The Midwife's Apprentice
Author:Karen Cushman
John Newberry Medal Winner
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers New York/ 1996
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, realistic fiction
Themes: Homelessness, childbirth, apprenticeship, abuse, childhood, friendship, overcoming, farming life, European peasantry
Primary
Characters: Brat/ Beetle/ Dung Beetle/ Alyce
Secondary
Characters: Jane Sharp, Purr, Edward, Jennette
Summary:
Brat was found asleep in a pile of dung for she had no warm home that winter. In fact, she never had a home. Jane Sharp the village's midwife found her buried like a dung beetle and named her so. She took the young woman in and offered her work for meager meals and a semi-warm bed. However, the young girl was constantly abused by both Jane and villagers both verbally and physically. However, as she works for the midwife she learns the trade and delivers her first baby nearly a year later. Soon after, a visit to the fair and a few compliments prompts Brat/ Dung Beetle, as the Midwife called her, to choose a fitting name. She dubs herself Alyce and prompts the villagers to call her so. They are not so interested. Unfortunately, a young woman requests Alyce specifically to deliver her baby. This angers the midwife. Alyce is unable to coax the baby out and the midwife arrives and triumphantly delivers the baby. Alyce turns and runs away because she is nothing and can do nothing. She never belonged to anyone and deserved nothing. At wits end, Alyce arrives on a lowly inn. She goes inside and begs work for food. Does Alyce ever find happiness? Does anyone ever care for her? Will she find her place in this world and someone to love her as we all desire?
This would be a great story to accompany a history lesson about Medieval Europe. It has great depictions of life and beliefs from that time period but is dramatic enough to interest stubborn readers. The would be good for fifth to sixth grade. This can also be a great example for explaining how people can overcome everything. Poor Alyce was hated by all and loved by none but she overcame that, named herself, and became determined to make something of herself. Great lesson for bullied kids.
This would be a great story to accompany a history lesson about Medieval Europe. It has great depictions of life and beliefs from that time period but is dramatic enough to interest stubborn readers. The would be good for fifth to sixth grade. This can also be a great example for explaining how people can overcome everything. Poor Alyce was hated by all and loved by none but she overcame that, named herself, and became determined to make something of herself. Great lesson for bullied kids.
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