The Midwife's Apprentice

The Midwife's Apprentice. by Karen Cushman. (1996). 144p. New York: HarperCollins.


Awards and Honors: Newbery Medal, 1996

Review:

The Midwife’s Apprentice is the story of a homeless, nameless orphan who after seeking shelter in the warmth of a trash heap ends up being apprenticed to a  harsh midwife in a medieval village. Jane the Midwife takes her in, not out of pity or kindness, but because she is looking for cheap labor, and names her Beetle. The girl soon renames herself Alyce, and begins to learn the midwife's trade. Although Alyce comes across many stumbling blocks, she is a plucky and likeable heroine who does not let her unlucky circumstances get the best of her. This is ultimately a story about hope and determination.

Opinion:
Alyce's determination through her travails left me rooting for her and wishing that Cushman had written a sequel to The Midwife’s Apprentice. Though I'm not much for books with a moral, I enjoyed the message of persistence and will.

Ideas: 
Use this book to enhance lessons on Medieval fiction.