By Karen CushmanCushman, Karen. 1995. The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-69229-6.
SUMMARY
The story is of a young girl, who is as unsure of her name and age as she is of where she is going to lay her head down to sleep every night. She has neither home nor family and has only known of herself by the name Brat. Despite the many life obstacles she faces, she tackles life day by day and with each passing day she learns through her experiences and encounters more and more about herself; she learns self-value, her inner strength, her ability to learn, and most importantly her ability to love and be loved. With this self revelation, she becomes skillful in the profession of midwifery, a profession during 14th century medieval England, which included a “combination of common sense, herbal knowledge, and superstition.”
The characters within this story are all individuals we can easily identify within on our lives. Although I would like to hope that many of our children will never have the opportunity to experience being homeless and without a family; the truth of the matter is that it is an unfortunate circumstance, which still occurs today. The author does a magnificent job in creating characters with real personalities. It is each character’s behavioral qualities in conjunction with the attitudes, values, and morals of that time in history, which brings genuineness and authenticity into each character and the story as a whole. Every character in the story, including the cat, appears realistic and credible.
The author expertly weaves the very spirit of each character throughout the story’s theme and setting. The attitudes, values, and morals for that time in history are evident throughout the story. The fact that they continue to hold relevancy today brings an authenticity to the story. For instance, the attitude and the value of determination; we are all taught that when one fails, you don’t give up but rather, get back up and try again. We are also taught that we must take life by the reins and not sit on the sidelines; we take every opportunity, every experience and squeeze the knowledge from it to become a better person. In the story, Brat begins to change her life and take “the reins” through her experiences and the self-knowledge she obtains from each her encounters.
The setting of the story is descriptively created through the lively narratives of the small English village, the cottages, the merchant, the inn, and the manor. We are taken alongside each character as if we are seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling the area through their senses at that particular moment in time. The solid floor of the cottage is beneath my feet as Brat, renamed Beetle by the mid-wife, sweeps the cottage’s dirt floor, sprinkling it with water and stamping it to keep it hard packed. I am walking beside Beetle at the merchant and seeing all the “bright booths with flags and pennants flying.” My nose just as Beetle’s nose quivers “at smells of roasting meats and fresh hot bread and pies stuffed with pork and raisins.” The author’s vivid recreation of the events appropriate to that time and place add to the authenticity of the story.
The author’s note provides insight into the history of midwifery. It reveals the historical accuracy of certain aspects within the story for instance, the choice of herbs and how they were used in practice and the superstitious rituals. It was not until I read the author’s note that I became aware of these detailed facts. The accuracy of these facts is a demonstration of the author’s ability to create a story realistic to the time period without overwhelming it with details. Until reading the author’s note, I truly believed that the midwife’s use of herbs and superstitious chants were part of her character and not factual. The author’s style captures not only her own individual voice however; it also captures the very essence of daily life within that time in history. The dialogue is suitable to the story; I love how it captures the language of that time and place.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:
Newbery Medal, 1996
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice, 1998
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 1996
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book, 1996
ALA Notable Children’s Book, 1996
New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books
Booklist “Books for Youth Editors’ Choice”
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 1995
An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists
EDITORIAL REVIEWS:
In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, PW said that Cushman "has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent." --Publisher Weekly
“An insider’s look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl’s witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her….A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable….Superb historical fiction.” --School Library Journal, starred review
“Catherine’s rebellious nature, questioning mind, and underlying kindness to all creatures make her an amusing and sympathetic figure; the vivid picture of medieval life presents a seemingly eye-witness view of a culture remote from contemporary beliefs. Fascinating and thought-provoking.” --The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
CONNECTIONS-Activities:
1) Create an artistic cover for the book illustrating an interesting scene from the story.
2) Research life during medieval England then write a short story that is set during that time.
3) Act out certain parts in the story focusing on how you believe the characters felt at that time.
The characters within this story are all individuals we can easily identify within on our lives. Although I would like to hope that many of our children will never have the opportunity to experience being homeless and without a family; the truth of the matter is that it is an unfortunate circumstance, which still occurs today. The author does a magnificent job in creating characters with real personalities. It is each character’s behavioral qualities in conjunction with the attitudes, values, and morals of that time in history, which brings genuineness and authenticity into each character and the story as a whole. Every character in the story, including the cat, appears realistic and credible.
The author expertly weaves the very spirit of each character throughout the story’s theme and setting. The attitudes, values, and morals for that time in history are evident throughout the story. The fact that they continue to hold relevancy today brings an authenticity to the story. For instance, the attitude and the value of determination; we are all taught that when one fails, you don’t give up but rather, get back up and try again. We are also taught that we must take life by the reins and not sit on the sidelines; we take every opportunity, every experience and squeeze the knowledge from it to become a better person. In the story, Brat begins to change her life and take “the reins” through her experiences and the self-knowledge she obtains from each her encounters.
The setting of the story is descriptively created through the lively narratives of the small English village, the cottages, the merchant, the inn, and the manor. We are taken alongside each character as if we are seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling the area through their senses at that particular moment in time. The solid floor of the cottage is beneath my feet as Brat, renamed Beetle by the mid-wife, sweeps the cottage’s dirt floor, sprinkling it with water and stamping it to keep it hard packed. I am walking beside Beetle at the merchant and seeing all the “bright booths with flags and pennants flying.” My nose just as Beetle’s nose quivers “at smells of roasting meats and fresh hot bread and pies stuffed with pork and raisins.” The author’s vivid recreation of the events appropriate to that time and place add to the authenticity of the story.
The author’s note provides insight into the history of midwifery. It reveals the historical accuracy of certain aspects within the story for instance, the choice of herbs and how they were used in practice and the superstitious rituals. It was not until I read the author’s note that I became aware of these detailed facts. The accuracy of these facts is a demonstration of the author’s ability to create a story realistic to the time period without overwhelming it with details. Until reading the author’s note, I truly believed that the midwife’s use of herbs and superstitious chants were part of her character and not factual. The author’s style captures not only her own individual voice however; it also captures the very essence of daily life within that time in history. The dialogue is suitable to the story; I love how it captures the language of that time and place.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:
Newbery Medal, 1996
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice, 1998
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 1996
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book, 1996
ALA Notable Children’s Book, 1996
New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books
Booklist “Books for Youth Editors’ Choice”
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 1995
An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists
EDITORIAL REVIEWS:
In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, PW said that Cushman "has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent." --Publisher Weekly
“An insider’s look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl’s witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her….A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable….Superb historical fiction.” --School Library Journal, starred review
“Catherine’s rebellious nature, questioning mind, and underlying kindness to all creatures make her an amusing and sympathetic figure; the vivid picture of medieval life presents a seemingly eye-witness view of a culture remote from contemporary beliefs. Fascinating and thought-provoking.” --The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
CONNECTIONS-Activities:
1) Create an artistic cover for the book illustrating an interesting scene from the story.
2) Research life during medieval England then write a short story that is set during that time.
3) Act out certain parts in the story focusing on how you believe the characters felt at that time.
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