BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-69929-6
PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of the transformation of a little girl in fourteenth century England. When we first meet her, she thinks she might be twelve or thirteen, but she's not sure. She has no name, no home, and no one who loves her. One day, a midwife finds her asleep in a dung heap. She consequently takes her in and calls her Beetle. The midwife gives Beetle food to eat and a place to sleep, and in return, Beetle does whatever work is required of her. However, the woman is not particularly kind. She berates Beetle every chance she gets and thinks nothing of putting her down in front of the other villagers. Thus, the entire village treats her in the same manner, and her only true friend is her orange cat, Purr. This doesn't bother Beetle too much because she believes that she is nothing.
As time passes, Beetle learns what it means to be a midwife. She acquires the skills of her mentor, Jane Sharp, and even successfully delivers a baby on her own. Her newfound knowledge and confidence inspire her to choose a real name for herself, Alyce. Alyce slowly becomes accepted into the English village. Unfortunately, when an expecting mother specifically asks Alyce to be her midwife, she is unable to deliver the baby. This failure takes a huge toll on Alyce, and she runs from the village with the intention of never returning.
Eventually, Alyce finds work at an inn in exchange for room and board. She becomes competent at this new job and meets many new people. After earning the respect of these people, she realizes that for the first time in her life, she has options. Ultimately, she decides her place in the world is back with Jane, training to be a midwife, and the story concludes with Alyce's confident return.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Medieval England takes center stage in this novel. From the way the characters speak to the way they dress, Cushman is clear about when in time this story takes place. Buildings are described in vivid detail, as are all the different herbs and "potions" midwives used on expectant mothers during childbirth. In addition, the villagers' understanding of the Devil adds much needed humor, but also demonstrates the thinking of the people during that time. Cushman does an excellent job of painting an authentic picture of fourteenth century England in the mind of the reader. An author's note at the end of the book gives the reader more information on the history of midwives.
The theme of transformation and finding one's place in the world is relevant to children today. They can relate to Alyce struggling to fit in and her fear of failure. She has no self-confidence when we first meet her, but by the end of the book, she is able to confidently articulate what she wants and what she believes she is capable of to Jane. Her connection with young Edward shows her need for love and family, another timeless theme. Making mistakes and learning from them is part of growing up, and even though Alyce lives in a place in time unlike their own, her story will still resonate with today's youth.
While this novel is 20 years old, I had never read it before. I truly enjoyed all of Cushman's characters, especially the cantankerous Jane Sharp and the ever present Purr. I found myself rooting for Alyce and hoping she would start believing in herself. This is a must-read for middle school students everywhere.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
1996 Newbery Medal
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat...Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature."
From BOOKLIST - "This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home...Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone."
From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - "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...The force of ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting."
CONNECTIONS
Have students rewrite the end of The Midwife's Apprentice so that it concludes differently, explaining what would have happened if Alyce had made a different choice. Or, have students write an epilogue to further explain what happens to Alyce, Jane, and the other characters.
Have a discussion with students about how they feel when someone tells them they're stupid or not good enough.
Have students act out important scenes from the novel. For example, have two students take on the roles of Jane and Alyce and reenact the scene where Jane first finds Alyce in the dung heap.
Have students research what life was like in fourteenth century England. See how their research compares with Cushman's descriptions.
Read Cushman's debut novel, Catherine, Called Birdy, which is also set in medieval England. Discuss similarities and differences.
The theme of transformation and finding one's place in the world is relevant to children today. They can relate to Alyce struggling to fit in and her fear of failure. She has no self-confidence when we first meet her, but by the end of the book, she is able to confidently articulate what she wants and what she believes she is capable of to Jane. Her connection with young Edward shows her need for love and family, another timeless theme. Making mistakes and learning from them is part of growing up, and even though Alyce lives in a place in time unlike their own, her story will still resonate with today's youth.
While this novel is 20 years old, I had never read it before. I truly enjoyed all of Cushman's characters, especially the cantankerous Jane Sharp and the ever present Purr. I found myself rooting for Alyce and hoping she would start believing in herself. This is a must-read for middle school students everywhere.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
1996 Newbery Medal
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat...Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature."
From BOOKLIST - "This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home...Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone."
From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - "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...The force of ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting."
CONNECTIONS
Have students rewrite the end of The Midwife's Apprentice so that it concludes differently, explaining what would have happened if Alyce had made a different choice. Or, have students write an epilogue to further explain what happens to Alyce, Jane, and the other characters.
Have a discussion with students about how they feel when someone tells them they're stupid or not good enough.
Have students act out important scenes from the novel. For example, have two students take on the roles of Jane and Alyce and reenact the scene where Jane first finds Alyce in the dung heap.
Have students research what life was like in fourteenth century England. See how their research compares with Cushman's descriptions.
Read Cushman's debut novel, Catherine, Called Birdy, which is also set in medieval England. Discuss similarities and differences.
- Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN 9780547722184
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