THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN :13 97803952692295

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Set in medieval England, Cushman begins her story by describing a homeless, nameless, young orphan, devoid of self-worth, discovered keeping warm in a dung heap by Jane Sharp, an ill-tempered England village midwife. “(She) knew no home, and no mother and no name but Brat and never had…As long as she could remember, Brat had lived on her own by what means she could.” Jane takes the child to her home, christens her Beetle (along with other unsavory titles) and turns her into a servant in exchange for food and shelter (a bed on the floor and a few scraps to eat). Beetle also helps Jane gather supplies to ease the pain of childbirth and accompanies her to birthings. Little by little, Beetle secretly learns the art of midwifery by peeking and listening behind doors.

Beetle renames herself Alyce. “Alyce,” she breathed. Alyce sounded clean and friendly and smart. You could love someone named Alyce.” As circumstances would have it, Alyce delivers a baby, gaining confidence in her strength and abilities. Alas, this feeling is short lived when Alyce fails at a second delivery and the midwife must step in to save the mother and baby. Alyce is devastated and runs from her failure in humiliation and finds work at an inn. Here she meets a scholar who teaches her the alphabet and eventually how to read.

A woman and her husband come to the inn believing the wife has a stomach worm. Alyce realizes the woman is pregnant and helps her successfully deliver a healthy child. This act gives Alyce courage to go back to the Midwife to work and learn with her. Alyce learns not to give up in the face of adversity and finds new courage to face difficult situations.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Cushman’s historical fiction brings realism to life in medieval England. The Midwife uses course rude language with her apprentice, but so does Alyce to her cat because that is the only language she has ever heard, (“Damn you cat, breathe and live, you flea-bitten sod, or I’ll kill you myself.) Leeches, spider webs and plants are used in recipes to help deliver babies. Orphaned children are left to their own devices and not only have to name themselves, but carve a life for themselves, all alone.

Cushman chose to write about ordinary young people in other times because, “(She) grew tired of hearing about kings, princes, generals and presidents.” Research into life in medieval English history led her to write two books placed in this time period, CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY and THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. Reading books such as these give insight into different times in history that children can relate to more than reading history in a textbook. The characters come to life through dialogue and they go through their daily routines that are so different from today’s life. The character's language and behavior is authentic in Cushman’s novel and the reader develops an attachment to Alyce, empathy for the hardships she endures, admiration for her wit and self-preservation, and finally pride in the growth of her self-confidence and resilience.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly - Having focused on a well-born young heroine in her Newbery Honor debut novel. In CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, Cushman returns to a similar medieval English setting, this time to imagine how the other half lived. The strengths of this new, relatively brief novel match those of its predecessor: 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. The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.

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, who might be 12 or 13-no one really knows. 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.

ALA Booklist (starred review) - 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.” Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.

The Horn Book (starred review) - A fascinating view of a far distant time.

1966 Newbery Award .
A 1996 ALA Notable Children’s Book
An ALA 1996 Best Book for Young Adults New York Public Library
1995 List of Recommended Books
Booklist Books for Youth
Editors’ Choice School Library Journal 1995 Best Books of the Year
An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists.

5. CONNECTIONS

THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE is ripe with interesting vocabulary (heedless, diligent, dire, cordial, grovel, turmoil, haggle). Provide a bulletin board or designated place in the classroom for the students to place vocabulary words from the novel to study and use in their own writing.

Encourage the children to research life in medieval England. Provide resources, books, internet etc., for students to gain additional information about life in this time.

Have students research the herbs and flowers and ingredients that the midwife used to help her with her craft. If possible, bring pictures or examples.

Encourage the students to learn more about Karen Cushman on the internet and the research involved in writing her books.

Have discussions with the students about life in medieval England compared to their own lives in the present.

Have the students pick a selection of the book and create a Reader’s Theater script, each taking a part to study.

Suggest other period novels for the students to read, for example, THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE and CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY both written by Karen Cushman.