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The Midwife's Apprentice
The Midwife's Apprentice
The Midwife's Apprentice
Audiobook2 hours

The Midwife's Apprentice

Written by Karen Cushman

Narrated by Jenny Sterlin

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Lyrical yet unsentimental, The Midwife's Apprentice won the coveted 1996 Newbery Medal. Filled with striking characters, it paints unforgettable pictures of village life in the Middle Ages, the midwife's craft, and a very remarkable girl's growing independence and pride. Brat has no name, no home, and no shelter against the 14th-century English winter except the foul warmth of a dung heap. So when Jane the Midwife wakes her with a kick and takes the half-starved creature to her cottage, a curious relationship begins. Jane teaches Brat to gather herbs and make the poultices used to ease the pain of childbirth for the village women. The skinny young girl quickly learns to obey the sharp-tongued midwife, and secretly watches Jane practice her art whenever she can. But Jane is also teaching Brat unspoken lessons that will take longer-maybe a lifetime-to master.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 23, 2008
ISBN9781436137034
The Midwife's Apprentice
Author

Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman's acclaimed historical novels include Catherine, Called Birdy, a Newbery Honor winner, and The Midwife's Apprentice, which received the Newbery Medal. She lives on Vashon Island in Washington State. Visit her online at karencushman.com and on Twitter @cushmanbooks.

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Reviews for The Midwife's Apprentice

Rating: 4.157303370786517 out of 5 stars
4/5

89 ratings55 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoy this and the other book by Cushman that I have, Catherine, Called Birdy. They are fascinating looks at what it might have been like for those not in power during medieval times.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A homeless girl is chosen to be a midwife's helper. The midvife is very mean. She hits and talks badly to the girl. The girl learns a lot from watching the midwife deliver babies. The girl goes through a lot of hardships and adventures, but in the end she decides to stay on as the midwife's apprentice. The girl starts out as a nobody and ends up with a place in the world.Personal Reaction -It was hard to read about the mistreatment of the girl, but overall it was a good book. I like how the author made gradual changes in how the girl looked and how she viewed herself. It was nice to watch her transpire into a lovely young woman with more confidence.Classroom Extensions- This book might not be appropriate for the classroom. There are some topics like spells and childbirth that might conflict with families personal beliefs.-If I did use it in the classroom, I would use it as a small group book for the more mature or advanced children in my class.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story is set in 14th century England, about a homeless waif named Brat. She is found in a dung heap by the village midwife. Brat is rename Beetle and works very hard for stern Jane the midwife for her food and board. It is a story of determination of a young empathetic girl who wants more out of life. She saves a cat (Purr), from the town bullies, which becomes her best friend. She helps another homeless young 6 year old boy who goes and works at the manor. When the midwife breaks her leg Beetle goes to the Saint Swithin’s Day Fair to purchase the herbs and leather flasks that Jane needed. While at the fair a merchant takes a liking to Beetle and gives her a comb. She changes her name to Alyce. When she is afraid to deliver a child by herself without the midwife she believes she is a failure and runs away. Alyce works at an Inn and while there she learns more about herself, than returns to the village and the midwife. Personal Response:This is a story of perseverance, survival and overcoming obstacles in order to reach goals. Alyce swallows her pride and returns to the midwife and continues to learn. I believe she probably became a compassionate skilled midwife, better than Jane who was pretty harsh. However, I do believe Jane does have a heart. She had given birth to 6 children and none lived. She found and helped a homeless waif first known as Brat. I like this book. Classroom Extensions:1. Have the students compare and contrast the differences between what life would be like in the 14th century and now.2. Homelessness was a problem then and now, people go hungry every day in America so I would ask that the students donate outgrown clothes to the Salvation Army, and have them organize a food drive to give to the local food bank.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A young girl, known as Brat, fends for herself living off scraps and sleeping where she can. One morning, the village midwife, Jane, takes her in for cheap labor. Jane is a hard taskmaster, but Brat eventually learns how to stand up for herself and begins to believe in herself. She decides to call herself Alyce and insists everyone do the same. After a birth she was not able to handle, Alyce decides she is worthless and runs away. Eventually she chooses to go back to Jane and learn everything she can to become a midwife herself.The lesson is try, fail, but then try again.Short and sweet, a good audio.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alyce is a young girl in medieval England who is making her own way the best she can. Life is hard and cruel for her. It takes all her effort to keep herself warm and fed. The midwife takes her on as a helper and it is there that the world opens up to her bit by bit. Ultimately, she discovers that she needs to do what she wants even if that road is not the most comfortable or easiest.Karen Cushman's storytelling comes easily and this book is delightful. I think it's a fine match for 5th or 6th graders who are ready to start making some decisions. We could use this book in class as a basis for discussing choice and opportunity costs. Alyce needed to think carefully before she chose, and students would do well do imagine what other choices may have looked like.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Newberry Award winner, this book tells the tale of Alyce (Dung) with no name, no home, and no family. Curled in a dung heap, the village midwife finds her there and takes her in as a helper and an apprentice. Alyce begins to learn skills of midwifery, begins to make friends and finds her self worth. However, one day, when Alyce is summoned to deliver a baby, she fails and runs away, believing she is too stupid to become a midwife. Alyce must then learn to value herself again. A 4 out of 5 stars.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I decided to read another Newberry winner. This one wasn't one of my favorites. Not much more to say.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Engaging story of a 13th century homeless waif who winds up living with a midwife and learning the trade.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Another in my quest to read Newbery Medal winners. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. It was really well written, and fun, and didn't spend the whole book just being like "well, life sucked and she was abused a lot." This girl can hold her own - it's very inspiring, I think all girls around ten or up should read it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another story set in medieval England, but since I owned it, I thought I might as well read it. I'm glad that I did! I enjoyed this story much more than Door in the Wall, for a variety of reasons. First of all, the characters are much more complex. No plain black and white, good and bad people here. Second, I liked the problems that Beetle/Alyce, the main character, faced. Her struggle to find her name, her wants, herself, were engrossing. Third, we have a female main character. What can I say, I'm partial to strong female leads.The story is about this girl, Beetle, who is an orphan living in times not kind to orphans. She's had to rely on her own wits to survive, ignoring the taunts and cruelties of townsfolk, stealing and scavenging, even burrowing into dung heaps to keep warm. It is in one of these dung heaps that Jane, a midwife, finds her and takes her home. However, Jane is no philanthropist. She sees Beetle as cheap labor, willing to work for lodging and little food. Despite her still inhospitable surroundings, Beetle slowly finds herself adapting the the town and people, becoming acquainted with herself and growing stronger, and finally discovering who she is and what she wants. A really heartwarming story little story that presents the world in its imperfect shape, yet offers hope for even the most lost.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A wonderful tale of perseverance, coming-of-age, and finding your place in the world!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Exceeded my expectations quite a bit. Never knew what was coming: I thought the midwife would be compassionate and take the girl under her wing; I thought the scholar at the inn would effect a huge transformation in Alice; I thought she would return to the village after a short time away and discover she had brilliant midwifery talents. I didn't have an emotional reaction to this book, but I thought it was a fascinating glimpse into life in the 1300s (no one knew the king's name?!), and I had to keep reading to see how Alice fared. (THAT part I predicted!)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really enjoyable short medieval fiction about a young foundling who finds her place in the world. Delightful in detail, hard work and hope.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book tells the plight of a young homeless and nameless girl in medieval England. The book opens up with the young girl trying to satisfy the most basic of requirements: trying to stay warm and find a bite to eat. Readers will feel for the main character, but she is difficult to identify with at times. For instance, she does not have a real name until halfway through the book, allowing local villagers instead to call her what they please. Most of the time these names were far from nice! She is taken on by a local midwife where she works to the best of her ability without ever developing a sense of confidence. This lack of confidence and self identity leads to a character who allows outside circumstances to dictate her life and will frustrate readers. Additionally, the book recreates a very harsh depiction of medieval England that is filled with unsavory characters. However, this Newbery winner will provide readers with a glimpse into the past in addition to the eventual blossoming of the main character. Suitable for elementary through high school libraries.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This Newbery medal award winner is set in 14th century mediaeval England. In a sense that fact is immaterial in terms of the story. What the setting does offer is a wonderful reason for using delightful, varied and unusual vocabulary. I marked many passages of beautiful writing reminiscent of the period setting yet deeply adding to the depth of the story. The Author’s note at the end was just what I wanted as I completed the book as it answered many of my puzzles as I read.The central character Beetle is ‘needed by no one’ at one point. Gradually, glimmerings of self belief appear in response to the actions of other characters. At one point she is given a comb that she has much coveted. However it was given with a wink and a compliment and although ‘she did not know it, they were also gifts, and they nestled in Beetle’s heart and stayed there’. Wondrously, Beetle then begins to share what she learns along her journey and others begin to value her. She is painted as a kind and humble character and the fruit of those traits becomes increasingly evident. Beetle continues to learn from her experiences and in doing so is able to give increasingly of herself. Naturally she comes up against events that mean she loses faith in herself, yet even then the reader learns that the friendship and loyalty she has shown is repaid and proffers great comfort.The main question the story poses is found towards the end when she is asked by Magister Reese ‘And what, inn girl, do you want of life?’ By the end she discovers for herself the great truth of life and through her actions she gives Edward (a small waif) the self confidence and skills he had previously lacked – and so the circle is continued.An excellent and very satisfying read with themes ranging from success to failure, perseverance, life long learning, hope and compassion. This was well deserving of the Newbery Medal award and would be delightful to read aloud.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When we first meet the protagonist, her name is Brat. That is all this homeless girl who sleeps in a dung heap can remember being called. Fortunately, the person's dung heap she sleeps in one night belongs to the local midwife, Jane, who agrees to take in Brat as a servant in exchange for food and shelter. Jane is not the loving benevolent type. She works Brat hard and gives her meager food and constatntly reminds Brat how stupid and clumsey she is. However, Brat begins to build relationships with the villagers and some start to to treat her with some kindness and respect. Brat's self-confidence grows and she decides to name herself Alyce. Alyce decides she wants to be a midwife and sneaks into woman's rooms when Jane is assisting them to try to learn the craft. One night, a family asks for Alyce's help, rather than Jane's. Alyce, however, cannot deliver the baby. Having failed, Alyce runs away. Evetually, though, Aluce learns to regain herself confidence and pursue her dreams.As a historical novel, this book vividly and honestly portrays the harshness of time. Most people were unbathed, had barely enough food, could not read, and had never ventured far beyond their village. The scarcity of necessities made people less compassionate to the most needy. At the start, none of the villagers seemed to care at all about the well-being of a young homeless girl. The book also vivdly portrays the meagerness of people's belongings. Brat (before she is Alyce) is given a comb. She had never known such luxery, generally just running her fingers through her hair. The language also provides a sense of the period. Alyce's colloquial speech reveals her lack of education and low status.This book is an excellent coming-of-age story about a girl who learnd to value herself so that she can go on to pursue her dream. This book would be appropriate for grade 5 to 8.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Summary: The local midwife in the 14th century stumbles upon a young homeless woman in a village in England. The midwife offers the young woman a job and she accepts a position as the midwife's apprentice. Personal Reaction:It was an interesting story of a homeless person making something of herself.Classroom Extensions:#1: I would begin a food drive for students to donate to. We would then give the food to a homeless shelter.#2: I would have the students journal about how they think life would be if they were homeless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Beetle is an orphan in a nameless village somewhere in England during the reign of Edward I. When she’s found keeping warm one winter in a dung heap, the local midwife takes her in as a servant. Though Beetle’s journey to discover her name and place in this world is sweet, I was more interested in the descriptions of daily life during the Middle Ages. It’s a short book, easily finished in a sitting or two, but well worth the read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book tells the story of a girl who was not wanted by her family and lives her life living as an outcast in society. A midwife takes her in and gives her a place to sleep, but treats "Beetle" with no dignity or respect. Beetle becomes her apprentice and is thro ART/MEDIA: none
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Beetle is an orphan in 14th century England. When she is discovered in a dung heap by the town's midwife, Beetle is renamed Alyce and becomes the midwife's apprentice. The midwife has a sharp tongue and Alyce doesn't know if she's cut out for the job, but she soon adjusts to her life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Reviewed Oct 1998 Another winner for Karen Cushman. I read this book in 90 minutes and cried though most of it. A young girl with no history or name is found by a cruel hard midwife. The girl who was known as Brat later changes her name to Alyce. She learns the tools of the trade, but finds knowledge to be of little use but practice and patience to be more valuable. She fails with one birth and runs away to work in an Inn. She meets several new people and also to read, later she fins she must make a choice. A young girl who was wanted by no one now is needed by many. 36-1998
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The old midwife, Jane, a homeless waif, called 'Beetle' by all who abuse her, and a cat make up the main characters in this story. Beetle has kept herself alive by begging jobs in exchange for food and sleeping in haystacks or dung heaps throughout her young life. Jane seems to have plenty for her to do, so she sticks there, and while sticking, she watches. Unknown even to herself, Beetle is learning.Life in medieval times was interesting to read about within this story. Beetle's gradual coming into herself was also very well written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Having first read Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy, I jumped into reading this award-winning novel with high expectations. The Midwife's Apprentice follows Beetle, an orphan without even a name, in 14th century England. Taken in by a harsh-mannered midwife, Beetle is at first overjoyed to not be sleeping in smelly dung. She slowly starts to learn the trade of midwifery, overcoming the judgement and scorn of those around her. When she abruptly leaves the midwife after what she considers a failure, Beetle (now called Alyce) must learn to know only fight for what she wants, but that she is worth fighting for. The Midwife's Apprentice has been challenged by many due to its coarse language, vivid depictions of childbirth, and scenes of sexual advances toward Alyce. I was unfazed by these passages, and actually saw them as more than appropriate for a time period during which children's innocence was neither prized or warranted due to harsh living conditions. Alyce emerges as a heroine full of grit and determination, but made more likable by the fact that she'd rather use this passion for others than for herself. Cushman does use authentic Olde English language and terms in the book, but nothing was so unknown or off-putting that I was unable to follow the storyline. The characters around Alyce do at times seem as if they are solely filling an archtypal role, but inherent in 14th century England was the reality that you were assigned a sole task that even shaped your name. While reaing this book you'll root for Alyce and her loving cat-but my mind did wander back to Catherine at times, my true Cushman favorite character.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Set in the Middle Ages, Brat who becomes Beetle, who becomes Alyce has been on her own for as long as she can remember. She ends up being taken in by the local midwife who is a hard task master, but who feeds her in exchange for labor. Through observation and misadventure, Alyce finds self-empowerment and the determination not to give up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Brat, Dung Beetle, or Alyce - whichever name our heroine goes by, she is full of pluck and intelligence - two qualities she gravely needs to survive as an orphan in the Middle Ages. It is Jane Sharp, the village midwife, who plucks Alyce from the dung heap and gives her shelter and sustenance, though no kindness, for her hard work. Slowly, Alyce begins to learn about the world around her and the work of a midwife, though she remains convinced of her own stupidity. Never sure, never confident, Alyce slowly works to find what she most wants - "a place in this world."

    Cushman does historical fiction with strong female characters better than almost anyone else. The Midwife's Apprentice is remarkable because, despite its short length, Cushman manages to create a character so imperfect and yet so appealing, that the reader will unreservedly root for her to thrive. Cushman pays no less attention to the setting which is full of lush historical details that make this an ideal companion for units on the Middle Ages. The obstacles that Alyce faces, both within herself and in her world would make for great discussion as well.

    Listened to the Recorded Books CD edition narrated by Jenny Sterlin. Sterlin handles the medieval language with assurance and a slight accent that never distracts from the story. Previously read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Picked this up for the girls -- it's a Newberry medal winner -- and wound up quite enjoying it myself.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This heartwarming tale set in fourteenth century England, is the 1996 Newbery Medal award winning book.A pitiful homeless young woman is poor in every possible sense. Lacking food, a place to stay, no means of support and no name, the waif-like girl lives in a dung heap for shelter.Taken in by a midwife, she not only learns a trade, but most importantly, the character, who struggles with self doubt, finds beauty and confidence in helping others.Rich in detail, Cushman accurately, sensitively depicts the harsh cruelties of medieval existence when life was brutal, and survival was a day to day accomplishment.I very much like the way in which the author developed the character from a nameless down-trodden street vagabond into a spunky, talented young woman who not only gains a name (Alyce) but who also symbolically finds a way in the world.This is a delightful book of a girl born to fail who, against all odds, finds confidence and inner strength.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book is about a young girl who has nothing, she does not even know her own name. The book goes through her finding out who she is with the help of a midwife. She finds a name and learns the way of a midwife. She then feels dissappointed and ashamed of herself again when something goes wrong. Througout the book she becomes friends with a young boy and helps him through the tough times.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Midwife's Apprentice is written by Karen Cushman. This story is about a young homeless girl who lives in medieval England and who is trying to find her place in the world. I really like this story, how it is a good story about a serious topic. This story is very uplifting and a great read.I would like to read this book to my students and have them write a paper about it and how they felt about the serious topic in the book.