The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman

1.      Bibliography

Cushman, Karen.  The Midwife’s Apprentice.  New York: Clarion Books, 1995. ISBN 0547722176

2.      Plot Summary

A nameless child is found in the dung heap where she has gone to keep warm.  Because she has sought the dung heap, the villagers call her “Beetle”, like a dung beetle. The local midwife takes her in to perform odd jobs like fetching things and mixing things.  She slowly starts to pick up some skills and the villagers start to call her “The Midwife’s Apprentice”.  She has a success and thinks she is ready for a task she cannot achieve.  Feeling a failure, she runs away and goes to work at the inn in a nearby village. The story is about the young girls struggle to find way, herself and some share of happiness.

3.   Critical Analysis

Readers will associate with Beetle’s struggle to find her identity.  Her journey is familiar to people of all ages as we strive to find what makes us happy and fulfilled in our lives. However, Beetle’s plight may not be readily understood by anyone who not been without a roof over their head or food in their stomach.  The story does not get too much into the detail of the other characters so the village itself does not come to life.  And, the location could just as easily be colonial America as medieval England with the exception of some of the words of dialogue used.  But, the backwardness of medicine of the time is very apparent in the midwife’s concoctions and potions.

The book focuses on the theme of searching for identify and sense of belonging.  This theme is universally understood and something that people around the world struggle with their whole lives.  It is also a story about resolve and determination in the middle of hard times.  Beetle choice to be a named person; changing from Beetle to Alyce and wanted to not run away from her hardships is a universal goal of persistence. Following the story, the author has an addendum about midwifery.  She discusses what midwife’s were through history, how the managed delivering babies in medieval times and what they do today.

4.      Review Excerpts

1996 Newbery Winner

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

ALA Notable Book for Children

From School Library Journal: Starred review. "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: 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."

5.      Connections

Use with a social studies unit on homelessness and poverty.

Gather and read other Karen Cushman books such as:

      Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN 0547722184
      The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN 054772215X

Gather other Newbery Medal books to read such as:

      Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. ISBN 1616205679
      From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. ISBN 0689711816

Gather other children’s books about medieval time period such as:

      Avi. Crispin: The Cross of Lead. ISBN 0786816589
      Gidwitz, Adam. The Inquisitor’s Tale. ISBN 0525426167

Use in a history unit to illustrate life for women in medieval times.