Historical Fiction Review – The Midwife’s Apprentice By Karen Cushman

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN 0395692296

Plot Summary
In medieval England, a midwife named Jane discovers a homeless girl slumbering in a disgusting but warm pile of dung. Jane snatches the girl and takes her in to work for her. She is unkindly referred to as ‘Beetle’ by the demanding midwife. Her only friend in the world and the only one who will listen to her is a scruffy orange cat she affectionately names “Purr.” Beetle watches and learns the tricks and techniques used by Jane. Her confidence grows, even renaming herself ‘Alyce.’ However, when asked to deliver a baby on her own, Beetle quickly learns that she does not know all there is about midwifery. She flees her current home to work in a nearby town. When called upon to deliver a baby this time, Alyce summons all of her courage and performs excellently. Following this feat, she promptly returns back to Jane the midwife, this time with bravery and determination.

Critical Analysis
In this Newbery Medal book, Karen Cushman illustrates young Alyce, who comes from a deprived background and basically has nothing in the world, and nothing to offer to it. She is plucked up by Jane Sharp and is given some sense of responsibility. Cushman is constantly developing Alyce’s confidence and intellectual ability. We can see how out of touch Alyce has been with the rest of the world when it comes to her emotional capabilities, “Strange sensations tickled her throat, but she did not cry, for she did not know how, and a heavy weight sat in her chest, but she did not moan or wail. For she had never learned to give voice to what was inside her.” Alyce’s failure in delivering a baby on her own is a pivotal point in the story. She has been working diligently, but feels as if she is a complete failure with her inability to showcase what she has learned. It takes the accomplishment of delivering a stranger’s baby at the inn to assure her that she is worth something, and does have so much to offer the world.

Cushman superbly depicts midwifery in medieval England. The “Author’s Note” gives an accurate explanation on the occupation of the midwife. At that time, several women who practiced this used several potions, tricks, and even spells, “In the afternoon Beetle left the village for the woods, where she gathered honey, trapped birds, and collected herbs, leeches, and spiders’ webs.” Cushman tells of the gritty ways that women experienced childbirth when dealing with a midwife like Jane Sharp, “Then she slapped Emma’s great bulge of a belly, lifted her from behind her shoulders, and gave her a good shake.”

Cushman provides a vast children’s appeal to this story. This short-reader can easily be read aloud in a classroom. Alyce’s antics with the local boys are sure to get a laugh, “’Touch that cat again,’ she shouted, ‘and I will unstop this bottle of rat’s blood and viper’s flesh and summon the Devil, who will change you into women, and henceforth each of you will giggle like a woman and wear dresses like a woman and give birth like woman!’” The character of Purr is Alyce’s steadfast friend and constant listener. To children, it often seems as if their pet is the only one in the world who understands them. Cushman creates this same familiar feeling between Alyce and Purr, often stating, “And the cat went with her.”


Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly
“In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, PW said that 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.’”
School Library Journal
“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.”

Connections
Students can describe a time that they thought they failed, and how they recovered from it. They can compare similar feelings to those of Alyce’s. Teachers must emphasize how hard work and determination have been important characteristics all throughout history, and in every profession.
Additional recommended books:
*Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman ISBN 0064405842
*Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi ISBN 0786808284