BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1996. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. New York: Harper Trophy.
ISBN 006440630X
PLOT SUMMARY
In Medieval England, a destitute young girl known only as Brat, moves hopelessly from village to village surviving only by her wits, occasional scraps of food, and odd jobs here and there. Discovered sleeping in a dung heap by the village midwife, Brat quickly seizes the opportunity to exchange work for food and a better place to sleep. Armed with courage, determination, and a kind spirit, she eventually finds exactly what she is looking for - her own place in the world.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Brat the orphan and Jane the midwife seem entirely believable for the period in which they live. With strength, determination, and a quick mind, both struggle to survive in a world that is especially difficult for women. Brat’s chance encounter with the midwife offers a rare opportunity to significantly improve her lot in life. Instantly, she notices the “important looking woman” with the “wimple starched in sharp pleats.” After asking for something to eat and being told that “those who don’t work don’t eat,” she hurriedly tells the woman that “I am stronger and smarter than I seem.” The midwife’s decision is equally swift as “The woman’s sharp nose smelled hunger, which she could use to her own greedy purpose.” She renames the girl and takes her home where “the midwife was generous only with the work she gave Beetle and stingy with rewards, and the girl was never overfed.” Thus, each one is using the other to make life easier, and hopefully more prosperous.
From the opening scene of Brat sleeping in a dung heap to references of cottages and villagers “digging long furrows in the field to take the seed,” Cushman takes readers back to medieval England. She vividly depicts this world with chapter introductions such as “Suddenly it was summer and leaves erupted on every tree and bush in the village, and you could see flowers blooming by the road, in the churchyard, and in the hair of young girls as they swung down the path to the village square.” In addition, daily chores such as spreading newly washed clothes in the sun, sweeping the cottage’s dirt floor, trapping birds, and boiling goose grease for ointment accurately reflect the time period as well. Sprinkled throughout the story are village holidays such as Lady Day, May Day, and Saint John’s Eve. Another authentic touch is the use of names such as Steven the Fletcher, Joan-at-the-Bridge, and Thomas the Stutterer.
From the moment that the young girl is plucked from the dung heap and thrust into the clutches of the midwife, the plot is gripping and moves effortlessly from one chapter to the next. The story unfolds within the space of about a year. During this time, Beetle grows up - moving from childhood to adulthood. She wants to find a special place of her own in the world and begins by making friends with a boy named Will that she rescues from the river and Edward, a homeless boy she finds in the cowshed. Then quite unexpectedly, she discovers her femininity at the Saint Swithin’s Day Fair. After noticing the girl admiring one of his combs, the merchant gives it to her saying, “Comb those long curls till they shine, girl, and sure you’ll have a lover before nightfall.” She leans over a horse trough to examine her reflection and wonders, “Curls. Were these tangles then curls?” Immediately afterwards, when she is mistaken for someone named Alyce, Beetle decides that it is time that she had a proper name. She chooses Alyce because it “sounded clean and friendly and smart." This marks the beginning of Alyce seeing herself as intelligent and capable.
The most important theme in The Midwife’s Apprentice is the idea the one should never give up. Alyce first demonstrates this by doing whatever it takes to survive whether it is “stealing an onion here or helping with the harvest there in exchange for a night on the stable floor.” She’s even willing to sleep in a putrid dung heap if it will provide the warmth she needs to survive. Secondly, despite her harsh treatment at the hands of a midwife who considers her “too stupid and scared to be any competition,” Alyce realizes that her hard work is what is keeping the food in her belly and the roof over her head. Thus, she doesn’t just walk away from this job, she stays with it. Third, she realizes that her failed attempt in delivering a baby doesn’t mean that she cannot improve her skills and do a better job the next time. Toward the end of the story, she is given another opportunity to deliver a baby. Alyce ignores the voices in her head calling her a “nitwit” and saying “you gave up.” She is rewarded for her efforts and experiences the joy of success.
Cushman’s writing style is unique in that she creates a captivating story with a strong protagonist, meaningful themes, and a richly-textured historical setting. Through the narrator, readers come to know Alyce completely – her persistence to survive, her lack of self-esteem, and her need to belong. Cushman masterfully weaves important themes throughout the story without being “preachy.” This is accomplished by providing insight in Alyce’s thoughts and actions. The morning after Alyce runs away, she awakens to realize that, “Behind her were the village, Emma, the midwife, and failure – she could not go back there. She could not stay her in the rain waiting to die, for she was too cold and hungry and uncomfortable and alive. So she went ahead.” Cushman merges vivid details of the changing seasons with the lives of the villagers to create a rich historical setting. With phrases as simple as “Alyce was sitting by the fire one cool November morning, tying birch twigs for a broom” sprinkled throughout the story, Cushman keeps readers engrossed in this particular time period.
REVIEW EXCERPTS/HONORS
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book for Children
Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Parents' Choice Gold Award
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Starred review from Booklist: "Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone."
From School Library Journal: (Grades 6-9) "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."
CONNECTIONS
Divide the class into teams and play "Alyce Jeopardy" with categories such as: Who Said, Characters, and 13th Century, and Slang.
http://www.mrcoward.com/slcusd/jeopardy/alycejeopardy.html
This interactive website allows students to learn about life in the Middle Ages. Topics include feudal life, religion, homes, clothing, health, arts/entertainment, and town life. For example, the Health page allows students to try their hand at medieval medicine with three different patients. Each patient's specific symptoms are described and then a list of 3 different treatments are suggested. Once a student has selected the correct answer, a detailed description of the illness is provided. http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/
There are also LOTS of links to related books and additional resources!
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