Module 4 - February 8-14
The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
Summary:
This story is set in medieval England and starts out with a young, nameless girl between 10-13 who is orphaned and wandering, just living for the next piece of food and warm place to sleep. Her life begins to change when she meets a sharp-nosed midwife who takes her on as an apprentice. She finds herself quietly settling down with a place to stay, food to eat, and even discovers a name for herself. However, self-confidence eludes her and self-doubt eats away at her until she runs away from the village she has come to know as home. After several adventures in which she meets some inspirational characters along the way, 'Alyce' finds that there is meaning in her life and she does have a place in the world.
Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This book would best serve students in grades 6-9. This book has an excellent message about overcoming self-doubt, believing in yourself, and rising up to the challenges that stand in your way. I found it had a very interesting story line - midwifery is not a common subject in most young adult literature. The interesting subject combined with a medieval setting made this one stand apart from other books. Although I would have liked to see some of the other characters developed a little more, overall it was an easy read with a wonderful message.
Reviews:
"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, who might be 12 or 13-no one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival-until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. 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. 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." Reviewer: Sara Miller - School Library Journal
"Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone." Reviewer: Hazel Rochman - Booklist
Suggested Activities:
Students can journal about a time that they faced (or are facing) a challenge that they felt they could not rise up to meet. Students should write about how they found a way to rise up to the challenge and what the end result was. If they are choosing to write about a current challenge, they should be encouraged to write about ways that they can improve the situation or meet the goal.
This book also can serve as a great lead in to a unit on medieval times. Students can research various aspects such as food, clothing, hygiene, midwifery, economic classes, jobs, and social expectations of men and/or women.
Bibliography:
Cushman, K. (1995). The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books.
The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
Summary:
This story is set in medieval England and starts out with a young, nameless girl between 10-13 who is orphaned and wandering, just living for the next piece of food and warm place to sleep. Her life begins to change when she meets a sharp-nosed midwife who takes her on as an apprentice. She finds herself quietly settling down with a place to stay, food to eat, and even discovers a name for herself. However, self-confidence eludes her and self-doubt eats away at her until she runs away from the village she has come to know as home. After several adventures in which she meets some inspirational characters along the way, 'Alyce' finds that there is meaning in her life and she does have a place in the world.
Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This book would best serve students in grades 6-9. This book has an excellent message about overcoming self-doubt, believing in yourself, and rising up to the challenges that stand in your way. I found it had a very interesting story line - midwifery is not a common subject in most young adult literature. The interesting subject combined with a medieval setting made this one stand apart from other books. Although I would have liked to see some of the other characters developed a little more, overall it was an easy read with a wonderful message.
Reviews:
"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, who might be 12 or 13-no one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival-until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. 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. 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." Reviewer: Sara Miller - School Library Journal
"Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone." Reviewer: Hazel Rochman - Booklist
Suggested Activities:
Students can journal about a time that they faced (or are facing) a challenge that they felt they could not rise up to meet. Students should write about how they found a way to rise up to the challenge and what the end result was. If they are choosing to write about a current challenge, they should be encouraged to write about ways that they can improve the situation or meet the goal.
This book also can serve as a great lead in to a unit on medieval times. Students can research various aspects such as food, clothing, hygiene, midwifery, economic classes, jobs, and social expectations of men and/or women.
Bibliography:
Cushman, K. (1995). The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books.
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