This guide was created by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, a reading specialist and children’sauthor. Visit her Web site at www.tracievaughnzimmer.com to find hundreds of

other guides to children’s and young adult literature.

DISCUSSION GUIDEHYPERION

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114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011Visit us at www.hyperionteens.com

Also by Kashmira Sheth

Keeping CornerTr. ed. 0-7868-3859-0

ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-3859-2$15.99

Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet

Tr. ed. 0-7868-3857-4ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-3857-8

$15.99

Pbk. ed. 0-7868-3858-2ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-3858-5

$7.99

Blue JasmineTr. ed. 0-7868-1855-7

ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-1855-6$15.99

Pbk. ed. 0-7868-5565-7ISBN-13: 978-0-7868-5565-0

$5.99

About the BookPretty as a peacock, twelve-year-old Leela has always been the pet of her family.She’s never cared much for school and barely takes notice of the growing unrestbetween the British colonists and her own countrymen. Why should she? Her futurehas been planned since her engagement at two and marriage at nine. And now, as sheprepares to move in with her husband’s family, she’s too busy collecting bangles andribbons to care about much else. But when Leela’s husband dies, her life changes forever. Instead of being showered with gifts and affection, she is forced to shave her head and give away her beloved saris and bangles. Leela will have to be confinedto her house for a year—keep corner—in preparation for a life of mourning for a boyshe barely knew. When her schoolteacher hears of her fate, she offers to give Leelalessons at home. For the first time, Leela begins to open her eyes to the changingworld around her. She learns about a new leader of the people, a man namedGandhi, who has started a political movement and practices satyagraha—nonviolentprotest—against the colonists and the caste system. The quiet strength of satyagrahamay liberate her country. Could it be that she can use the same path to liberate herself? In this novel based on the story of her great-aunt, Kashmira Sheth paints aheartfelt and evocative portrait of a child widow in Gandhi-era India.

About the GuideThis guide includes discussion questions intended to provoke thought and insightinto the themes of the book which include hope, sacrifice, nonviolence, family obligation, education, and social change.

Discussion Questions1 When the novel opens, Leela is most concerned about what things in her

life? What is important to her? What are her plans for the future? Who made these plans?

2 Describe the family living arrangements in Leela’s home. What would be great about living with an extended family? What would be difficult? Whichmembers is Leela closest to? Why? Who would you most like to live with inyour extended family?

3 Who is Ramanlal? What kind of relationship does Leela have with him as thenovel opens? What glimpse does the reader get of her future life as his bride? Doyou think they would have been happy together? How is that future destroyed?

4 What are the customs surrounding death in Leela’s Brahman community? Whichones are particularly difficult for her to surrender to? Which ones would bemost difficult for you?

5 What exactly is “keeping corner”? Why must Leela uphold the traditions of herfamily and community? What consequences will she and her family face if shedoes not? Does her brother agree with these customs, or not? Why?

6 What is Leela’s only opportunity for a future other than keeping corner? Whotakes her on a journey though she is not permitted to leave her house? At firstLeela is not much interested in study. How does this change over the course ofthe novel? How does Saviben make the year bearable for Leela?

7 Leela begins following the new ideas of Gandhiji (known as Gandhi in the Western world) as he leads his people into a series of protests through nonviolence. How do Gandhi and other writers make Leela begin to questionher destiny?

ProjectsLanguage ArtsAs you read the novel, write at least five journal entries as if you are Leela. Avoidsummarizing events; make it sound as if she is writing the journal herself.

Character ChartFill in the graphic organizer about the many changes you see in Leela over the courseof the novel.

HistoryStudy the satyagraha movement that was led by Gandhi. Create a timeline about whatyou learned and illustrate it with your own pictures or those from other sources.

Research the caste system in India. In a journal response, describe not just what youlearned, but also your response to the limitations it places on individuals.

Social IntellectualPhysical

Beginning

Ending

8 At what price did Leela’s family keep the satyagraha? Did Leela believe it wasworth the sacrifice? How could there be “a victory in the defeat”? How doesLeela’s family compare in wealth and circumstance to most of their countrymen?

9 Why is Leela suddenly jealous of Lakha’s new wife, Shani? How does Leelatreat her at first? The growth and blossoming of their friendship show whatchanges in Leela? What does Leela learn from Shani that makes her sufferingparticularly hard to bear? Shani brings out the best in Leela; which friends dothat for you?

10 Discuss Leela’s relationship with her brother, Kanubhai. How does he work on her behalf? What sacrifices does he make for her? Why do her parents feelpowerless to act on her behalf?

I was also fortunate to visit my ancestral home in 2003. As I walked the streets,they brought the stories my parents had told me alive. I could picture young Leelawandering those dusty streets and sitting in a corner of the house for a year.

Our family has always told stories. This tradition of sharing our ancestors’ journeys has been a driving force behind my writing, and I am fortunate to share it with the readers.

2 What’s your favorite part of the writing process? What would you avoid if you could?

My favorite part of the writing process is to first get the story on the pagewithout stopping. In this story it was difficult to do so because the historicalfacts and events had to be interwoven in the story. It took me a lot longer to writethis book than my first two novels, but it has been a very fulfilling project.

When you try to get the story out as quickly as you can, it is hard to avoid mistakes. If I could, I would get the plot, voice, and scenes right the first time soI wouldn’t have to go back and add things, but it is impossible for me to do so.

3 What are you working on now?

I am working on a couple of young adult novels. I’m done with the research for one of them and have started writing it. I also have a second picture bookcoming out next year.

Author Interview1 Your great-aunt, Maniben Trivedi, inspired this novel. How did you come to

know and share her story?

I remembered meeting my father’s aunt Maniben when I was nine years old atour ancestral home in a small town in Gujarat. Dressed in chidri with a shavedhead, she had a commanding voice and left a lasting impression on me. I realizedthat she was not much older than I was when she had become a widow.

When I started writing a few years ago my parents encouraged me to tell herstory. Since my father’s mother died when he was young, Maniben raised him,and he told me how, after she became a widow, she argued and convinced herparents to send her to school in Ahmedabad. Eventually, she returned to herhometown and became the principal of a girls’ school. My mother also grew up with a great-aunt who was a widow, and knew much about a widow’s life and suffering in that time.

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