If home is where the heart is, then Koly's thumper sure must be roaming in Homeless Birds. Our main gal moves around quite a bit in the book—but it isn't not just her physical relocations that make the home a big theme; it's also how Koly feels about each of her houses. When she lives with the Mehtas, she has a roof over her head and food to eat, but she's not really at home, and instead she feels like an outsider who has to earn her keep. It's not until Koly gets a place of her own and can make her own decisions that she's really at home. Yay.
Questions About The Home
- Which of Koly's homes is the most welcoming? Which is the most isolating for her? What do these homes have in common? How are they different?
- Does Koly's concept of home change over the course of the book? How or how not? And what does this tell you about her relationship to home as she changes?
- Why is it important that Raji builds a room for Koly? How does this make her feel? Be specific.
Chew on This
In Homeless Bird, Koly is not truly at home until she figures out who she wants to be and starts answering only to herself.
Even though Koly hates Mrs. Mehta, she finds comfort and solace living with Hari's family and is sad to leave that home.