The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Harpercollins Children’s Books. ISBN-0-06440630
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Midwife’s Apprentice is a historical fiction that transports readers to the Middle Ages and introduces us to an unloved, but very lovable young waif. Through her eyes, young (and old) readers catch a glimpse of a radically different time and place. Cushman tells the tale of a remarkable young waif who blossoms into a remarkable young woman.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cushman does a remarkable job in this rich book for young adult readers. Cushman introduces us to a heroine that has much to teach through her reactions to the harsh realities of her life as an abandoned or orphaned child in Medieval England. In the beginning of the story, the waif does not even have a name. The midwife names her “Beetle” because she had learned to survive in the cold of winter by sleeping in “warm, rotting muck” composed of animal droppings, garbage, and spoiled straw. Through her eyes and her thoughts, we are allowed to experience the life of an “ill-used” child in a time and place that had little to spare for such children. The midwife is harsh, but provides her with minimal care for Beetle’s hard work. Like a wildflower, Beetle thrives on just the little she is given. As observers who are emotionally connected to the main character, we are delighted when she becomes strong enough to claim a name for herself, Alyce.
The Midwife’s Apprentice allows readers to vicariously experience the smells, sight, and beliefs of village life in the Middle Ages. Through Alyce, we experience the mixture of superstition, dubious medicines such as “dragon dung,” and unsanitary practices that comprised medieval medicine.
This educational historical is well-written, well-researched, and provides a wonderful story for young and old readers.
4. AWARDS AND EXCERPT(S)
1996 Notable Children’s Book
1996 Best Book for Young Adults
New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books
Booklist: *Books for Youth Editors Choice* “Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.”
School Library Journal *Best Books of the Year, 1995* ”Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart.
Publisher’s 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."
5. CONNECTIONS – If you liked historical fiction from Medieval Ages, then you will also enjoy:
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN-10: 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. MATILDA BONE. ISBN-10: 0440418224
Avi. THE CRISPIN: CROSS OF LEAD. ISBN-10: 0786816589