1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Harper Trophy. ISBN 006440630X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Hungry and cold Brat cursed the pain of living a life alone on the streets of medieval England. One bitterly cold and frosty night she is discovered sleeping in a dung pile by a midwife named Jane Sharp. Jane takes her home, renames her Beetle, and has her work in return for food and shelter. To keep Beetle ignorant, Jane does not allow her to work along side. So slowly and carefully Beetle watches from afar and learns her ways. Unfortunately when Beetle is given the opportunity to deliver a baby by herself things go wrong and she flees town. Through trials and hardships she must look inward to discover her place in this world as Alyce, the midwife’s apprentice.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Cushman has written an exciting award winning Newbery Medal book that encourages the act of finding inward courage. Alyce, also known as Brat or Beetle, is the young protagonist who finds companionship in a cat, longs to discover herself, and struggles to find inward confidence. Kids will enjoy the short chapters filled with medieval adventures. Cushman’s story is set in a time where special concoctions, ointments, and herbs are the local norm. The medieval England setting is conveyed through the local traditions, superstitions and fears of the town especially when a two headed calf was born and the whole town goes up in arms sighting witches and devils everywhere. Kids will enjoy reading Beetle’s revenge on those in town with secret sins who had teased or tormented her by acting as a devil herself and punishing them. After a failed delivery, Alyce runs away and meets a professor who asks her, “What do you want?” No one had ever asked her that and after some thought she says, “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.” Slowly Alyce turns away from being a shy awkward girl into a girl with pluck. Her character evolves through trails and circumstances as she finally discovers who she is. As Alyce said to an orphan boy, “Everybody is somebody and so are you.”
Cushman has a section in the back of the book with Author’s Notes. Here she explains the origins, customs, and development of midwifes through the centuries.
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Harper Trophy. ISBN 006440630X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Hungry and cold Brat cursed the pain of living a life alone on the streets of medieval England. One bitterly cold and frosty night she is discovered sleeping in a dung pile by a midwife named Jane Sharp. Jane takes her home, renames her Beetle, and has her work in return for food and shelter. To keep Beetle ignorant, Jane does not allow her to work along side. So slowly and carefully Beetle watches from afar and learns her ways. Unfortunately when Beetle is given the opportunity to deliver a baby by herself things go wrong and she flees town. Through trials and hardships she must look inward to discover her place in this world as Alyce, the midwife’s apprentice.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Cushman has written an exciting award winning Newbery Medal book that encourages the act of finding inward courage. Alyce, also known as Brat or Beetle, is the young protagonist who finds companionship in a cat, longs to discover herself, and struggles to find inward confidence. Kids will enjoy the short chapters filled with medieval adventures. Cushman’s story is set in a time where special concoctions, ointments, and herbs are the local norm. The medieval England setting is conveyed through the local traditions, superstitions and fears of the town especially when a two headed calf was born and the whole town goes up in arms sighting witches and devils everywhere. Kids will enjoy reading Beetle’s revenge on those in town with secret sins who had teased or tormented her by acting as a devil herself and punishing them. After a failed delivery, Alyce runs away and meets a professor who asks her, “What do you want?” No one had ever asked her that and after some thought she says, “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.” Slowly Alyce turns away from being a shy awkward girl into a girl with pluck. Her character evolves through trails and circumstances as she finally discovers who she is. As Alyce said to an orphan boy, “Everybody is somebody and so are you.”
Cushman has a section in the back of the book with Author’s Notes. Here she explains the origins, customs, and development of midwifes through the centuries.
Cushman delivered a historical novel with a beautiful theme universal in time. The desire to be loved, accepted, and the courage it takes to find it within you.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
New York Public Library List of Recommended Books
ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
School Library Journal Best Book
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
Booklist: Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.
Publishers Weekly: The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.
School Library Journal: A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children’s literature
5. CONNECTIONS
*Study Medieval history of England. Construct a “Did You Know” poster. Compare clothes, food, and traditions to ours of today.
*Host a Medieval Feast filled with drama and poetry of the time.
*Discuss with students the statement, “Everybody is someone and so are you.”
Other books by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN: 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN: 0064406849
Cushman, Karen. Rodzina. ISBN: 044041993X
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
New York Public Library List of Recommended Books
ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
School Library Journal Best Book
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
Booklist: Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.
Publishers Weekly: The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.
School Library Journal: A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children’s literature
5. CONNECTIONS
*Study Medieval history of England. Construct a “Did You Know” poster. Compare clothes, food, and traditions to ours of today.
*Host a Medieval Feast filled with drama and poetry of the time.
*Discuss with students the statement, “Everybody is someone and so are you.”
Other books by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN: 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN: 0064406849
Cushman, Karen. Rodzina. ISBN: 044041993X
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