The Midwife's Apprentice



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cushman, Karen.  The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books, 1995.  ISBN 978-0547722177



PLOT SUMMARY

The midwifes apprentice is about a lonely, unwanted, neglected homeless girl. She doesn’t know her age and has no name other than Brat. She slowly starts to finer herself with a place to sleep, food to eat and new profession, a midwife. She fine a new name for herself, Alyce. After she is not able to deliver a baby, she runs away to work at an inn. At the inn, she successful delivers a baby and returns with confidence to take her place as the midwifes apprentice.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Karen Cushman’s The Midwifes Apprentice provides a detailed account of a poor young girl’s transformation from a wandering, nameless child, to a woman with a name, who serves her community with valuable skills. The medieval village is dirty, smelly, and completely realistic. Cushman’s characters are relatable and believable to young readers. She is relatable to teens because she is ignored by adults and faces many self-confidence issues that teens face today. Although, she is relatable to teens todays, Cushman makes sure to keep true to the time period by the clothing used and Alyce being uneducated. The setting of the story also helps us understand why Alyce was illiterate and why some thought she was a witch. People during the medieval times thought midwives were witches. The authors notes tell us these facts. The book can be read by students ten years of age but is intended for middle school students.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

·         ALA Notable Children's Books

·         Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category

·         Newbery Medal

·         Parents' Choice Awards - Story Books

·         School Library Journal Best Books

 “The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY


 “How Brat comes to terms with her failure and returns to Jane's home as a true apprentice is a gripping story about a time, place, and society that 20th-century readers can hardly fathom. Fortunately, Cushman does the fathoming for them, rendering in Brat a character as fully fleshed and real.... in language that is simple, poetic, and funny”. KIRKUS REVIEWS


CONNECTIONS
Cushman, Karen. 1995. Catherine called Birdy. HarperCollins. (9780064405843)
Avi. 2004. The Crispin: Cross of Lead. Hyperion Book CH. (9780786816583)

·         Student can discuss way they handle failure.

·         Students can discuss the message of the story.

·         Student can research about medieval times.

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