In places in India even today, young people are married at very early ages.  These marriages are arranged by their parents and a dowry is paid to the groom's parents.  The bride goes to live with the groom's family and becomes a part of his household.  She cannot go back to her own parents without disgracing herself and her parents.  

Food, shelter and caring for the members of the household are the main concerns of these women.  Education, reading, and having a happy life are not as important.  If a woman's husband dies, she becomes a widow.  Remarriage is not looked upon with favor.  

These women have no money of their own and are at the mercy of their husband's family to care for them.  Tradition has been that these women become a burden to the husband's family.  Many are abandoned or run away.  One city in India where many widow's go is Vrindavan.

Story

This is the story of Koly, a young girl of thirteen who's family is poor and lives in a rural area of India. Her family arranges a marriage for her to a young boy who dies shortly thereafter.  Koly becomes a widow. Her life, which was already difficult, becomes even harder, but her spirit, generosity and skill help her toward a better life.

        Varanasi by the Ganges. Varanasi is considered the holiest city in India.  Hindus go there to immerse themselves in the Ganges River.  More.   

Koli's husband's family went there with her husband to try to save his life.

WORDS FOR THE WISE

A glossary of Indian words is contained in the Author's note at the end of the book.

Try to organize this list of words from the book into three categories.  Some words have more than one meaning.  Use the text in the story to help you figure out meanings. Keep a dictionary, thesaurus, or computer nearby.

Know:  I know what it means  

Seen:  I've seen this word before, but am not sure of its meaning.

New:  I've never seen this word before.

Other Books

National Book Award Winners  for Young People's Literature.  While most of these books are for slightly older readers, fifth and sixth graders with excellent reading skills would like them.

1996 - Parrott In the Oven: MiVida
Victor Martinez  Manny relates his coming of age experiences as a member of a poor Mexican American family in which the alcoholic father only adds to everyone's struggle.

1997 - Dancing on the Edge
Han Nolan  A young girl from a dysfunctional family creates for herself an alternative world which nearly results in her death but which ultimately leads her to reality.

1998 - Holes
Louis Sachar As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

1999 - When Zachary Beaver Came to  Town
Kimberly Willis Holt During the summer of 1971 in a small Texas town, thirteen-year-old Toby and his best friend Cal meet the star of a sideshow act, 600-pound Zachary, the fattest boy in the world.

2000 - Homeless Bird
Gloria Whelan 

2001 - True Believer
Virginia Euwer Wolff Living in the inner city amidst guns and poverty, fifteen-year-old LaVaughn learns from old and new friends, and inspiring mentors, that life is what you make it--an occasion to rise to.