GENRE 5: The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

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

Plot Summary
A homeless, nameless girl in 14th century England known only as “Brat” awakens one frosty morning to find an important-looking woman gazing down at her. The woman is Jane Sharp, the village midwife, and she agrees to take Brat on as an apprentice after Brat agrees to work for food. The midwife christens Brat as Beetle, short for dung beetle, on account of the fact that Beetle sleeps in dung heaps to keep warm during the winter months.

As the midwife’s apprentice, Beetle works hard with little food as reward. She is constantly ridiculed by the village boys, but her observant nature allows her to learn skills necessary for midwifery, such as gathering herb, making poultices, and knowing what concoctions to give women in labor. As Beetle’s confidence grows, she re-names herself Alyce and begins to fit into the village. When she is forced to deliver a child on her own and fails, Alyce runs away and becomes an inn girl.

Life at the inn is simple. Alyce works hard and learns to read and write. When the midwife visits the inn one day, Alyce overhears her say that Alyce was one of the better apprentice’s she ever had. After some reflecting on her part, Alyce decides to return to the midwife in order to get what she truly wants out of life: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in the world.

Critical Analysis
Cushman’s timeless story of a young girl forging her own identity and realizing life’s endless possibilities is executed through a rare focus on medieval midwifery. Readers get a glimpse into the life of a midwife as Alyce learns about herbs, poultices, and remedies for childbirth. Cushman draws readers in with her attention to detail and ability to create an effective atmosphere for the story. As Alyce grows in knowledge, she grows in confidence and eventually realizes what makes her most happy in life. Her new knowledge gives her the courage to go after what she wants while realizing that life will always have set backs and disappointments.

The use of imagery in portraying a medieval village allows the reader to get a sense of how difficult life was during the 14th century. The sights and sounds of the village add to the atmosphere of the story and provide the perfect backdrop to Alyce’s transformation. Her hunger and desperation at the beginning of the novel come through clearly, as do her contentment and new-found sense of confidence toward the end of the novel.

Cushman’s characterization of the main character, Alyce, is fascinating and poignant. Alyce is introduced at the beginning of the novel as a homeless girl with little past and no future. She is hungry, desperate, illiterate, and unsure of the world around her. Readers are able to sympathize with Alyce, yet at the same time yearn for a stronger character that isn’t bullied by the midwife or ridiculed by the villagers. Cushman masterfully transforms Alyce through a series of plot events that ultimately lead to her new life. The midwife is not a likeable character, though her characterization is realistic since life in 14th century England was difficult and people could scarce afford to be nice or sympathetic when everyday was a battle to survive. The midwife’s treatment of Alyce was also a catalyst for Alyce’s change and was necessary for the story.

Readers are bound to have questions about midwifery after reading the novel, thus Cushman includes an author’s notes at the end that reveals more information on medieval midwifery. It is apparent that Cushman has done her research as she writes about the different herbs, medicines, superstitions, and techniques used by midwives during the 14th century.

Review Excerpt(s)
1996 Newbery Medal Winner

1998 Young Readers Choice Award

Booklist - “Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.”

School Library Journal - *Starred Review* - "With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England.”

Publishers Weekly - “The strengths of this new, relatively brief novel match those of its predecessor…”

Connections
- Research different types of jobs during the 14th century in England. Students can then create an advertisement for a particular job researched.
- Discuss how modern day inventions would have helped Alyce at her various tasks as an apprentice and midwife.
- Write an epilogue to the novel that shows Alyce’s life 10 years after the events in the book.