A Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1995. A Midwife's Apprentice. New York, NY: Houghton Mufflin Company. ISBN 0395692296.

Plot Summary
Set in 14th century England, A Midwife's Apprentice, is a powerful story of how Beetle (aka Alyce) overcomes life's circumstances to become a person with a name and a place in the world. The story opens with Beetle using the dung heap for warmth and a place to sleep and is awakened by the local midwife who assumed she was a dead beggar. Beetle talked Jane, the midwife, into a job in exchange for food. Thus began Beetle's journey and how she became the midwife's apprentice.

Critical Analysis
A Midwife's Apprentice is a set in the 14th century England and looks at the forgotten profession of midwives. Beetle is homeless and hungry when she is discovered by Jane, the midwife. Jane sees a perfect opportunity to receive cheap labor and offers Beetle work as her apprentice in exchange for food.

Lacking self confidence, Beetle does whatever Jane asks of her in exchange for two meals a day of onions, turnips, dried apples, cheese, bread, and bacon. However, as time passes Beetle slowly learns the way of the midwife and also develops a friendship with Will Russet. After a failed attempt to deliver a baby on her own, Beetle runs away but returns after learning the importance of "how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up."

Cushman's simple writing adds authenticity to the story. Beetle and Jane are simple people, living in simple times and Cushman does an excellent job portraying them in the story. She is also honest about the times and living conditions of the poor during 14th century England. The author's research of the profession is evident in how she describes the different techniques Jane uses with different women. She adds an author note at the end of the story explaining the profession of midwives and how it has changed throughout the years.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly: "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."

School Library Journal: "Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart."

Connections
*Read other Newbery award winning novels that are historical fiction and compare plots, characters, and settings.
*After reading A Midwife's Apprentice, have the students research 14th century England and find an occupation that they may be interested in.