Koly's parents have arranged a marriage for their only daughter and now, like many girls her age in India, she will leave home forever. She yearns to flee, but tradition dictates that it's too late to turn back. On her wedding day, Koly's fate is sealed.

Caught up in a current of tradition that threatens to sweep her toward a terrifying fate, Koly finds herself cast out, lost in a strange and cruel world. But sometimes, courage and hope can be more powerful than tradition, and fate can be taken into one's own hands.

Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL) and 2000 National Book Award Winner

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"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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover
"An insightful, beautifully written, culturally illuminating tale of
universal feelings in which rices are measured not in monetary wealth but in
happiness and personal fulfillment." -Booklist
--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

About the Author
Gloria Whelan is a distinguished poet and award-winning author. She has written many books for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Angel on the Square; Return To the Island; Once on this Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell To the Island; Miranda's Last Stand; and The Indian School Ms. Whelan lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Keywords: Homeless Bird, Books, Gloria Whelan, Children: Grades 4-6, Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General, Juvenile Fiction, Historical - Asia, Social Situations - Homelessness & Poverty