The Midwife's Apprentice (Trophy Newbery) (Paperback)
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品牌: Karen Cushman
基本信息·出版社：HarperCollins
·页码：128 页
·出版日期：1996年
·ISBN：006440630X
·条形码：9780064406307
·装帧：平装
·正文语种：英语
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内容简介‘Like Cushman’s 1995 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. This is a world, like Chaucer’s, that’s . . . dangerous, primitive and raucous. From the first page you’re caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old. She gets the village midwife to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but 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)Winner, 1996 Newbery Medal; New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books; Booklist for Youth Editor’s Choice 1995; School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 1995; An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists, 1995; A 1996 Notable Children’s Book (ALA); A 1996 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
作者简介Karen Cushman has a long-standing interest in history. She says, "I grew tired of hearing about kings, princes, generals and presidents. I wanted to know what life was like for ordinary young people in other times." Research into medieval English history and culture led to the writing ofCatherine Called Birdy,winner of the 1995 Newbery Honor Award, andThe Midwife's Apprentice,winner of the 1996 Newbery Medal. Her research moved in a new diredtion as she learned about nineteenth century women and children forThe Ballad of Lucy Whipple.
Ms. Cushman was born in Chicago, Illinois. She received an M.A. in Human Behavior and one in Museum Studies. She and her husband and daughter share their Oakland, California, home with two cats, a dog and a rabbit.
编辑推荐Amazon.com Review
Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, and her feisty female characters firmly planted in history. InThe Midwife's Apprentice, which earned the 1996 Newbery Medal, this makes a winning combination for children and adult readers alike. Like her award-winning bookCatherine, Called Birdy, the story takes place in medieval England. This time our protagonist is Alyce, who rises from the dung heap (literally) of homelessness and namelessness to find a station in life--apprentice to the crotchety, snaggletoothed midwife Jane Sharp. On Alyce's first solo outing as a midwife, she fails to deliver. Instead of facing her ignorance, Alyce chooses to run from failure--never a good choice. Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climactic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty! Still, Cushman redeems her writing, as always, with historical accuracy, saucy dialogue, fast-paced action, and plucky, original characters that older readers will eagerly devour. (Ages 12 and older)--Gail Hudson
From Publishers Weekly
In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, PW said that Cushman "has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent." Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9?With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13?no one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival?until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. 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.?Sara Miller, Rye County Day School, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.
FromBooklist
Gr. 7^-12. Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book,Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.Hazel Rochman--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.
Review
"With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of
medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and
figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat. . . .
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." --Review
This appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing mention as an excellent story for kids ages 12 and up. An abandoned young girl barely surviving in 14th century England finds a new home with a midwife and studies to be an apprentice - but lack of confidence one day causes her to flee her newfound home and ambitions. Her struggle to return to a meaningful life and world makes for a realistic, absorbing story. --Midwest Book Review--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.
Review
"This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. . . . 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." (Booklist, ALA, Starred Review)
"With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat. . . . 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." (School Library Journal Starred)--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.
