Homeless Bird

Whelan, Gloria. (2000). New York: Harpertrophy. 0-06-440819-1

PLOT SUMMARY

Koly is only thirteen and lives happily with her family in India. When her parents decide to arrange her marriage, they unknowingly match her with a husband who is sickly and much younger than they expected. When he dies, she is now forced to live in her in-laws home because returning to her parents home would bring them shame. She tries to take it in stride, but years later when her father-in-law dies, her mother-in-law takes her to a holy under the ruse that they are going to move to Delhi. Koly is then left behind in a city where many other widows have also been left to fend for themselves since they are of no value to their families, and she must find a way to take care of herself.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

While the story itself is interesting, it was very predictable and the happy ending seemed too contrived. I don't necessarily mean that I wanted it to end poorly for the main character, but rather, it all seemed like she was just too lucky to end up in the situations that she did. Yes, she did have hardship, but I just didn't feel like I cared enough about the character to feel for her because it already was obvious that things were going to end well for her.

READER'S ANNOTATION

When thirteen year old Koly is married off to a man she does not know, she accepts her fate because it is the tradition in India. Unfortunately, her husband is sickly and she discovers that the only reason why her in-laws wanted a wife for his was to get the dowry to try and cure his illness. When he dies she can not return home to bring shame on her family, so she must make her way as best she can with a mother in law who despises her, and in a city she does not know.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gloria Whelan is a children's author who has won many awards for her work.

GENRE

Realistic fiction

CURRICULUM TIES

Social studies

Have students discuss the traditions of India and the different value system they have on various issues that come up in the book: marriage, women, widows

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

If you were forced into a marriage to someone you did not know, how would you choose to react? What if tradition dictated that you could not go home to your family for fear of disgracing them? How would you deal with being left alone in a large city with no family and no friends?

READING LEVEL INTEREST AGE

10 and over

CHALLENGE ISSUES

Paints an unsavory picture of a different culture

CHALLENGE DEFENSE IDEAS

Know library policy and know the book. Be able to discuss that not everything about a culture is pleasant and be able to cite things about our own that illustrates this point

WHY INCLUDE THIS BOOK?

It introduces students to other cultures and the vastly different ways of life.