The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Note from the editor: This week we have a special guest reviewer stepping in for Charlie Brown. I told him the book up for review is titled The Midwife's Apprentice, and he mumbled something about “I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies” and wandered out of the room. So here this week is his younger sister, Penny the Plott hound mix.

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Hello, everyone! I had a wonderful time immersing myself in the world of The Midwife's Apprentice, an historical fiction novel for middle grade readers, set in Medieval Europe. I never thought I would be able to relate to a character from so far in the past, but the young girl telling the story, who goes by Beetle (and later Alyce) is very relatable for me: we both started out as homeless, starving, nameless little things, until a kind woman took us in. For Alyce, it was the short-tempered midwife of the village who brought her into her home and took her under her wing. While under her tutelage, Alyce learns about perseverance, patience, and grace under pressure as she grows up and gains her own sense of identity.

Cushman does a magnificent job of making her story come alive on the page, breathing life into a village from long ago. Publisher's Weekly exclaims, “Cushman has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village...is supremely colorful and pungent” (Publisher's Weekly 1995). While the story revolves around timeless themes – the trials and tribulations of learning independence, negotiating relationships, and making choices – the details of life in Medieval Europe shine through as integral aspects of the setting. Whether it's her semiannual bath in the pond or the various period-specific medicines and herbs she gathers for the midwife, Cushman cleverly weaves in a plethora of facts about life in the 1400s. The book also includes an author's note in the end pages providing background information, in which she mentions the herbs, superstitions, and general practices of a medieval midwife.

Cushman's writing style allows for easy reading while still giving the text a medieval flair, helping immerse you even further into the story. School Library Journal calls Cushman's style “compelling and witty” (Jones & Toth 1995). While the dialogue has been modernized to facilitate reading for a younger audience, the author still includes some language from that time period: “'The devil take you, cat,' she cried. 'I be sore afraid to open that sack, but I can't just let you be'” (Cushman 1995, 9). Her carefully crafted paragraphs reflect a care and respect for her audience, balancing authenticity with readability to ensure the text is accessible to the early teenage reader.

Here in the greater Houston area, The Midwife's Apprentice would pair perfectly with a field trip to the Renaissance Festival, less than an hour from the city and full of hands-on experiences from the medieval time period. For a less time-intensive activity, students could try their hands at some medieval activities within the library or classroom, such as making soap or baking bread. For more stories about life in medieval times, readers may also enjoy Cushman's other novel about a medieval young woman, Catherine, Called Birdy. This story tells of a wealthy lord's daughter and the problems she faces as a noblewoman, which provides a nice contrast to The Midwife's Apprentice. Another option is to compare medieval life in Europe (with The Midwife's Apprentice) to medieval life in Korea with A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park.

All in all, The Midwife's Apprentice was a tale full of excitement, humor, and grit. It was ajoy to watch Alyce grow up as the story progressed, and it's one I would wholeheartedly recommend. Two paws up!

Wags & Woofs,

Penny

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References

Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife's Apprentice. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 978-0-547-72217-7

Jones, Trevelyn E. & Luann Toth. 1995. “SLJ's Best Books 1995: The Midwife's Apprentice.” School Library Journal 21, no. 12: 21.

Publisher's Weekly. “The Midwife's Apprentice.” Publisher's Weekly. Reviewed on March 27, 1995. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-395-69229-5.

White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

I'll be honest, we basset hounds don't know a lot about history. I don't think about the past much farther back than breakfast. So to get me engaged in a story, it has to feel like a story about real people, not about dates or historical figures or any of those things you humans are so preoccupied with. However, I was intrigued by the title White Sands, Red Menace, so I decided to give it a try.

Following the death of her father, young Dewey is taken under the protective wing of her father's friend and colleague Dr. Gordon, and she moves in with the family, including a daughter named Suze, who is about Dewey's age, and her mother Terry. Much of the story focuses on Dewey's relationships as she finds her place, both in larger social circles and within the family. Things only get more complicated when a mysterious stranger from Dewey's childhood appears and threatens to shatter the family she has built. Though a little slow to start, the story starts to pick up steam about halfway through the novel, finishing with a resolution that is both satisfying and heartwarming.

Klages' writing style is precise and inventive, much like the scientists about whom she writes. Each chapter alternates perspectives, sharing insights from Dewey, then from Suze. This could be confusing for readers on its own, but then Klages also tells the tale from a third person point of view. This unconventional perspective works perfectly for the story, allowing readers to see both girls' perspectives without losing the continuity of the story. Furthermore, the story encapsulates life in post-World-War-II America without turning the time period into the central plot. Kirkus Review explains her style well: “Told in the third person, the point-of-view subtly switches by chapter between the two girls. Although alluding to issues of the atomic age, that is not a focus of this story, which sensitively portrays the early coming-of-age of two likable characters in a unique setting” (Kirkus Review 2010).

I particularly enjoyed the characters in this story. Klages took care to create two independent and intelligent young women, and through their encounters with the people of Alamogordo, New Mexico, she exposes the racial and gender inequalities of the times. However, the author approaches these subjects in a subtle and nuanced way, thus avoiding a feeling that Klages is trying to overemphasize the inequalities of the times. Instead, it's presented as simply a part of the setting, which lends authenticity to the story (though both heroines question the unfairness of these injustices, and Suze even confronts the topic through her artwork).

The spotlight remains squarely on the characters and their interactions, with the issues and complexities of the late 1940s serving to provide a rich backdrop for a story about Dewey and Suze's struggle with the insecurities and challenges of teenage life. Klages does an amazing job of focusing on the timeless themes of sisterhood, friendships, and families, which makes the story truly come alive. School Library Journal”s Elizabeth Bird notes that “[w]hen a historical novel feels contemporary because the emotions and characters feel like they exist in the here and now, that’s the mark of a great book, my friend. One of Klages’ real talents is the balance of the past and the present. She takes great pains to remain historically accurate” (Bird 2008). And historically accurate it is: no matter how much I tried to immerse myself in the historical context, I couldn't help but wince every time a pregnant Mrs. Gordon lit a cigarette.

Because this novel falls between two great eras in American history, there are a plethora of options for extension activities. Having students collect and compare ads from today's magazines with a book or digital resource of ads from the 1940's and 1950's would give students perspective into what has changed in American culture - and what hasn't. Seventeen magazine in particular would be an interesting comparative study, as it is still in publication and was mentioned several times throughout the book. White Sands, Red Menace is actually the sequel to its sister novel, The Green Glass Sea, which would be a great companion book for any student wanting more of the Dewey and Suze duo. 

If you are looking for an interesting read that touches on all the feelings of "teenagerhood" through relatable and intelligent characters, you'll definitely enjoy White Sands, Red Menace. This story does things a little differently, and it works beautifully.

Wags & Woofs,

Charlie Brown

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References

Bird, Elizabeth. 2008. “Review of the Day: White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages.” A Fuse 8 Production. Posted September 6, 2008. http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/09/06/review-of-the-day-white-sands-red-menace-by-ellen-klages/.

Kirkus Review. “White Sands, Red Menace.” Kirkus Reviews. Posted May 20, 2010. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-klages/white-sands-red-menace/.

Klages, Ellen. 2008. White Sands, Red Menace. New York: Viking. ISBN: 978-0-670-06235-5

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm

This week, I got to go on vacation to the Florida Keys! Well, only through my powers of imagination, but still, it was a great trip. I read Jennifer Holm's Turtle in Paradise, a heartwarming and insightful work of historical fiction about a young girl's escapades on the keys of southern Florida during the Great Depression.

Holm weaves in the details of living in the Great Depression seamlessly, keeping the emphasis on the storyline and the characters that populate Key West. This kept me enthralled in the story and allowed me to feel the sticky heat of a Floridian summer and taste the salt of the ocean. It's clear why Turtle in Paradise was a Newbery Honor Book: Holm creates an overarching feeling of community, as every character seems to know everyone else in town, demonstrating how families got through the overwhelming hardships of the Depression by holding tight to each other and helping others.

Told from the first-person point of view of the main character, the voice of an eleven-year-old shines through so clearly: Turtle never worries about adult concerns like where her next meal will come from or whether they will be able to pay rent. Rather, she worries about the things children are concerned with: ice cream money, her cat's welfare, and fitting in with her relatives in Key West. Kirkus Review concurs that “Holm’s voice for Turtle is winning and authentic—that of a practical, clear-eyed observer—and her nimble way with dialogue creates laugh-out-loud moments” and calls the story “[s]weet, funny and superb” (Kirkus Review 2010). However, the careful reader will notice that Turtle has also had to grow up quickly as she and her mother move often, trying to find work. Compounding matters is her mother Sadiebelle's tendency to flit from boyfriend to boyfriend, getting her heart broken time and time again, and leaving young Turtle to pick up the pieces. It's clear this has had an impact on Turtle, making her more guarded in her interactions and more sensible than the average eleven-year-old would otherwise be.

Holm clearly did a significant amount of research in order to ensure the book's authenticity, as is evidenced by the author's note in the backmatter. The author's note discusses both the real people and events depicted in the book and includes some historic photographs from 1930's Key West, Florida.

Horn Book Magazine also found that “...Turtle's narrative is peppered with references from the time, as she compares herself to Little Orphan Annie and gladly avoids going to a Shirley Temple movie. Modern-day readers will have no trouble relating to Turtle, though, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end” (Lempke 2010).

Turtle in Paradise offers plenty of opportunities to bring history to life. Teachingbooks.net offers video and audio clips of interviews with the author and snippets from the audiobook to share with children (https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?a=1&tid=20495&s=n). To give students more context, teachers can play portions of the “Good Ship Lollipop” song mentioned throughout the book and the Little Orphan Annie radio show Turtle enjoys, both of which can easily be found online. Another useful tie-in would be to make “cut-up,” a Depression-era fruit concoction the children made a few times throughout the story, and discuss how the children would have scrounged up ingredients rather than making a trip to the grocery store.

I found Turtle in Paradise to be the perfect blend of sun and sand, lightness and poignancy, and joy and adversity. Holm spins a mighty fine tale for her readers, and I'd wholeheartedly give it two paws up!

Wags and Woofs,

Charlie Brown

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References

Holm, Jennifer. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN: 978-0-375-83688-6

Kirkus Review. 2010. “Turtle in Paradise.” Kirkus Review, posted December 22, 2010. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennifer-l-holm/turtle-in-paradise/.

Lempke, Susan Dove. 2010. “Turtle in Paradise.” Horn Book Magazine 86, no. 3: 81-82.