BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE
MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395692296
PLOT
SUMMARY
In this coming of age story, the puny orphan “Brat” becomes
the midwife’s apprentice. The midwife
gives her all the terrible work to do, like boiling snails and making
potions. The two do not become friends
because the midwife is afraid that the girl will learn the skills and the
midwife will become obsolete. “Brat” has
some successes with delivering the baby for the bailiff’s wife, helping a
fellow orphan find a home at the manor house, and learning how to birth twin
calves. She finally realizes that she is
worthy of a name and names herself “Alyce.” While she is feeling confident, she
plays a trick on the entire town because of their superstitions, and finds
retribution against everyone who make fun of her or hurt her in any way. However,
as happens in life, she faces setbacks with her skill and runs away. It takes time and friendship, but Alyce
learns to overcome her fears and persevere in achieving her dreams.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
In this entertaining novel, Cushman creates a believable
character in Alyce. She has an “unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely
body” which immediately creates empathy for her. The reader can relate to the feelings of not
belonging, failure, and ugliness that Alyce feels at different times throughout
the story. Since Cushman creates a
character that the reader can see themselves in, the reader follows on this
journey and successfully learns the same lessons as Alyce.
Cushman uses humor throughout the story by including such
things as “the rank smell of pigs who fart when they eat too much” and plays
off of the superstitions of the times.
This is shown when Alyce makes some “hooves” and all the townspeople are
convinced that the devil is running rampant through their town, causing people
(surprisingly, these are the people who have hurt Alyce) to do evil
things.
Cushman does not write completely in the language of the
times (thank goodness!), but includes many examples of words such as “rotting
and moiling” to help the reader remember when and where we are. She does not ever stop the action of the
story to remind us of the times, but instead incorporates constant reminders through
the food they eat, the jobs people have, and the strange medical customs Alyce
learns.
AWARDS
AND REVIEWS
·
Newbery Medal
·
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
·
ALA Notable Book for Children
·
Booklist Editiors’ Choice
·
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
·
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
(Plus more)
·
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, ALA STARRED Review: “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.”
CONNECTIONS
·
Read this book
while studying medieval times.
·
A cross-curricular
lesson with Science about herbal remedies that actually have been proven to
work versus the herbal and non-herbal remedies used during these times.
·
Use the name
situation of the novel to have students write a paragraph explaining what name
they would choose for themselves and why.
·
In a counseling
or leadership class, this book could be used to analyze for bullying and what
can happen to both the bullied and the bully.
·
Read CATHERINE, CALLED
BIRDY by Karen Cushman, which is also set in this time period.
Images taken from: www.google.com
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