The Midwife’s Apprentice

‘Like Cushman’s 1995 Newbery Honor Book,CatherineCalled Birdythis novel is about a strong young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. This is a worldlike Chaucer’sthat’s . . . dangerousprimitive and raucous. From the first page you’re caught by the spirit of the homelessnameless waifsomewhere around 12 years old. She gets the village midwife to take her inbefriends a catnames herself Alyceand learns something about delivering babies. When she failsshe runs awaybut she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence.’ –ALA Booklist (starred review). ‘. . .A fascinating view of a far distant time.’ — The Horn Book (starred review)