been reading the Newbery winners of late, three in a row and all with orphaned children. the first one, the child who already lost both her parents lost the person who took her in ( Missing May). the next one, the kid who lost her mom loses her grandmother ( walk two moons) It was nice to have one with no deaths for a change. Interesting setting ( 14th century)with lessons about persistence and self doubt that are still relevant ( )

Really enjoyable short medieval fiction about a young foundling who finds her place in the world. Delightful in detail, hard work and hope. ( )

I would recommend this book mainly for grades 5 through junior-high-aged girls. It is accurate historical fiction. Karen Cushman has other great historical fiction books for girls, too. In this story, the midwife Alyce is fairly cruel to Jane, her young apprentice. The women in the village begin to prefer Jane, which makes for an interesting story.
The tiny village knows nothing of germs and too much of superstition. The village midwife is not a kind person, but a midwife is necessary and she is the only choice. At the time of the story, a midwife used common sense and the little training she received in her apprenticeship. College training was not yet available, and things were simply done the way they had always been done. Many mothers and children died in childbirth during the Middle Ages. Until the twentieth century, most women gave birth at home attended by other women. ( )

Engaging story of a 13th century homeless waif who winds up living with a midwife and learning the trade. ( )

Picked this up for the girls -- it's a Newberry medal winner -- and wound up quite enjoying it myself. ( )

The girl hasn't had a name or a home until the midwife found her in the dung heap, keeping warm. The midwife, Jane, is no saint but she does take the girl in, calling her Beetle or Brat, or worse, making her work hard for her keep and not letting her really learn how to birth babies. Can the girl make a place for herself in this world?

There seems to be a certain type of book that appeals to adults who give out awards to kids but that I question whether kids would ever pick up on their own, and this is one of them. The main trouble is, though it is a short book, not much happens. It's much more about the girl - who names herself Alyce - and her growth than any story arc or even one event that happens in her life. Some of the interactions are so subtle I doubt a young reader would pick up on it, like why the boys who tease Beetle eventually leave Alyce alone. It's set in the Middle Ages, and the author has clearly done her research on medicine and midwifery of that time period. But all in all, it was a little boring. ( )

This book is a children's novel that won a nobel prize in 1996 and is around the medieval England era. The Midwife’s Apprentice is the story of the main girl who was homeless who ends up falling in love with a rich man. They marry each other, and she becomes his midwife. The problem in this story is she doesn't know how to do any house duties. She struggles to learn how to cook and clean. She never knew how to do anything because all she knew was how to live out in the street. This book gives the message about maintaining hope when there are a lot of failures. ( )

Beetle is an orphan girl in the Middle Ages. She is alone and seeks friendship and purpose and eventually a career in Midwifery. ( )

This is a great chapter book it actually won the Newberry award in 1996. The story follows Jane a midwife that takes in a orphan she names beetle. The story is very interesting for students who enjoy old England. It is of course historical fiction. ( )

Newbery Medal 1996. Historical fiction. A preteen orphan in the 1300's is taken in by a midwife and works to learn her skills. She learns self esteem along the way. ( )

The Midwife's Apprentice won the Newbery Medal in 1996 as "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." Only 122 pages, it packs in a lot of historical detail, an engaging heroine, and a story of perseverance.

Brat is an orphan girl found on a dung heap by Jane, a medieval village midwife in England, who takes her on as a helper and calls her Beetle.

Beetle has lots of experiences that illustrate typical life in the 1300s, as well as increasing her self-confidence and her determination of what her "place in this world" should be. Eventually she names herself Alyce, and even learns to read.

Despite its short length, the reading level (6.0) and some of the subject matter (women and animals giving birth) make this book more appropriate for middle school and up. A number of other Newbery Medalists are set in this era and could be used in a history unit on the Middle Ages.

© Amanda Pape - 2015 ( )

This book has a writing style that I have never seen before. Not like “whoa this is going to change everything about the literature world” but it has a flavor. It flies fast. It’s terse. It has no fluff and buff. All fat is trimmed. The result is that the story feels lean but still passionate, like a summer love affair. “Show, don’t tell” in spades. And a main character that gets you right in the feels without being a perfect lady. You can feel the authentic historical accuracy. But despite the age of the protagonist, it’s not for anyone who hasn’t had “the talk” yet.

The atmosphere feels like a fantasy story, but it deals with the common people living in the outskirts. The ones far away from knights or dragons or princesses. This one’s got cheese as a delicacy, sleeping in dung for warmth, and some very satisfying revenge plots. Not to mention social issues, including but not limited to: verbal abuse, breastfeeding, swearing, transgenderism, marital infidelity, superstitious demon possession, and catching some teenagers in the farm shed doing you-know-what. If that doesn’t make for a good book, I don’t know what does. ( )

A nameless abandoned child in 14th century England is begrudgingly taken in by Jane, a town's midwife. Jane takes in the girl, who she dubs "Beetle" only to use her, but with a roof over her head and some reliable source of food - even if it isn't very good food - the girl finds it a welcome change to sleeping on a dung pile.
In time, she begins to learn some aspects of midwifery by observing Jane, though the woman doesn't want to teach her. She names herself Alyce eventually.
A well done historical novel, and probably rather accurate in many ways. Still, the lack of kindness and honesty among the supporting characters was a detriment for my taste. The scholar, John Dark, and the boys Edward and Will, are the only characters that seem to care anything for Alyce at all. Everyone else, adult and child, are cruel (in varying degrees) to her.
In the end, Alyce learns that she is a real person of value. ( )

If you’re cold with no place to go, then sleeping in a dung heap is not so bad. Being called Dung Beetle isn’t so bad either. When a poor village girl is discovered in a dung heap by the town midwife, she eagerly accepts some scraps of food in exchange for her service as the midwife’s apprentice. Beetle proves to be a quick learner and all is well until she runs into trouble with a difficult delivery. Feeling like a failure, she sets out on her own to try to find her place in life. This is a story of a lost girl in search of a name and a purpose, who ultimately realizes that you should never give up. This book is a great example of the power of humor to engage a reader. Highly recommend this and all of Cushman's books. ( )

Alyce is a young girl in medieval England who is making her own way the best she can. Life is hard and cruel for her. It takes all her effort to keep herself warm and fed. The midwife takes her on as a helper and it is there that the world opens up to her bit by bit. Ultimately, she discovers that she needs to do what she wants even if that road is not the most comfortable or easiest.

Karen Cushman's storytelling comes easily and this book is delightful. I think it's a fine match for 5th or 6th graders who are ready to start making some decisions. We could use this book in class as a basis for discussing choice and opportunity costs. Alyce needed to think carefully before she chose, and students would do well do imagine what other choices may have looked like. ( )

Summary:
This book is about a young girl that has to fend for herself, she doesn’t even have a name. She is picked on and people are not kind to her. She does odd jobs and steals food to survive. One night she finds herself in a barn and meets the landowners midwife. She starts to work for the midwife for minimal food and shelter. She will do whatever she can to have some shelter and food. Working for the midwife she learns about herself and eventually gets to choose what she wants to do with her life.

Personal Reaction:
Wow! The details in this book were great. It is hard to imagine someone being willing to do anything that they have to have food and a roof over their head. I don’t know anyone personally that has had to go through something like that, so this tugged on my heart strings. I like to think I am usually appreciate and thankful for my life that I live, but something like this will make you humble. Excellent overall!

Classroom:
Have students write an alternate ending
Have students get in to groups and act out a scene from the book. ( )

Summary:
A orphan during mid-evil England ad her struggles of becoming something other then the "brat" that she recalls to be her name. Being teased and ignored, she aids in the delivery of a baby and becomes an apprentice to a midwife.

Personal Reaction:
This is a beautiful story of hope and endurance of a girl during a time that women had little to no rights.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Could be a supplemental reader during a lesson plan on mid-evil England as well as a lesson of the oppression of women.
2. Could show girls that are in the classroom that regardless of there place in society they can strive to be more
3. A way to show boys that women have not always had the same opportunities as males throughout history. ( )

Summary: A homeless girl is taken in by a midwife who is looking for a helper. The girl become a midwifes apprentice, gaining self respect, a place to be, and a content life after so long.
Criteria: Critique of Genre: historical fiction- Dated back in the fourteenth century in medieval England this story portrays the times in a way that connects readers to their current lives and compassion.
Age: older primary, intermediate, secondary
Media: calligraphy, painting ( )

Technically written for 3rd-5th graders, the details of childbirth and, in one case, insinuations of an extramarital affair, made me uncomfortable (and I've delivered 3 babies of my own).
Aside from that, I found the main character, Alyce, one of the most depressing characters I've ever read. She seems determined to be miserable. Even the "happy" ending was pathetic.
Two stars, only because I did actually finish it. ( )

Great kids story about a young homeless girl in the Middle Ages who becomes a midwife. Moral is never give up. Excellent feel for the time in England in a small village, as well as information on medicinal herbs. ( )

I really like Alyce. This book is more a story about a really nice character than a story that works as a moving narrative. She learns that she wasn't ready to be a midwife not because she failed, but "because she gave up" p.88 which is a great lesson for young readers. ( )

Such a sweet, well-written book about a young orphan who finds her way in early England. One of the most poignant parts is when she determines that her name is "Alyce" and how she convinces others of that.

She says: "My name is Alyce, not Brat or Dung Beetle or Beetle. Alyce."

When she believes in herself enough to insist upon a name, you know that she will survive and thrive. I came across this on Audible, love the narrator, and it's an easy listen, as well as a good rest from edgy adult books that are so prevalent these days. ( )

I enjoyed this one well enough, but I don't think it's very appropriate. At least not for elementary school aged children. ( )

THE MIDWIFE"S APPRENTICE by Karen Cushman illustrates the difficulty of being a young woman in a small Medieval village in England. Alyce 's journey is a great personal struggle towards an identity often determined by others. In a male-dominated society, she struggles through hardships and experiences to gain knowledge.
A fine example of historical non-fiction, Cushman draws the reader in with Alyce's stoic and courageous choices. ( )

I actually picked up this book for my daughter to read and ended up reading it myself instead. I am impressed by the historical research that the author must have done as well as the writing. Ms. Cushman managed to bring a long ago time to life very convincingly. I just want to know how Alyces' life went and the little boy Edward. I will be bugging my daughter to definitely read this. What a wonderful historical novel that was a joy to read! ( )