The Midwife’s Apprentice
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen.
1995. The midwife’s apprentice. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 039569229
- PLOT SUMMARY
A young
girl growing up in England during the fourteenth century has never known the
simple pleasures in life. She didn’t have a family she had ever met, a home,
food, or any type of security. She didn’t even really know her own age. The
best guess was maybe 12 or 13. The only name she knew was Brat. She had to find
creative ways to stay warm, like sleeping next to a dung heap. It was here that
she was discovered by the sharp midwife that eventually offered her a job in exchange
for food and a place to stay. The midwife “did her job without energy and some
skill, but without care, compassion, or joy.” Brats most beloved friend was the
cat that she fed every so often and shared in the teasing and taunting the boys
in the village gave. The midwife began to call the girl Beetle and the name
stuck. She would do small jobs for the midwife and would accompany her to women’s
labors. Beetle watched and slowly began to learn certain things, but lacked any
confidence. After a trip to the fair, she decided to name herself Alyce and
began to see herself differently. Helping Will birth twin calves gave Alyce a
different view of labor. She saw love, care, and gentleness and this added to
her skills. Soon she assisted in the bailiff’s wife’s labor when two women were
giving birth at the same time. They were so pleased with her work that they
recommended her to another woman. The next time she was not successful and this
failure caused her to run away. Before she left, she found and helped a homeless
boy, Edward, find work and a home. For the next few months, she worked at an inn
and even learned to read from one of the guests during her time there. When the
midwife visited the inn, she revealed how pleased she had been with Alyce and
the disappointment she felt at her quitting. She found out that Edward was safe
and happy in a manor and even got to visit him. Alyce delivered a baby boy in
the inn, received a lot of job invitations, and ultimately discovered that she
wanted to be a midwife’s apprentice.
- CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Alyce is a great representation of anyone
that has ever felt insecure and alone. I remember how common that was as a
young girl. She is a hard worker, very persistent, caring, patient, and brave.
Her insecurities and fears also show up throughout the story making her real.
She has been through a lot, but she was still able to pick herself up and change
her life. Jane the midwife is harsh but generous. She didn’t have to take in
Alyce but she did and she gave her food to eat and a place to stay. No one else
had ever even paid attention to her. There are so many interesting elements of
history mentioned throughout the story. The ways that midwives treated their
patients, what the fairs were like, what manors were like, common foods that
were eaten, jobs that needed to be done, superstitions, and common punishments of
the time. All these things were mentioned without sacrificing the story. Each
part was interesting and funny and flowed easily to the next. The biggest theme
would have to be the effect of the choices a person makes. Each character has their
own style of speech, and they represent the dialect of the time. The author’s
note at the end gives more details about the facts the author discovered while
researching. This adds to the authenticity of the story.
- REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
ALA
Notable Children's Books
Newbery
Medal Book
Starred
review in Booklist: “Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a
pulsing beat. Kids
will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that
she's not ugly or stupid or alone.”
Starred
review in Kirkus Reviews: “rendering in Brat a character as fully
fleshed and real as Katherine Paterson's best, in language that is simple,
poetic, and funny. From the rebirth in the dung heap to Brat's renaming herself
Alyce after a heady visit to a medieval fair, this is not for fans of
historical drama only. It's a rouser for all times.”
Reviewed
in 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.”
Starred
review in School Library Journal: “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.”
- CONNECTIONS
*This book could lead to discussions and research
about medieval Europe.
*Invite students to write a letter to Alyce asking her
any questions they have, sharing personal connections, or sharing their
favorite part of the story.
*Other historical fiction books that take place in medieval
Europe:
Avi. Crispin: the cross of lead. ISBN 9780786816583
Gidwitz,
Adam The inquisitor's tale, or, the three magical children and their holy
dog. ISBN 9780142427378
Cushman,
Karen. Catherine, called Birdy. ISBN 9781328631114
Murdock,
Catherine Gilbert. The book of Boy. ISBN 9780062686213
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