them would have been a lovely experience.
To sum up, Dreaming of Flight is a heartwarming and sweet book with an adorable little boy. It’s not perfect but is a great choice if you want to read something that touches the heart. This is my first book by the author, and I intend to read most of her other works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #DreamingofFlight
*****
PS: The blurb needs trimming and rewriting. A fellow reviewer mentioned it, and I agree.
*****
PPS: I debated rating it 4 or 5 stars but went with 5 because the book did make me teary-eyed. I’m partial to books that move me. It doesn’t happen often.
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming!
Stewie is an adorable and hard-working eleven-year-old living with his older sister, Stacy, and brother, Theo. He sells farm-fresh eggs and prides himself on the quality of freshness of his eggs. During one such selling trip, he meets Marilyn, an elusive, rude old lady. She reminds Stewie of his dead Gam (grandmother), and he forms an instant attachment to her.
Marilyn isn’t looking for friends or family. She has secrets of her own. But how can she resist a young boy with soulful sad eyes and an honest face? Stewie feels everything deeply while Marilyn tries not to feel anything.
Their bond grows over the days, but the secrets are revealed. It can tear them apart or bring them even closer.
What I Like:
• Stewie is a cutie pie. I loved that kid. He is highly sensitive and feels everything a bit too much. But his heart is pure and innocent.
• It’s easy to connect to Stewie’s vulnerability, helplessness, fear, and pain. He may seem like a sort of perfect kid, but he is a work in progress (I’ve been using this term a lot).
• Marilyn does remind me a little of Ove, but she is her own person. The resemblance ends with them being grumpy yet kind.
• The book picks up pace after 45%. It goes even fast after 80%. Some of it seems more like it’s written for middle graders (in fact, I would recommend this book to MG readers) and uses an easy solution. But it doesn’t dilute the emotions.
• Oh, boy, I got teary-eyed and almost cried towards the end. Stewie’s vulnerability was heartbreaking and healing. Strange but true.
• Stewie and Theo have such clarity of thought and approach to their lives. Sometimes they appear older than their age. Yet, I kept thinking of Stewie as a nine-year-old. This is the second book where I picturized a pre-teen as an eight or nine-year-old, so guess my estimation is a little off.
• I relate quite a lot to Stewie’s thought process in certain aspects. Though he is a confused and sad little boy, he has great clarity about other issues. His concepts are specific and detailed (even if he goes a little overboard at times).
• The book has some touching quotes (though I didn’t mark them). It also tends to ramble, but the rambling suits the characters.
What Could Have Been Better:
• The book takes its own time to get going. It’s character-driven and makes sense that the initial focus would be on establishing the characters and the setting. That said, I finished it in 2.5 days (appx. 3 hours).
• There isn’t much detail about how Stewie took care of his hens. We know he loves them, but love doesn’t clean the coop or feed the birds. There are a couple of scenes, but I wanted a little more. (This is mostly because I happened to be researching chicken feed and found it rather funny. Do you know we can feed chicken pasta and scrambled eggs to chicken?)
• The book’s primary focus is on Stewie and Marilyn. That means Stacey and Theo pop in and out of the story. I wished there was more about them. They were just as beautiful, and getting to know them would have been a lovely experience.
To sum up, Dreaming of Flight is a heartwarming and sweet book with an adorable little boy. It’s not perfect but is a great choice if you want to read something that touches the heart. This is my first book by the author, and I intend to read most of her other works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #DreamingofFlight
*****
PS: The blurb needs trimming and rewriting. A fellow reviewer mentioned it, and I agree.
*****
PPS: I debated rating it 4 or 5 stars but went with 5 because the book did make me teary-eyed. I’m partial to books that move me. It doesn’t happen often.
December 21, 2021
We all need a 12 year old Stewart Little in our life. Catherine Ryan Hyde has once again captured all of my attention with her latest book, Dreaming of Flight. She is one of the best story tellers out there and never disappoints!! A fabulous, heartfelt book all around. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 19, 2021
Dreaming of Flightby Catherine Ryan Hyde
Got eggs? Stewie got eggs! Stewart Little is a 12-year-old boy who lost both his parents when he was a baby. Now he’s cared for by his older sister Stacey, who works as a nurse. He also has a brother Theo, who is a few years older. Theo has a disability, and Stewie finds himself fighting off the bullies who pick on him. Theo tells him to ignore them. But Stewie’s a fixer. He’s always trying to help someone and fix whatever’s wrong in that person’s life.
The thing is, though, Stewie can’t fix his own sadness. He was extremely close to his grandma, and since she recently died, he can’t get over his sorrow. He takes care of her chickens, and he sells their eggs to neighbors. He gets to keep some of the money from his egg route, and the rest he turns over to his sister to help with the family’s expenses.
One day while on his egg deliveries, Stewie meets Marilyn, and she becomes his new customer. She’s not the most gregarious person; in fact, she can be somewhat cantankerous. That may be why Stewie likes her – she reminds him of his Gam. She’s not easy to get to know; the reader understands that Marilyn is hiding something, but Stewie seems unaware. In time, the two become closer, although Marilyn is reluctant to admit this at first, of course.
Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has penned another gem that transcends age, gender, and social background. Often, her stories involve an older person mentoring a younger one; this time, it seems the other way around at times, although it is evident that there is a two-way give and take. I love the patience with which she constructs the plot and develops the characters. I admire the gentleness with which she handles their budding relationships. Stewart Little is blessed to have a hard-working, dedicated sister and a brother who understands him. His simple, honest approach to people wins the confidence of Marilyn and all others who encounter him. He may not think he is smart, but once he begins to gain some insights about himself, he is able to extend his innate wisdom to others. Yes, Stewie, you may be only 12, but you are wise beyond your years!
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of Dreaming of Flight in exchange for my unbiased review.
I wholeheartedly rate this book 5 brilliant stars!
Got eggs? Stewie got eggs! Stewart Little is a 12-year-old boy who lost both his parents when he was a baby. Now he’s cared for by his older sister Stacey, who works as a nurse. He also has a brother Theo, who is a few years older. Theo has a disability, and Stewie finds himself fighting off the bullies who pick on him. Theo tells him to ignore them. But Stewie’s a fixer. He’s always trying to help someone and fix whatever’s wrong in that person’s life.
The thing is, though, Stewie can’t fix his own sadness. He was extremely close to his grandma, and since she recently died, he can’t get over his sorrow. He takes care of her chickens, and he sells their eggs to neighbors. He gets to keep some of the money from his egg route, and the rest he turns over to his sister to help with the family’s expenses.
One day while on his egg deliveries, Stewie meets Marilyn, and she becomes his new customer. She’s not the most gregarious person; in fact, she can be somewhat cantankerous. That may be why Stewie likes her – she reminds him of his Gam. She’s not easy to get to know; the reader understands that Marilyn is hiding something, but Stewie seems unaware. In time, the two become closer, although Marilyn is reluctant to admit this at first, of course.
Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has penned another gem that transcends age, gender, and social background. Often, her stories involve an older person mentoring a younger one; this time, it seems the other way around at times, although it is evident that there is a two-way give and take. I love the patience with which she constructs the plot and develops the characters. I admire the gentleness with which she handles their budding relationships. Stewart Little is blessed to have a hard-working, dedicated sister and a brother who understands him. His simple, honest approach to people wins the confidence of Marilyn and all others who encounter him. He may not think he is smart, but once he begins to gain some insights about himself, he is able to extend his innate wisdom to others. Yes, Stewie, you may be only 12, but you are wise beyond your years!
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of Dreaming of Flight in exchange for my unbiased review.
I wholeheartedly rate this book 5 brilliant stars!
May 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Curling up with the latest novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde is like receiving a hug from your favorite person. Once I started this novel about the reluctant friendship between 12 year old Stewie Little( yes, like the mouse but he's never read the book or watched the movie) and an elderly woman named Marilyn. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved Gam, Stewie is instantly drawn to the woman that reminds him of his only grandparent. But Marilyn has a secret and she is afraid that if Stewie gets too close, the police will soon be knocking on her door and take away her freedom. It's a heartwarming and wholesome story that had me in tears( but there's nothing new about that)!
Goodreads review published 28/04/22
Expected Publication Date 03/05/22
Curling up with the latest novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde is like receiving a hug from your favorite person. Once I started this novel about the reluctant friendship between 12 year old Stewie Little( yes, like the mouse but he's never read the book or watched the movie) and an elderly woman named Marilyn. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved Gam, Stewie is instantly drawn to the woman that reminds him of his only grandparent. But Marilyn has a secret and she is afraid that if Stewie gets too close, the police will soon be knocking on her door and take away her freedom. It's a heartwarming and wholesome story that had me in tears( but there's nothing new about that)!
Goodreads review published 28/04/22
Expected Publication Date 03/05/22
January 27, 2025
Be prepared to fall in love, have your heart broken and then put back together again with Stewie Little. Having never known his parents Stewie Little lives with his brother Theo and his sister Stacey who works and cares for the two boys. Stewie cares for the hens left by his beloved grandmother. Every day he goes door-to-door selling fresh eggs on his wagon to help ease their struggling financial situation a little. Then one day on his rounds he meets the new customer Marilyn. Although she’s a bit prickly, she reminds him of his grandmother who he misses greatly. For reasons of her own, Marilyn keeps a distance between herself and others, but somehow Stewie seems to find a way to cross it. Visits become more often and an interesting relationship develops between between Marilyn and Stewie. What he doesn’t know about Marilyn comes to light and leads to difficult times ahead. Stewie’s nature is such that he takes on everyone’s else’s problems as if they are his own. He always aims to try and fix whatever the problem is but some things he just can’t fix.
I adored Stewie. He is unique. His sister and brother are both likable and do their best to provide for and protect Stewie where possible. This is an emotional read and if you can get through it without tissues and tears you are tougher than me. All I will say, is if our world had more people like Stewie it would be a better place.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favourite author for this reader, largely because she writes about complex characters that I care about. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about Stewie and the others because they were so delightfully and realistically drawn. This is another Catherine Ryan Hyde book that I adored. A highly recommended emotionally charged read.
I adored Stewie. He is unique. His sister and brother are both likable and do their best to provide for and protect Stewie where possible. This is an emotional read and if you can get through it without tissues and tears you are tougher than me. All I will say, is if our world had more people like Stewie it would be a better place.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favourite author for this reader, largely because she writes about complex characters that I care about. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about Stewie and the others because they were so delightfully and realistically drawn. This is another Catherine Ryan Hyde book that I adored. A highly recommended emotionally charged read.
March 11, 2025
LOVED IT.
Eleven-year-old Stewie Little is a character you’ll fall in love with, but be warned, this book will break your heart at the same time. We need more Stewie Little’s in the world. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read review. Highly recommended.
Eleven-year-old Stewie Little is a character you’ll fall in love with, but be warned, this book will break your heart at the same time. We need more Stewie Little’s in the world. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read review. Highly recommended.
September 18, 2023
A very adorable heartwarming quick read and a nice change of pace.
February 18, 2022
Dreaming of Flight is a gentle contemporary coming of age story about a lonely 11 year old boy who befriends a crotchety old lady who reminds him of his late grandmother. I’ve read and adored the last six or so Ryan Hyde books, which all seem to feature astonishingly stoic and kind young people, and animals, but they are in no way formulaic. In this case, the animals are chickens, and the young person is Stewie Little, who sells their eggs to his neighbours to help support his family. While I adored intense, serious little Stewie, and enjoyed his story, I wasn’t as hooked as I usually am by her books, perhaps because I didn’t like Marilyn’s character. This was still a great read, for me it just didn’t reach the high bar she’s set with her previous books.
Stewart Little (yes, like the book/movie - which is an important plot point) lost his parents when he was a baby, and his grandmother “Gam” more recently. His older sister works tirelessly to support Stewie and his teenaged brother Theo, who has cerebral palsy. Stewie doesn’t have (or seem to want) any friends - his main passion is caring for his Gam’s chickens, and selling their eggs - “the freshest around”. Marilyn is a retired senior lodging with a stressed out single mother because she’s hiding from the authorities. One day he knocks on her door, beginning a relationship which will change both their lives.
“the reason people aren’t happy is because they have these ideas about what the world should be. And the world is never just what they think it ought to be. If the world has to be a certain way for you to be happy, then you’ll never be happy. Heck, I’m only twelve and even I know that.”
This was another thought-provoking look at non-traditional family relationships and the impact of bereavement. Stewie and Marilyn each have a secret problem which keeps them isolated, and the way he patiently nudges his way into her life was sweet without being sickening. I thought the fact that Marilyn is not remotely loveable - but that Stewie persists with her anyway - was clever and made the plot more interesting. My favourite character was actually Dr Briggs the wise old psychologist who steers Stewie through his complicated emotional maze. I liked the optimistic ending although am not sure how healthy it is for a nearly teenaged boy to have no friends his own age. 4.5 rounded up for another unforgettable young character.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Dreaming of Flight is published on May 3.
Stewart Little (yes, like the book/movie - which is an important plot point) lost his parents when he was a baby, and his grandmother “Gam” more recently. His older sister works tirelessly to support Stewie and his teenaged brother Theo, who has cerebral palsy. Stewie doesn’t have (or seem to want) any friends - his main passion is caring for his Gam’s chickens, and selling their eggs - “the freshest around”. Marilyn is a retired senior lodging with a stressed out single mother because she’s hiding from the authorities. One day he knocks on her door, beginning a relationship which will change both their lives.
“the reason people aren’t happy is because they have these ideas about what the world should be. And the world is never just what they think it ought to be. If the world has to be a certain way for you to be happy, then you’ll never be happy. Heck, I’m only twelve and even I know that.”
This was another thought-provoking look at non-traditional family relationships and the impact of bereavement. Stewie and Marilyn each have a secret problem which keeps them isolated, and the way he patiently nudges his way into her life was sweet without being sickening. I thought the fact that Marilyn is not remotely loveable - but that Stewie persists with her anyway - was clever and made the plot more interesting. My favourite character was actually Dr Briggs the wise old psychologist who steers Stewie through his complicated emotional maze. I liked the optimistic ending although am not sure how healthy it is for a nearly teenaged boy to have no friends his own age. 4.5 rounded up for another unforgettable young character.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Dreaming of Flight is published on May 3.
March 30, 2022
4.5★s
“… you wake something up in people. You remind them we can do better at getting along. You can be just a regular, real person and still be the magic somebody else needs in her life. We do it for each other all the time. It’s that everyday sort of magic. We’re all capable of it, I do believe, but still you don’t always see people living up to that potential.”
Dreaming of Flight is a novel by best-selling, award-winning American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Eleven-year-old Stewart Little fervently believes that the eggs he delivers to his customers must be fresh: it’s his prime selling point. He’s explaining this to the older woman at the last house on his round, who takes some convincing. Something about her reminds him of his grandmother. Gam died a year ago, and Stewie misses her terribly.
Marilyn (the name she’s using) is taking a bit of a chance interacting with a stranger: she really needs to stay under the radar, or the police, or someone from Eastridge might track her down, take her in and demand the money back. But the boy’s eggs are the best she has tasted in a long time. And what she learns about the boy (what is his name, again?) impresses her: despite having lost his parents early in life, this is a well brought up boy.
Over the next weeks, circumstances see them spending time together: Stewie acts on his concern for Marilyn’s safety after a kitchen incident; Marilyn discovers the boy has a learning problem and is determined to help. But her worry about his education takes her a step too far, and reading lessons are cut short by the arrival of the police. How can an eleven-year-old boy possibly prevent an elderly thief from going to prison?
Ryan Hyde has a talent for creating multi-faceted characters whose development often turns the reader’s initial, perhaps critical, opinion to something more favourable or sympathetic. Her special skill, lately, seems to be boys or young men with a strong sense of right and wrong, of duty. “Some things just won’t let you not do them.”
Stewie is sweet and thoughtful, but can also be quite wilful. He is extremely caring and considerate of those around him (even his Gam’s hens), perhaps to his detriment: “he feels responsible for fixing everyone around him” but that also endears him to almost all who meet him, including the reader. He is resourceful and shows initiative, which allows him to achieve more than expected.
His inner monologue, his thinking, his analysis of a situation, his perspective on life, and his honesty are truly refreshing, and he takes on board and shares the good advice and wisdom he garners from his therapist and his elders. Early on, he tells Marilyn: “I have sad. But that’s not the same as problems. Problems are something you have to figure out a way to solve. You can’t solve sad.”
She later observes: “Life is never all good or all bad. It’s always a trade-off deal. It’s always ‘something is lost, but something else is gained’.” Plenty of wise words and insightful observations are offered in this heart-warming and uplifting coming-of -age story.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
“… you wake something up in people. You remind them we can do better at getting along. You can be just a regular, real person and still be the magic somebody else needs in her life. We do it for each other all the time. It’s that everyday sort of magic. We’re all capable of it, I do believe, but still you don’t always see people living up to that potential.”
Dreaming of Flight is a novel by best-selling, award-winning American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Eleven-year-old Stewart Little fervently believes that the eggs he delivers to his customers must be fresh: it’s his prime selling point. He’s explaining this to the older woman at the last house on his round, who takes some convincing. Something about her reminds him of his grandmother. Gam died a year ago, and Stewie misses her terribly.
Marilyn (the name she’s using) is taking a bit of a chance interacting with a stranger: she really needs to stay under the radar, or the police, or someone from Eastridge might track her down, take her in and demand the money back. But the boy’s eggs are the best she has tasted in a long time. And what she learns about the boy (what is his name, again?) impresses her: despite having lost his parents early in life, this is a well brought up boy.
Over the next weeks, circumstances see them spending time together: Stewie acts on his concern for Marilyn’s safety after a kitchen incident; Marilyn discovers the boy has a learning problem and is determined to help. But her worry about his education takes her a step too far, and reading lessons are cut short by the arrival of the police. How can an eleven-year-old boy possibly prevent an elderly thief from going to prison?
Ryan Hyde has a talent for creating multi-faceted characters whose development often turns the reader’s initial, perhaps critical, opinion to something more favourable or sympathetic. Her special skill, lately, seems to be boys or young men with a strong sense of right and wrong, of duty. “Some things just won’t let you not do them.”
Stewie is sweet and thoughtful, but can also be quite wilful. He is extremely caring and considerate of those around him (even his Gam’s hens), perhaps to his detriment: “he feels responsible for fixing everyone around him” but that also endears him to almost all who meet him, including the reader. He is resourceful and shows initiative, which allows him to achieve more than expected.
His inner monologue, his thinking, his analysis of a situation, his perspective on life, and his honesty are truly refreshing, and he takes on board and shares the good advice and wisdom he garners from his therapist and his elders. Early on, he tells Marilyn: “I have sad. But that’s not the same as problems. Problems are something you have to figure out a way to solve. You can’t solve sad.”
She later observes: “Life is never all good or all bad. It’s always a trade-off deal. It’s always ‘something is lost, but something else is gained’.” Plenty of wise words and insightful observations are offered in this heart-warming and uplifting coming-of -age story.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
September 4, 2025
Take a sensitive young boy who's had some family trauma, link him with a crotchety old woman with secrets, and watch the dynamics morph as they warily circle each other. "Stewie" was a likeable kid and it was enjoyable seeing the world through his eyes; that world frequently being difficult for him to understand or tolerate. "Marilyn" was harder to like, but grew on you as her edges softened in response to that likeable kid. "Young adult" is an accurate description of this novel, and it could be sometimes hard to believe the child had more wisdom than the adults in his circle, or that he would take on some of the challenges put before him....but....just let it go and enjoy the story.
This was a quick read, and predictable in the sense that this author has a "type" of book that she writes. While there were no surprises in it, it was a comforting change of pace with those meatier things I try to gnaw into submission. As such, it was a refreshing change of pace and a cotton candy kind of book--light, sweet, melts quickly in your mouth, but still a sinful treat that you aren't sorry you digested. We need those every once in a while.
This was a quick read, and predictable in the sense that this author has a "type" of book that she writes. While there were no surprises in it, it was a comforting change of pace with those meatier things I try to gnaw into submission. As such, it was a refreshing change of pace and a cotton candy kind of book--light, sweet, melts quickly in your mouth, but still a sinful treat that you aren't sorry you digested. We need those every once in a while.
March 11, 2022
Stewie Little age-11, is not afraid of a little hard work. He raises chickens and sells the eggs to locals to help his sister Stacey support the family. It is on Stewie's egg delivery route that he has a chance encounter with an elderly woman named Marilyn. Marilyn reminds Stewie of his recently deceased grandmother. He is still grieving her loss and misses her daily. Marilyn likes young Stewie, but maintains a gruff exterior in order to keep people away. Marilyn is afraid someone will find out a secret she desperately needs to keep private.
I am a huge Catherine Ryan Hyde fan. Her books never fail to grab my heart. I searched the internet (with no luck) to find out the age range of this book. It reads like a YA. I would recommend it for that audience. It is an exceptionally sweet story perfect to share with older children\grandchildren. Caution: It does deal with death and grieving.
Dreaming of Flight will be published May 3rd.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for allowing me to review this beautiful book. I appreciate your kindness. A personal thank you to Catherine Ryan Hyde, for all the wonderful hours of reading joy you have given me as a fan of your incredible work.
I am a huge Catherine Ryan Hyde fan. Her books never fail to grab my heart. I searched the internet (with no luck) to find out the age range of this book. It reads like a YA. I would recommend it for that audience. It is an exceptionally sweet story perfect to share with older children\grandchildren. Caution: It does deal with death and grieving.
Dreaming of Flight will be published May 3rd.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for allowing me to review this beautiful book. I appreciate your kindness. A personal thank you to Catherine Ryan Hyde, for all the wonderful hours of reading joy you have given me as a fan of your incredible work.
July 8, 2022
A very sweet book about a friendship between an eleven-year-old and his older customer who reminds him of his late grandmother. It tugged at my heartstrings the whole time. Stewie is such a lovable kid, he is an old soul. I think this author has a gift for writing these types of realistic, soulful, and heartwarming stories. I read it on my Kindle and listened to it as well, narration was well done.
May 19, 2022
I find there's something quite delightful about reading Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels. I've lost count now of the number I've read - certainly nowhere near the forty she's written - but enough to establish a pattern of success. Her stories are heart warming and she often introduces a moral dilemma or some kind of contentious issue. Not only that but I fall for her characters each and every time.
In Dreaming of Flight the main characters were Stewie, a young boy, and Marilyn, an elderly lady. Stewie, was a lovely boy who had lost both parents as an infant so his Grandmother raised he and his two siblings. It was clear from his mannerisms, the way he spoke and behaved that he'd been raised by someone from an earlier generation. Stewie was an extremely literal fellow, very kind, reliable and wise beyind his years, but he was not a happy young man. In fact he was permanently sad because his beloved Gran had recently died and he was finding it hard to come to terms with this latest loss.
In an effort to contribute to the family finances Stewies sold the eggs his hens produced. One day while selling eggs Stewie met Marilyn. Her gruff, unfriendly, almost abrasive manner, didn't put Stewie off. In fact he found he was drawn to her for her resemblence to his Gran. Undeterred by her initial attitude Stewie soon learnt Marilyn had issues of her own. Unable to stop himself when it came to helping or protecting others Stewie took it upon himself to regularly check in on Marilyn. Before too long he'd chipped away her gruff exterior and they developed a wonderful friendship.
This was a story of love and loss, of grief and friendship. It spoke to the desperate measures one will take to preserve a sense of self and independence when age and health issues work against you. It was about gratitude and finding positives in the most unlikely situations. One might have expected the young boy to pick up a few life lessons from his elderly friend, and perhaps he did too, but it was far from one sided as Stewie dished out some pearls of wisdom that made him a much loved little guy by all who met him, and I'm sure to all readers of this charming book.
My thanks to the author, to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.
In Dreaming of Flight the main characters were Stewie, a young boy, and Marilyn, an elderly lady. Stewie, was a lovely boy who had lost both parents as an infant so his Grandmother raised he and his two siblings. It was clear from his mannerisms, the way he spoke and behaved that he'd been raised by someone from an earlier generation. Stewie was an extremely literal fellow, very kind, reliable and wise beyind his years, but he was not a happy young man. In fact he was permanently sad because his beloved Gran had recently died and he was finding it hard to come to terms with this latest loss.
In an effort to contribute to the family finances Stewies sold the eggs his hens produced. One day while selling eggs Stewie met Marilyn. Her gruff, unfriendly, almost abrasive manner, didn't put Stewie off. In fact he found he was drawn to her for her resemblence to his Gran. Undeterred by her initial attitude Stewie soon learnt Marilyn had issues of her own. Unable to stop himself when it came to helping or protecting others Stewie took it upon himself to regularly check in on Marilyn. Before too long he'd chipped away her gruff exterior and they developed a wonderful friendship.
This was a story of love and loss, of grief and friendship. It spoke to the desperate measures one will take to preserve a sense of self and independence when age and health issues work against you. It was about gratitude and finding positives in the most unlikely situations. One might have expected the young boy to pick up a few life lessons from his elderly friend, and perhaps he did too, but it was far from one sided as Stewie dished out some pearls of wisdom that made him a much loved little guy by all who met him, and I'm sure to all readers of this charming book.
My thanks to the author, to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.
June 17, 2022
The best aspect of this book was the main character, eleven year old Stewie Little. Stewie has suffered much loss in his short life, yet he is such a sincere and dedicated little boy. When he sees a problem, he feels that it is his responsibility to do something to allay the issue. Stevie's brother, Theo, was another remarkable character, and there were other great secondary ones as well. The storyline was interesting at all points, and was sad at times, and uplifting at others. All in all I found it to be an immensely satisfying read. So far in my experience, this author never disappoints!
February 24, 2022
I always enjoy reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books and I was delighted to receive a copy of her new book Dreaming of flight.
Some really great characters in this story about people struggling to fit in and make peace with their situation.
A feel good story that kept me entertained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review
Some really great characters in this story about people struggling to fit in and make peace with their situation.
A feel good story that kept me entertained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review
May 2, 2022
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Dreaming of Flight is the third book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I have become a huge fan of this author's writing style and storytelling. Her characters are all so unique and she's always able to make me care for them. The main characters of this book are Marilyn, an elderly grumpy lady, and Stewie, an eleven-year-old boy. These two meet when Stewie is making his round selling fresh eggs to neighbors. Stewie feels a connection to Marilyn because she reminds him of his grandma who he lost a couple of years ago. Marilyn is a bit prickly towards Stewie in the beginning but soon warms up to him even though she doesn't really show it.
Marilyn and Stewie really comforted each other. She became his adopted grandmother, and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together. I enjoyed seeing the growth in Stewie, and the love and support he received from his family. This book was pretty straightforward and the pace was great. But in the end, it had a pretty beautiful ending. This book was inspirational and uplifting, even if it had its sad moments at times. Stewie sometimes really had a lot on his small plate, but he always had the best intentions. His actions showed that you can get things done even if it seems impossible at times. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Dreaming of Flight is the third book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I have become a huge fan of this author's writing style and storytelling. Her characters are all so unique and she's always able to make me care for them. The main characters of this book are Marilyn, an elderly grumpy lady, and Stewie, an eleven-year-old boy. These two meet when Stewie is making his round selling fresh eggs to neighbors. Stewie feels a connection to Marilyn because she reminds him of his grandma who he lost a couple of years ago. Marilyn is a bit prickly towards Stewie in the beginning but soon warms up to him even though she doesn't really show it.
Marilyn and Stewie really comforted each other. She became his adopted grandmother, and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together. I enjoyed seeing the growth in Stewie, and the love and support he received from his family. This book was pretty straightforward and the pace was great. But in the end, it had a pretty beautiful ending. This book was inspirational and uplifting, even if it had its sad moments at times. Stewie sometimes really had a lot on his small plate, but he always had the best intentions. His actions showed that you can get things done even if it seems impossible at times. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
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