Extra Credit: Review One

Citation:

Whelan, Gloria. Homeless Bird. HarperCollins: New York. 2000. Print.

Annotation:

Koly is a 16-year old widow living in rural India with no skills exept her extraordinary talent at embroidery.  When she is abandoned in an unfamiliar town for widows she has to find her own way out of poverty and into love.

Justification for Nomination:

Whelan uses her wonderful descriptions and character development to tell Koly's story.  This girl was married at thirteen to a dying boy.  When he died, she was left in the custody of his parents.  His mother, a sour woman who never trusts Koly, forces her to do chores each day.  His father, a teacher at a local school, lovingly teaches her how to read.  When he dies, the mother abandons Koly in a town full of unwanted widows.  She finds her way, with the help of a kind stranger, to a home for young widows where jobs and food are provided.  It is here that Koly finds her strength to reveal her talent making tapestries and saris. 
This book leads the reader on Koly's incredible journey through sorrow and heartache to eventual happiness.  The graceful description of Koly's emotions and her actions paint a lovely picture that the reader can fully appreciate.  Each event or person that knocks Koly down makes the reader squirm with its horridness, but each time she rises above makes reading the last few lines like a sigh of relief. 
Whelan's language is simple and beautiful especially describing Koly's sewing talents and the nature around her.  Sound and the setting are portrayed wonderfully.  Each character is set up with an easy physical description, but their actions convey their personality without the reader being told.
Any reader could identify with this girl and her troubles.  She has to find her own way in a life that doesn't give her any breaks.  Her innocence is lost at a young age and is forced to grow up much sooner than anyone should have to. 
While the cover of the book could use some color and zest, I think that if teens gave the story a chance they would be immersed in the unbelievable story of an uncommon girl.

Genre:

Mulitcultural / Coming of Age / Romance