The Midwife's Apprentice
by Karen Cushman

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Book Reviews of The Midwife's Apprentice

Book Review: The Midwife's Apprentice
Summary: 5 Stars

When the girl is awakened the next morning by the rude taunting of a group of village boys, the girl encounters the equally harsh questioning of the village midwife. The girl asks the local midwife for work and food after being perfunctorily named "Beetle" by the midwife (after a dung beetle, of course). Thus begins the quietly amazing story of the girl's apprenticeship to the medieval English midwife.

In the author's notes at the end of the book, Cushman gives the reader a brief history of midwifery and a glimpse into everyday medieval life. Cushman so seamlessly weaves this historical information into the narrative, however, that she could almost dispense wih this information at the novel's end altogether. Her knowledge of herbal medicine, medieval folk traditions and history is extensive, as well as the masterful way she uses this information to tell a compelling story of how a young woman grows to discover her own self-worth in an often unforgiving world.

Alyce, as we later come to know the main character, convincingly demonstrates just how resourceful and resilient the human spirit can be. We share in her disappointments as well as her triumphs. Cushman includes a handful of memorable characters that not only help to support the awakening of Alyce's character, but also stand as solid characters in their own right.

Young adult women will undoubtedly relate to Alyce's character as they compare trying emtional situations in their own lives to the challenges faced by Alyce in the book.

Summary of The Midwife's Apprentice

Literature & Fiction Books

• Books > Subjects > Teens
• Historical Fiction