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.
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