The First Flame

The Prequel to "The Last Suttee" by Madhu Bazaz Wangu...Nine-year-old Kumud Kuthiyala cannot hide her excitement on Diwali Eve, the festival of lights. But an aunt's visit invites an unexpected and painful understanding of marriage and related rituals. Will Aunt Sau embrace the horrible ritual of suttee and follow it to its "natural" end? Or can Kumud and her mother stop her before it's too late?

This novella is the prequel to Wangu's stunning "The Last Suttee." Here's what the critics say:...