I can see why. You can read the description but this book is really all about the writing which is a tapestry of words and reads like one long poem. More then just vivid, the writing brings to life the Indian Culture, customs, birds and scenery in an utterly resplendent way that is rare to see.
The prose glows. Koly's journey is a fascinating one and she is easy to care about. I loved to see how her talent for embroidery was woven into the story.
It is an incredibly moving story and one that I feel Will Uplift the reader. I do love historical fiction but this book in particular made an impression on me. I think this is a definite five star read and was utterly enamoring.
And I look forward to reading more from the author. Gloria Whelan's Homeless Bird is a pleasant enough story. Predictable and pleasant. It is a fast read and Koly is a likable protagonist.
But shortly after beginning the book I stopped to research the author. As I suspected after my first few pages of reading, Whelan herself is neither Indian or of Indian ancestry and has never traveled to India. I believe that it IS possible for writers to write successfully outside of their own experiences, but I am EXTREMELY wary of authors who attempt to write of places, cultures, social classes, and experiences that are not their own, nor even similar.
To do so requires incredible amounts of research, intense self-reflection, a willingness to consult and learn from others who are more knowledgeable, and an intentional effort to present a truthful, unbiased reflection of reality -- even in the writing of fiction. In fiction like Homeless Bird , the setting is taken as truth by an audience, in this case most likely American children, who may not have the knowledge or experience to spot cultural misrepresentations.
As a white woman living in the woods of northern Michigan who has never traveled to India, it is possible that Whelan could write a truthful reflection of India culture and customs. But, I have a gut feeling telling me to be concerned.
Whelan's own words, from her website, don't bring me any comfort. She says, "Sometimes I write about places that are far away or about earlier times. This gives me a chance to live in other countries and in other times -- at least in my head. The research for these books is like a treasure hunt, I never know what I'm going to find.
I am unconvinced. I lived and worked in India for a portion of this year and I worked with children Koly's age coming from villages and families like Koly's.
India is a big place and a vast array of experiences coexist within India culture and customs. Arranged marriages, dowries, and child brides still exist as does sati -- ceremonial widow burning -- which Whelan seems to deny as something of the past no longer practiced pg.
Similarly, urban life does include Indians dressed in jeans and t-shirts, air-conditioning, and opportunistic men and women who exist everywhere in most cultures. To me, reading Koly's story felt like a Western voice telling an Eastern story. It did not feel like an Indian voice, born and raised in Indian culture, telling her own story in her own voice.
And that is big problem because Homeless Bird is a National Book Award winner, which means it is frequently used in classrooms, likely as "diversity enhancement. There is so much wonderful literature written by Indian writers, and I am nervous what half-truths and misperceptions might be taken away from a reading of this book by young people, particularly if their teacher is not him- or herself aware of the potential pitfalls of including a text like this in the curriculum without intense critical reflection and the addition of other primary sources.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it threw up red flags for me about the authentic representation of Indian life and culture. Mohammed Rasheen. Helena Sorensen. Author 5 books followers. This year-old read Whelan's Homeless Bird aloud to her year-old and 9-year-old, and we were all transfixed from the first few pages. I worried that the story might become so dark that I had to edit portions on the fly, but Whelan manages to present dangerous and tragic circumstances in a way that is both weighty and entirely appropriate for young readers.
We grieved with Koly. We were angry on her behalf. We wished good things for her. We loved her. Noah Pindak. Koly is forced into an arranged marriage, with a cruel mother-in-law, a sickly husband, and a spoiled yet sweet sister-in-law.
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Write a review Rate this item: 1 2 3 4 5. Preview this item Preview this item. 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. 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. Read more Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private.
Save Cancel. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Homeless bird. The story of a remarkable young woman who dares to defy fate.
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Arranged marriage -- India -- Juvenile fiction.
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