Homeless Bird
by Gloria Whelan

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Book Summary Information

• ISBN13: 9780064408196
• Condition: New
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Book Reviews of Homeless Bird

Book Review: Homeless bird
Summary: 5 Stars

The three main characters of this book are koly, Rahji and sass. Koly gets married at an age of 13.Her marriage was set in a traditional way were she couldn't see her husband before marriage. Koly's parents had to give dowry to the groom's house. Her marriage was a sad one .She didn't know that his husband was suffering from flu and his parents wanted money to take him to the ganges to be bath him so they needed Dowry. At that time her sass (traditional way of calling Mother in law) was mean to her and didn't wanted koly to talk with is husband hari. Koly is happy any way because she has a friend named chandra who is hari's sister she helps her in many ways. Days passed and it was time to go to the Ganges hari sass and sassur (traditional way of calling father in law) Sass didn't like koly going with them but with hari's advice she went with them to the Ganges. The two days of their trip hari enjoyed and was active but unfortunately as for their Karma hari dies, and koly is a widow. From that day onwards starts a real turn in koly's life all sad news and conflicts the main thing is that chandra her only friend had to get married with a handsome husband and had to go to her husbands house. Her life after is so miserable .Her sassur also dies. Then after a year koly and her sass had to go to Delhi. Their koly meets a friend who is a rickshaw wallah named raji. He takes her to the widow place and helps her. Koly gets a job near Mr. Govind were she uses flower to sell, and earns money. One day raji asks koly will you marry me koly says yes but on one condition I want to marry you after one month. This is the end were it goes it lastly the homeless bird flying back to its home.

In this book koly faces an external conflict, which is after a couple months of their marriage hari dies. She suffers doing all work in her house and she doesn't like living under her sass's orders. EX: When she didn't listen to her sass for a reason her sass was mad of her. PG, 97-101.This above example shows that she is mad and she is sick and tired of doing work. She feels this way because her sass is making her work day and night and treating very badly, so she doesn't like living under her orders. As a result Koly gets rid of her sass in Delhi and lives a happy life there.

Koly has an internal conflict also, which is whether to run away or stay in the mehtas house. One day I will run away "I said. No! You must never do that why should you go, who will take care of you? This conversation shows that koly wants to run away but sass is mean to her only friend chandra. Pg no, 87. Kola is sad because she can't decide whether to run away or stay. If she stays she has to listen to her sass and if she runs away she doesn't have money to find a home. As a result of koly running away or staying at last she runs away and lives a happy life.

The author's message about freedom is that, if you think to seek freedom there is nothing that can stop you to seek freedom. When koly thought to run away she didn't because she didn't have money but she knew that she can and she did and her dream came through. The author's comment is really a great example that applies to every body in the world. The author's comment is right I agree with it because it really happens to people. This book is a great and interesting book to read I rate it has 10/10 because the book was neatly returned it best describes life style in India and their Tradition it is a good experience reading it.

Summary of Homeless Bird

Gloria Whelan's National Book Award?winning novel, chronicles the breathtaking story of a remarkable young woman who dares to defy fate.

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen?year?old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who even when cast out into a brutal current of time?worn tradition, sets out to forge her own remarkable future.Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen?year?old widows in India today, this universally acclaimed best?selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope.

Ages 10+

"What if I don't like him?"
"Of course you will like him."
"But what if I don't?"
Maa impatiently slapped at a fly. "Then you must learn to like him."

But Koly never gets a chance to find out if she does care for her intended groom. Married and promptly widowed at 13, Koly finds herself in the grim position of being cast out by a society that has no place for girls like her. With a seemingly hopeless future in India, this courageous and spirited young woman sets out to forge her own destiny. Through perseverance, resourcefulness, and sheer luck, she manages not only to find a niche for herself, but even to find happiness again.

Gloria Whelan's tale of a remarkable girl in an extraordinary situation will linger with the reader long after the last page is read. The shaping of Koly's life, as anyone's, is in her own hands, as well as the hands of the society in which she lives. Her ability to express herself--and ultimately support herself--with her exceptional skill in embroidery is a symbol of the creative ingenuity that will serve her well throughout her tribulations. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter

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