Historical Fiction: The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Cushman, Karen. (1994). The Midwife's Apprentice. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395692296

Summary

               

                The Midwife’s Apprentice is a touching tale of a young, homeless girl who is taken in by a village midwife. Found sleeping in a pile of dung for warmth, the child only known as Brat is taught the ways of the strict midwife, Jane. Brat is known to Jane as Beetle, but renames herself Alyce after being mistaken for another person. Alyce works hard and does what she can to help others, but severely lacks confidence. Fear of failure overwhelms Alyce, causing her to perform poorly while a woman is birthing a child. Ashamed of her misfortune, Alyce runs away and, over time, builds her confidence to become what the midwife wanted in an apprentice, a strong and determined young woman.

Analysis

                Although she is meek and unsure of herself, Alyce is a very strong, dynamic character. The reader can’t help but feel heartbroken for her as she speaks of “[dreaming] of nothing, [hoping] for nothing, and [expecting] nothing”. She is unfamiliar with family, prayers, songs, or kind words, until unlikely friends guide her to be compassionate. The midwife’s high expectations and harsh words cause Alyce to cower under pressure, losing any bit of confidence she may have had and running off to a new place of work and home. Her dynamic nature is displayed when she delivers a baby without fear or hesitation, stands up to the midwife and proves her newfound perseverance.

                Set in medieval England, The Midwife’s Apprentice storyline is reflective of the time. The setting is an integral part of the story and the history is presented accurately. The lack of medicinal knowledge and the use of potions and various herbs in childbirth helps the reader gather what life was like as a midwife during these times, as doctors were not prevalent. The reader is taken through a traditional plot line as we learn about Alyce’s fate from a somber beginning to a climactic ending.

                A strong theme of perseverance and determination is present throughout the story. As Alyce grows into a confident young woman, she realizes that “from someone who had no place in the world, she had suddenly become someone with a surfeit of places”. Static characters note the change, wanting her to remain a part of their lives.

                Cushman’s use of language is reflective of the time period in which the story is set. While a young reader may find the language confusing and difficult to relate to, the words and voice are very powerful.  The story is told in a third-person perspective, but the feelings omitted by Alyce, as well as all the other characters, are easily interpreted.

                In an author’s note at the end of the book, Cushman proves her credibility with facts about midwifery, mostly during the medieval age. She makes connections to current times, making it easier for the reader to understand the differences between then and now. Based on the facts provided in the author’s note, the historical events in the story prove to be very authentic.

Personal Response

                I think The Midwife’s Apprentice is a wonderful historical fiction novel. It takes the reader very far into history, a time that young students may not be familiar with. The attitudes and language may be difficult for students to understand, and the content can be a bit much at times with birth descriptions and a topless female on an available cover art, however, the book would  be well suited for a mature young adult fan of historical fiction.

Awards and Reviews

A 1996 John Newbery Medal Winner

“Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.” –Hazel Rochman, Booklist

ALA Notable Children’s Books, 1996

Booklist starred, 1995

School Library Journal starred, 1995

Horn Book starred

Connections

Karen Cushman’s novels lend themselves well to either an author study or a historical fiction genre study. Teachers and librarians can consider reading the following texts by Cushman:

Catherine, Called Birdy. (1994)

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple.(1994)

Matilda Bone. (2000)

Will Sparrow’s Road. (2012)