Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde
This book was good on so many levels.
The characters are totally relatable. Everyone wishes they had a kid, brother, grandson like Stewie. Such a sweet boy. Marilyn, who reminded Stewie of his grandmother, was a reminder to the reader that we all grow old and some of us not as gracefully as we would hope.
The story line touches on several key issues. Alzheimer’s, growing old, grieving, being different, family love, acceptance, love.
This is a book that will draw you in. Tissues handy. You are gonna need them. Enjoy!!!!

This was a heartfelt story about an unexpected friendship between an 11-year-old boy named Stewie and a woman named Marilyn, who he meets while doing his egg deliveries. Stewie lives with his brother and older sister, who has raised them since their parents passed away. Stewie takes care of his beloved grandmother’s hens on their farm, as it makes him still feel close to her. Every day he gathers the eggs that the hens lay and goes door-to-door after school to earn money for the household. He has many customers who love his farm fresh eggs and he depends on them to help provide some income for his family.

One day, he stops at a house he hasn’t been to before. An older woman named Marilyn, that is not very friendly, answers the door. She doesn’t really want Stewie’s eggs, and doesn’t want to be bothered in general, but finally decides to buy a dozen, if only to get him to go away. Stewie stops by regularly after that and each time he cracks away at the hard shell around Marilyn and the secrets she seems to have. As their friendship deepens, Stewie begins to think of Marilyn as a grandmother figure in his life.

When the police come to take Marilyn away, Stewie fears that he may not see her again. He has no idea what she’s done or why the police took her. He eventually discovers where they’ve taken her and why, and he vows to continue their friendship and help her in any way he can.

Thank you to #netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for the opportunity to review this book! !

11 year old Stewie is a sad, very grown up boy. He is being raised by an older sister, never knew his parents and Gam has recently passed. He collects eggs on the farm and sells them. He meets and develops a relationship with a feisty, ornery old lady named Marilyn. The story is about their friendship. Heartwarming!! I love this author.

LOVED! You can never go wrong with Catherine Ryan Hyde. I sat up and finished in one sitting. I absolutely loved this book. It has feelings that come through with every page.

This is a very good and sad story. A boy who sells eggs and meets a elderly woman. The elderly woman escaped from a nursing home cause she wanted to be free. The boy later found out when police came looking for her and taken her back to the nursing home. They created a friendship but she is a reminder of a grandmother that the boy miss so much. The boy has no parents or grandparents. The elderly woman fills the role of a missing love that the boy missed.

Readers desiring to read a story that makes them feel better about life and all of its mysteries need only look to the work of bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde. She is a gifted storyteller who writes in a deceptively plainspoken, unembellished style with extraordinary depth and emotion. She skillfully crafts thought-provoking tales about common people facing relatable obstacles. Her protagonists are often children and adolescents facing seemingly insurmountable challenges for the first time and learning valuable lessons in the process of navigating their way to a solution or, as is often the case in life, acceptance of a situation or circumstances they are powerless to change. In the process, her characters grow and become empowered. Hyde's writing is richly compelling and entertaining.

Dreaming of Flight focuses on eleven-year-old Stewart Little, a boy who cares deeply about things. His parents were killed when he was an infant, and he and his disabled older brother, Theo, were raised by their grandmother. But Gam suffered from dementia and, following her death, their older sister, Stacey, who works nights as a nurse, cares for the boys. Stewie took responsibility for Gam's hens and sells their fresh eggs by going door-to-door with the eggs in his wagon.

One day he has eggs left over because four of his regular customers were not at home when he called on them. So he decides to venture down to the last house on the road for the first time ever. He is determined to sell all of the eggs while they are fresh, rather than refrigerate them to sell the next day. With a carton of eggs in his hand, he traverses the home's cement steps, rings the bell, and meets an older woman who is "small and stooped" with "that curved upper spine his grandmother used to have." With her short gray hair and "a pinched appearance," she looks nothing like Gam, but reminds Stewie of her just the same. She buys his last dozen eggs and becomes one of his regular customers.

The woman's name is Marilyn and she lives with Sylvia, providing childcare for Sylvia's daughter, Izzy. When she meets Stewie, she immediately associates him with Stuart Little, the title character in the classic children's book by E.B. White. Nonetheless, she has trouble remembering his name . . . and a lot of other things, as well, including the fact that she left a pan on the stove when she exited the kitchen to open the front door the next time Stewie arrives with his eggs. In the process of preventing a fire, Stewie burns his hand. And Marilyn recognizes how lucky it was that he came by. If Sylvia knew about her forgetfulness, she would not be permitted to continue looking after Izzie and would lose the very roof over her head.

Because Stewie "wants to fix everything," he takes it upon himself to look out for both Marilyn and Izzy by spending time with them and playing with the young girl. He and Marilyn develop a friendship that leads Marilyn to discover that Stewie is reading well below grade level, unable to read Stuart Little on his own. Stacey has been too busy working nights and running the household to pay attention to notices from Stewie's school. Embarrassed, Stewie has not wanted to put more stress on Stacey who is working hard to make ends meet and provide for him and Theo. Marilyn volunteers to tutor Stewie and he agrees to accept her help.

Their arrangement might have worked out splendidly for both of them except for a shocking event that is traumatic for Stewie. He witnesses Marilyn being forcibly removed from Sylvia's home and learns her secret. Undeterred, Stewie is intent upon helping Marilyn and she accepts his assistance, even though he is just a young boy, because she is desperate and has no one else to turn to. In the process, Stewie learns that families are not perfect. Because he never got to experience growing up as part of a stable home with two loving parents, he has idealized family life, but discovers that even intact families can be dysfunctional with power struggles, greediness, communication failures, and an unwillingness to appreciate each other's feelings and needs. Despite the truth about Marilyn's past and her actions, Stewie is her friend and considers her his adopted grandmother. He will never abandon her, nor will Marilyn -- no matter how cantankerous and crusty she may be on the outside -- give up her friendship with Stewie. Because Marilyn recognizes that Stewie has come into her life for two very specific reasons. Not only is she supposed to teach him to read. It also falls to her "to heal his traumatic life." The two of them find ways to remain in each other's lives, even though time is Marilyn's enemy.

Once again, Hyde has created multi-dimensional, empathetic, and unforgettable characters. And through their struggles, she examines important topics. Stewie is a tender-hearted youngster who, at just eleven years of age, has already sustained great losses. He has been deprived of the love of his parents, and the comfort and security of growing up in a nuclear family. Gam cared for him and Theo for as long as she could, and Stacey does her best for them. But Stewie is sensitive, inquisitive, and unwilling to just accept situations and events without questioning why things have to be a certain way. His feelings about things are intense and he is often profoundly sad. He knows that he cares deeply about people, animals, and their circumstances, and does not perceive his feelings to be problematic. When he meets Marilyn and sees that she is having memory issues, just as Gam did, he resolves to help make things easier for her. He understands that Marilyn will not always remember him or their connection to each other, and that knowledge angers and frustrates him, as do many other things. Stacey wisely sees to it that Stewie begins working with a therapist who, she explains to him, can help him deal with his intense feelings. Hyde's depictions of some of their sessions provide further insight into Stewie's thought processes and emotions. Through his relationship with Marilyn, Stewie learns about life's seasons, the aging process, and the cruelly inevitable ravages of dementia.

Hyde also highlights the fissures in Marilyn's relationships with her own children and grandchildren, as well as the losses that compelled Marilyn to take drastic, unconventional action. Marilyn is fighting for her independence and autonomy. Her freedom has been taken from her -- wrongfully, as she vehemently declares -- and she longs to be accorded the dignity and respect that she deserves as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her story is heartbreaking and illustrates the way too many senior members of society are treated by the people who should be caring for, rather than abandoning them.

And as in so many of her novels, Hyde explores what it means to be a family and demonstrates, through the journeys of Stewie, Marilyn, and her intriguing cast of supporting characters, that people can come together and form a family unit. It is not necessary to be related by blood or marriage in order to forge lasting bonds that cannot be severed even by separation or death.

Dreaming of Flight is a lovingly constructed and beautifully told story that will resonate with readers long after they finish the book. And perhaps inspire them to adopt a grandparent, or a few, just like Stewie.

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 beautiful, poignant book about loss and grief. There are so many wise and profoundly lovely sentences and characters in this book but it never strays into the sentimental. It also manages to explore and celebrate that unique understanding between the very old and young and how much they can learn from each other. A singular and lovely read.

I’m very much a newcomer to Ryan Hyde’s writing, but what I’ve already come to appreciate is this: it’s simple but never simplistic. There are no big words or heady prose. No obfuscation or covert messaging. But, make no mistake: these observations do not equate to ‘light’ or ‘shallow’. This is an author who tackles huge subjects with a deftness of touch that makes them accessible to every reader.

And so it is with Dreaming of Flight, an absorbing tale of the friendship between a young boy and an elderly woman; the two generations apart in age but sharing an empathy that transcends every other difference.

Meet 11 year-old Stewie, an oddly serious little boy, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and sees others’ problems as his to solve. Having never known his parents, Stewie is being raised by his older sister and still grieving the recent passing of his beloved ‘Gam’. He devotes his time to looking after Gam’s chickens and selling their eggs around the neighborhood.

And meet Marilyn, a gruff, prickly old lady, who Stewie encounters one day on his egg round. After warily skirting around each other, the pair — in many ways kindred spirits — make a connection.

Marilyn takes it upon herself to teach Stewie to read, and Stewie decides that someone — i.e. he — needs to keep a close eye on Marilyn before she tries to burn down the house again. What neither expects is for this unlikely friendship to be the saving grace of both of them.

If you’ve read Ryan Hyde, you’ll know that her stories are all about the characters — what has shaped them, what drives them, what troubles them, the choices and decisions they make. And here, as Stewie and Marilyn’s story unfolds, we live and breathe all of this with them.

There’s a lot of sadness in this book, dealing as it does with grief, loneliness, and the loss of self and independence. But there are also moments of tenderness and pure joy, and the overriding message — the ultimate takeaway — is one of hope. A heartwarming read that reminds us what it is to be human.

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 <b>Dreaming of Flight<b> 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.

‘But 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.”

This quote is just an example of the beauty contained in this book. Stewie is grieving the loss of his Gam and makes an unlikely friendship with an older lady Marilyn/Jean. Through their friendship Stewie’s life becomes much more full. I think Stewie is one of my favourite characters of this year so far. He is so serious but so dear that you can’t help to love him.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again with a beautifully written story that captures your heart and soul. The beauty of her novels is that her characters are flawed but can still find a way to live an extraordinary life.

Stewie Little’s parents died when he was wrong, so he never really knew them enough to miss them. He currently being raised by his older sister and lives with her and his brother. Stewie’s grandmother recently passed away and as a tribute to her, he has taken on raising her chickens. Part of that responsibility includes selling the eggs in his neighborhood.

Through this endeavor, Stewie meets a new neighbor, Marilyn. She is difficult and gruff and appears to have some memory problems. However, she connects with Stewie and seems to understand him and his grief. Stewie and Marilyn’s relationship is an interesting one that leads Stewie down a path that expands his circle of relationships.

Stewie is an extremely sensitive boy who feels more than the average person and struggles to cope with the world. Through his relationship with Marilyn and his new friends, we see Stewie grow and develop.

Thank you NetGally for an ARC of Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Opinions are completely my own.

This was a very typical Catherine Ryan Hyde read meaning that I loved it as usual. I just love her matter=of-fact characters that immediately fill you with empathy and understanding for their life circumstances, even if they are much different than your own. I loved this book and will continue to put each of CRH's new books on my TBH.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twelve year old Stewie Little tends to his deceased grandma's flock of chickens, and makes daily deliveries of the "freshest eggs in town" to supplement the family income. When he meets elderly Marilyn, he's reminded of his beloved grandma because this lady is crotchety just like her. He wants to get to know her better. And so the story begins. As their unique personality flaws are explored and secrets are revealed, a very special relationship is formed.

This is another winner by one of my favorite authors. It's a little slow at first, but you can't help but fall in love with the characters. It's a story full of life lessons, sly humor, and self discovery. Be warned that along your reading journey, a few tears could be shed, At least there were for me.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read and review this book. And thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for your talent.

This was another amazing ride by Catherine Ryan Hyde! I love the relationship Stewie has with his chickens and unique family unit. He's a sweet, special young man that I think all of you will adore as well! The trials he goes through are realistic and you will find yourself wanting to reach into the pages and help, at least to give the lil guy a hug! I eagerly await her next book, 5 stars as always!!

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Even though the first half of this book was slow moving and I almost gave up on it, the second half was better. It was a cute story about a boy with no parents who befriends an elderly woman.

I always enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde’s writing and this tale works it’s way into your heart. The main character is Stewie, a young person who has had a lot of loss in his young life and he seems to feel things more deeply than those around him. Stewie meets Marilyn while selling eggs. She reminds Stewie of his own grandmother who has passed. The two develop a camaraderie that is sweet and sincere.. Apoignant story of coping with loss and found family.

Stewart Little sells eggs and takes care of the chickens that belonged to his grandmother. He is being raised by his sister who is struggling to go to nursing school and work at night to care for Stewart and Theo his brother who has a disability. They are a small but close-knit family. Stewart, ever the great salesman encounters Marilyn on his route and the journey to a new reality begins for him. She is outspoken like his grandmother and not always likable but the two form a bond that changes the future and life's realities for Stewart. "Hens struggle to fly, they do some but not always very high but they keep trying." Struggling with the personal loss that he has not dealt with, Stewart finds a new friend, learns to overcome the harshness of existence, and learns his own strengths. This is a book worth reading. Stewart's family characters are real, as are those he encounters along the way. It is applicable to all as the hen's journey to flight is what we all experience. A true coming-of-age book. You will love Stewart. Thanks to #NetGalley#Dreamingofflight.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is my favorite writer in the whole world, I've read most of her books, and every time there is a new story I just can't help and get very excited because I know I'm going to be transported to a very fantastic world.

This is the case for Dreaming of flight what a beautiful moving story and the characters were as always full of depth ready to be unleashed. the story of a family who is not complete at least that's how Stewie feels like he is missing his mother, and grandparents, and let's not talk about a father whom he doesn't really know what that means.

Stewie is a young boy (sorry Stewie I know you like to be old) who is kind and very mindful of the life and situation he and his brother and sister are in. He sells eggs around town to help his sister to support the income of the house, his brother can't help as he wishes as he has some disability that impedes him to contribute.

I laugh so hard whenever Stewie got angry that someone guesses his age incorrectly lol it was hilarious

Stewie's neighbor Marylin becomes a great friend for Stewie, she was hiding her past and certain things that she did and wasn't really proud about but life and circumstance will determine a better ending for this situation.

I really love this book so much because it touches on many things that I felt very close to home, the way Stewie defines what family is, is beautiful, one of my favorite moments of the story is when Stewie lectures Marylin's daughter about the importance of family, the importance to stay in touch and not forget about her mother I literally was in tears to hear such a beautiful statement, he was very right to tell her that she should care and not forget as he wishes he had the opportunity she had to have a mother in his life.

Dreaming of flight is a book of hope, family values, and union, it is a story that will bring so much to your heart, and to tell you the truth it opened up my eyes so much about my relationship with my own parents so Thank you miss Catherine your books are always a balm for my heart and soul I ways feel like I'm in a movie watching all these characters coming alive.

Stewie is a very sensible kid who sees more than any adult around him, who feels intensely and has a heart of gold.

in love over and over again with this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of Dreaming of Flight in exchange for my honest review.

I love reading Catherine Ryan Hyde's wonderful, feel good about humanity novels, and this one is just as great. An unusual friendship between a 12-year-old boy, and an older, grumpy woman, which reminds him of his late grandmother, just captured my heart. The sensitivity and fulfilling each other's voids was delicately woven through this story, as well as caring for chickens, making egg deliveries, great values, nursing home relationships, and a family of a sister raising her younger siblings. Heartfelt through and through! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the early release copy. All opinions are my own.