In 1857 India, 12-year-old Meera escapes a life she has no say in--and certain death on her husband's funeral pyre--only to end up a servant to a British general in the East India Company. When a rebellion against British colonizers spreads, she must choose between relative safety in a British household or standing up for herself and her people. India, 1857 Meera's future has been planned for her for as long as she can remember. As a child, her parents married her to a boy from a neighboring village whom she barely knows. Later, on the eve of her thirteenth birthday, she prepares to leave her family to live with her husband's--just as her strict religion dictates. But that night, Indian soldiers mutiny against their British commanders and destroy the British ammunition depot, burning down parts of Delhi. Riots follow, and Meera's husband is killed. Upon hearing the news, Meera's father insists that she follow the dictates of their fringe religious sect: She must end her life by throwing herself on her husband's funeral pyre. Risking everything, Meera runs away, escaping into the chaos of the rebellion. But her newfound freedom is short-lived, as she is forced to become a servant in the house of a high-ranking British East India Company captain. Slowly through her work, she gains confidence, new friends, new skills--and sometimes her life even feels peaceful. But one day, Meera stumbles upon the captain's secret stock of ammunition, destined to be used by the British to continue colonizing India and control its citizens. Will Meera do her part to take down the British colonists and alert the rebellion of the stockpile? Or will she stay safe and let others make decisions for her? It really comes down to this: how much fire must a girl face to finally write her own destiny?

The Most Comprehensive Bibliography of the 1857 Revolt in Print--1191 Entries on the Sepoy Rebellion. Published in 2007, The Sepoy Mutiny: 1857 is the most current and authoritative collection of English language mutiny literature published since 1966. It is an essential guide for writers, collectors, dealers--any student of the 1857 revolt and its importance to the modern state of India. - 1161 entries; all books. There are no listings for newspapers or manuscript collections. - Approximately 90% of the entries were physically checked and read by the author. - Every entry lists the location of the title and many entries provide the accession number and well as a short printing history where available. - A complete index lists authors, book titles, and event or place names. The Sepoy Mutiny: 1857 is the most authoritative reference available in print.