The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
Winner, 1996 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
In medieval England, a 13-year-old orphan works with a sharp-tempered midwife, learning her trade, cultivating friendships with humans and animals, and discovering her place in the world.
Favorite Quote
But the man and the servants, still on their knees before her, prayed and thanked her for the cure of their mistress and the miracle of the baby, and while she was at it, the female servant asked for a warm cloak for winter and that the wart should fall off her chin.
About the Author
Karen Cushman writes historical fiction. She started writing at 49 and enjoys writing "about gutsy girls figuring out who they are." Her first book, Catherine, Called Birdy, was a Newbery Honor book. (Her writing studio looks charming, by the way.) According to her website, The Midwife's Apprentice is her favorite book of hers.
My Project
For this project I wanted to show the many herbs, flowers, plants, and leaves that midwives used in their work during the medieval years. Some of these included ragwort, columbine, woolly nightshade, goat's beard, sage tea, elder leaves, and mistletoe. I picked some weeds, leaves, and twigs from my own yard and made prints with brown and butterscotch paints. I used the brown shades because as with the other medieval books I've read this year, there was an emphasis on the amount of dirt and mud on people and things. (To the purists: No, the labels don't match the plants I used. I don't own any of the ones mentioned in the book.)
I debated whether or not to add the words to this piece, given that almost all the characters in the book cannot read. However, there is a visiting scholar who comes to write down the midwife's cures with his quill pen in his encyclopaedia, so I opted to include them.
Alyce's ginger calico cat is also in the piece. He plays a key role in that his listens to Alyce's musings as she goes about her day. (He even has his own chapter.) Here's part of her description: " ... but even from a distance could tell that there was a gleaming patch of white in the dusty orange of his fur, right below his chin ..."
Final Thoughts
This book felt like a very credible depiction of the hard life of an orphan in medieval times, particularly in regards to finding food and shelter. The ending isn't a strong happily-ever-after one, but it felt fitting and lifelike. The writing is full of densely packed, long sentences which seem to fit well with the time period. (Here's one example: "The cook sat down, her face red from the heat and emotion and the boiling and stewing going on about her, took off one great leather shoe, and used it to fan her face.") I enjoyed the author's note at the back where she explained medieval midwifery and tied it into today's world.
Your Turn
If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.