HISTORICAL FICTION
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE
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| PHOTO RETRIEVED FROM AMAZOM.COM |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE (Kindle Audio Version). Narrarated by Jenny Sterlin. Retrieved from Amazon.com. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995.
ISBN 9780547722177 and eISBN 9780547350004
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE (Kindle Audio Version). Narrarated by Jenny Sterlin. Retrieved from Amazon.com. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995.
ISBN 9780547722177 and eISBN 9780547350004
PLOT SUMMARY
Set in England, the story begins when a young orphaned girl named Brat finds herself working for a midwife named Jane. At first, Brat offers Jane to work for her in order to have food and shelter. Through several name changes (Brat, Beetle, and finally Alyce), she learns the ins and outs of delivering babies in the mid-evil ages by serving as an apprentice to the midwife. The tonics and potions Jane uses become quite the second nature to Beetle through time and deliveries.
Jane, the midwife, is never too kind to Beetle. She purposely keeps the young apprentice from knowing too much. This knowledge includes the fact that Jane is having a lucid affair with the married baker. As Beetle struggles to survive the taunts of the village boys and the meanness of some of the other villages, she outwits the entire village. Through her cleverness, she fools the town into believing the devil has visited and creates the devil's hoof tracks to those deserving of revenge. Almost a Stephen King like twist, Beetle is able to give everyone deserving of a visit from the devil a visit from the entire village.
Later in the story, Beetle, or Alyce, delivers a baby when the midwife is tending to another delivery. It becomes known that she too is capable of assisting in a birthing, which irritates Jane. Alyce is asked to assist a mother during labor, and is unable to help the mother deliver the baby. She is ashamed of her inability and runs from the village to an inn. At the inn, she is able to work for shelter and food. One day, a noble man arrives with a sick wife. The inn keeper realizes she is not ill, but in labor, and is unable to help the woman. Alyce faces her fear and helps the woman give birth. At the inn, she discovers her passion and destiny is to become a midwife herself. The story ends with Alyce returning to the midwife's cottage with courage and determination.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE, Alyce is a humble child who shares global fears and feelings of failure. Though set many years ago, Alyce carries doubt and hopes similar to modern day hopes and doubts. As she struggles to find her place in the world, Alyce must overcome challenges in order to discover herself. Although she lives poorly and without any of the modern day advantages of self-help, the overarching theme of self-reflection and worth is preserved through the novel. Discovering oneself does not happen easily and is simply and has always been a part of life.
The setting and time period of the story play a significant role in the story. As the only recognized person capable at the time of helping a woman labor a child, the herbs and remedies Cushman writes about add palpable taste to the time period. The descriptions of the landscape, village and inn truly take the reader back in time.
Through Cushman's website, she offers the research books and connections she has used for writing her book. Books on medical history, herbal cures, and saints were part of the research process for the intricate details of this book. Inclusive of her research are books on language and a bibliography of the titles used in her research.
AUDIO CRiTIQUE
The audio book was a wonderful accompaniment to the book. Because of unfamiliar pronunciations of medieval language and herbs, the audio allowed for more fluid reading. The accent of the narrator, Jenny Sterlin, added a nice spice to the novel.
In THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE, Alyce is a humble child who shares global fears and feelings of failure. Though set many years ago, Alyce carries doubt and hopes similar to modern day hopes and doubts. As she struggles to find her place in the world, Alyce must overcome challenges in order to discover herself. Although she lives poorly and without any of the modern day advantages of self-help, the overarching theme of self-reflection and worth is preserved through the novel. Discovering oneself does not happen easily and is simply and has always been a part of life.
The setting and time period of the story play a significant role in the story. As the only recognized person capable at the time of helping a woman labor a child, the herbs and remedies Cushman writes about add palpable taste to the time period. The descriptions of the landscape, village and inn truly take the reader back in time.
Through Cushman's website, she offers the research books and connections she has used for writing her book. Books on medical history, herbal cures, and saints were part of the research process for the intricate details of this book. Inclusive of her research are books on language and a bibliography of the titles used in her research.
AUDIO CRiTIQUE
The audio book was a wonderful accompaniment to the book. Because of unfamiliar pronunciations of medieval language and herbs, the audio allowed for more fluid reading. The accent of the narrator, Jenny Sterlin, added a nice spice to the novel.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal
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
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL--"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."
BOOKLIST--"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."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY-- "...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."
CONNECTIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 9780439023443
PLOT SUMMARY
Written in the first person and set in Buxton, Canada, the reader is introduced to Elijah. Elijah is the first free born child in the settlement, and is typical of an eleven year old boy. The story begins as he joins his good friend Cooter for an afternoon of fishing. They are met upon by the Preacher, who fools the boys into believing the tracks they have found are that of a hoop snake. Though this trick, the reader discovers Elijah has a gullible personality and is easily startled.
Although his mother reminds him of his frail nature, Elijah falls for a plot the Preacher has concocted. He goes with him to the carnival, where he was almost sold to the carnival owner. He and the Preacher are able to escape, and Elijah gets a taste of fear.
Later in the story, the Preacher steals the money Mrs. Holton has saved for freeing her husband, who was killed in America. Mr. Leroy asks him to join him on a quest to find the Preacher in America, and sadly, Mr. Leroy does not live through the journey. Elijah promises Mr. Leroy he will find the Preacher, and later does. Elijah encounters the dead Preacher, who was killed by slave traders. He also finds a group pf chained slaves and this encounter with the reality of slavery jolts him. He is able to bring a baby girl back with him to Canada.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A crucial element of this story is the theme that comes alive through the plot. As Elijah himself has never experienced slavery, the stories that fill the settlement still carry the harsh reality of what slavery entailed. Through Mr. Leroy, Mrs. Holton, and his own family, Elijah uncovers the priceless meaning of freedom. The reader also travels with Elijah on this powerful journey, and is able to connect first hand to the sorrows and the destruction of slavery on human kind.
At one point in the story, there is powerful language implied, and could require some preparedness for educators. However, through the memory of slavery that Mr. Leroy shares, Elijah and the reader learn the pain still associated from that language. Additionally, the words and dialect of the novel align to the time period and traditional pronunciations associated from that time period. Words such as "doggone" and "axed" create authenticity and a rich dialogue. Curtis also is able to embed humor and this adds an enjoyable quality to the novel.
Curtis provides an author's note, in which he shares the research and important and very interesting historical information on Buxton. He states that the story is based mostly on fact and offers resources for the reader's own research. The author's note is one which should not be overlook or left unread.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
2008 Newbery Honor
2008 Coretta Scott King Award
2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
From BOOKLIST-- "After his mother rebukes him for screaming that hoop snakes have invaded Buxton, gullible 11-year-old Elijah confesses to readers that "there ain't nothing in the world she wants more than for me to quit being so doggone fra-gile." Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author's note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child's first-person perspective. Here, readers learn about conditions in slavery at a distance, though the horrors become increasingly apparent. Among the more memorable scenes are those in which Elijah meets escaped slaves—first, those who have made it to Canada and, later, those who have been retaken by slave catchers. Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children's fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller."
KIRKUS REVIEW- "Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is known for two things: being the first child born free in Buxton, Canada, and throwing up on the great Frederick Douglass. It’s 1859, in Buxton, a settlement for slaves making it to freedom in Canada, a setting so thoroughly evoked, with characters so real, that readers will live the story, not just read it. This is not a zip-ahead-and-see-what-happens-next novel. It’s for settling into and savoring the rich, masterful storytelling, for getting to know Elijah, Cooter and the Preacher, for laughing at stories of hoop snakes, toady-frogs and fish-head chunking and crying when Leroy finally gets money to buy back his wife and children, but has the money stolen. Then Elijah journeys to America and risks his life to do what’s right. This is Curtis’s best novel yet, and no doubt many readers, young and old, will finish and say, “This is one of the best books I have ever read.”
CONNECTIONS
Other books from Christopher Paul Curtis
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer L. OUR ONLY AMELIA. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1999. ISBN 0064408566
Newbery Medal
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
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL--"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."
BOOKLIST--"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."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY-- "...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."
CONNECTIONS
- Use the audio book for a class read aloud. Discuss and answers questions by chapter.
- Have students write a text to self composition on how Alyce is or is not like themselves.
- Use Cushman's Guide http://www.karencushman.com/pdfs/DG_midwife.pdf for lesson ideas and guiding questions.
- CATHERINE, CALLED BIRD LADY ISBN 9780547722184
- THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE ISBN 9780547722153
- MATILDA BONEISBN 9780440418221
- ALCHEMY AND MEGGY SWANN ISBN 9780547577128
ELIJAH OF BUXTON
| Photo retrieved from Amazon.com |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 9780439023443
PLOT SUMMARY
Written in the first person and set in Buxton, Canada, the reader is introduced to Elijah. Elijah is the first free born child in the settlement, and is typical of an eleven year old boy. The story begins as he joins his good friend Cooter for an afternoon of fishing. They are met upon by the Preacher, who fools the boys into believing the tracks they have found are that of a hoop snake. Though this trick, the reader discovers Elijah has a gullible personality and is easily startled.
Although his mother reminds him of his frail nature, Elijah falls for a plot the Preacher has concocted. He goes with him to the carnival, where he was almost sold to the carnival owner. He and the Preacher are able to escape, and Elijah gets a taste of fear.
Later in the story, the Preacher steals the money Mrs. Holton has saved for freeing her husband, who was killed in America. Mr. Leroy asks him to join him on a quest to find the Preacher in America, and sadly, Mr. Leroy does not live through the journey. Elijah promises Mr. Leroy he will find the Preacher, and later does. Elijah encounters the dead Preacher, who was killed by slave traders. He also finds a group pf chained slaves and this encounter with the reality of slavery jolts him. He is able to bring a baby girl back with him to Canada.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A crucial element of this story is the theme that comes alive through the plot. As Elijah himself has never experienced slavery, the stories that fill the settlement still carry the harsh reality of what slavery entailed. Through Mr. Leroy, Mrs. Holton, and his own family, Elijah uncovers the priceless meaning of freedom. The reader also travels with Elijah on this powerful journey, and is able to connect first hand to the sorrows and the destruction of slavery on human kind.
At one point in the story, there is powerful language implied, and could require some preparedness for educators. However, through the memory of slavery that Mr. Leroy shares, Elijah and the reader learn the pain still associated from that language. Additionally, the words and dialect of the novel align to the time period and traditional pronunciations associated from that time period. Words such as "doggone" and "axed" create authenticity and a rich dialogue. Curtis also is able to embed humor and this adds an enjoyable quality to the novel.
Curtis provides an author's note, in which he shares the research and important and very interesting historical information on Buxton. He states that the story is based mostly on fact and offers resources for the reader's own research. The author's note is one which should not be overlook or left unread.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
2008 Newbery Honor
2008 Coretta Scott King Award
2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
From BOOKLIST-- "After his mother rebukes him for screaming that hoop snakes have invaded Buxton, gullible 11-year-old Elijah confesses to readers that "there ain't nothing in the world she wants more than for me to quit being so doggone fra-gile." Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author's note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child's first-person perspective. Here, readers learn about conditions in slavery at a distance, though the horrors become increasingly apparent. Among the more memorable scenes are those in which Elijah meets escaped slaves—first, those who have made it to Canada and, later, those who have been retaken by slave catchers. Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children's fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller."
KIRKUS REVIEW- "Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is known for two things: being the first child born free in Buxton, Canada, and throwing up on the great Frederick Douglass. It’s 1859, in Buxton, a settlement for slaves making it to freedom in Canada, a setting so thoroughly evoked, with characters so real, that readers will live the story, not just read it. This is not a zip-ahead-and-see-what-happens-next novel. It’s for settling into and savoring the rich, masterful storytelling, for getting to know Elijah, Cooter and the Preacher, for laughing at stories of hoop snakes, toady-frogs and fish-head chunking and crying when Leroy finally gets money to buy back his wife and children, but has the money stolen. Then Elijah journeys to America and risks his life to do what’s right. This is Curtis’s best novel yet, and no doubt many readers, young and old, will finish and say, “This is one of the best books I have ever read.”
CONNECTIONS
- Students can research their family history and make a family tree to share.
- Students can write a letter from Elijah to his parents telling them about his experience on his journey to America. This should contain an element of the theme in the letter.
- Reader's Theater- have groups of students create a play acting out the first chapter of the book. They will present their play to the class.
- WEB LINK www.blackhistoricalmuseum.com/history.htm
Other books from Christopher Paul Curtis
- BUD, NOT BUDDY ISBN 9780553494105
- THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE ISBN 9780440422143
- THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM-1963 ISBN 9780440228004
OUR ONLY AMELIA
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| Photo from Amazon.com |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer L. OUR ONLY AMELIA. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1999. ISBN 0064408566
PLOT SUMMARY
In OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, May is an eleven year old Finnish girl who lives in Washington and the time period is the late 1890's. Told in the first person, she is one of eight siblings, and is the only daughter of her family. She is eagerly waiting her expectant mother's new baby, as she hope for a girl. As she tries to find her way among the boys of her family and the town, Amelia resists the stereotypical behaviors and activities of what young ladies should abide to. In her journey to fit in, she finds herself in situations with the Chinook Indians, her brothers, a cougar, and her grandmother. As Amelia is hopeful for a baby sister, she experiences relationships that solidify her resolve in finding adventure despite being a girl.
In OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, May is an eleven year old Finnish girl who lives in Washington and the time period is the late 1890's. Told in the first person, she is one of eight siblings, and is the only daughter of her family. She is eagerly waiting her expectant mother's new baby, as she hope for a girl. As she tries to find her way among the boys of her family and the town, Amelia resists the stereotypical behaviors and activities of what young ladies should abide to. In her journey to fit in, she finds herself in situations with the Chinook Indians, her brothers, a cougar, and her grandmother. As Amelia is hopeful for a baby sister, she experiences relationships that solidify her resolve in finding adventure despite being a girl.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Amelia's voice is a true asset to this novel. Her adventures, hopes and dreams come alive as she embarks on her unique role as the only daughter in the family and only girl in the area. The time and setting remain true to the story, and offer a historical glimpse into life on the frontier. Hardships, chores, and families are constant reminders in the story of the rough life endured by settlers. The dependence on family, neighbors, and other townspeople for resources is an underlying theme in this novel. Fishing and logging are typical of this part of the Oregon frontier, and play a large role in the events of the story. Additionally, the desire for a young lady to grow beyond the role society has set forth is still an idea that the modern reader can relate to.
At first, the dialogue was a little tricky to maneuver, especially in a read aloud. The lack of quotation marks took time to adjust to, but adds a unique flow to the reading. The nice blend of characters offers many opportunities for enlightenment into the personality of Amelia. The dynamic of the Jackson family unit also open discussion points for the role each family plays in who May Amelia is and may become. Similarly, the rough nature of her father is an interesting entry point for discussion.
The author's note provides information on the authenticity of the historical piece of the novel. According to Holm's, the novel is based mostly on the diary of her grandaunt. Holm's was intrigued by her family's history and their life on the frontier. The Finnish settled on in the Washington state because of the resources available, such as fishing and lumber. Holm's used oral accounts of her family history and the local historical societies. Holm's also provides a list of resources in her afterword.
The most endearing feature of the author's note is a tidbit from her great aunt's diary, where she mentioned her new teaching profession:
"...Although I think it is nice work, there is so much responsibility about it..." --Alice Holm
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY-- "An unforgettable heroine narrates Holm's extraordinary debut novel set in Washington State in 1899. Twelve-year-old tomboy May Amelia Jackson, the youngest of seven children and the only girl in a Finnish immigrant family, lives in the wilderness along the Nasel River: "I have so many brothers, more than any girl should have. My secret birthday wish is to get a sister." Holm's uncanny ability to give each of the siblings and a wide range of adults. A distinctive character while maintaining May Amelia's spunky narrative voice, gives the novel its immediacy and potency. Through May Amelia's travels, readers witness the diverse ways of life in the expanding West: peaceful relations with the Chinook Indians, the plight of a widow barmaid, the taboos around her brother's interest in an Irish girl, the dangers posed by the neighboring logging camp, her aunt's life in the nearby boom-town of Astoria, Ore., as well as the rhythms of the seasons. The sometimes gruesome realities of the Jacksons' lives are tempered by May's strength of character and her bond to her favorite brother, Wilbert. Readers will fall in love with May Amelia's spirited nature; when she saves her brothers from a cougar, she tells them, "I reckon it's a Darn Good Thing I'm not a Proper Young Lady or you'd be a cougar's supper right about now." This novel is not to be missed. "
KIRKUS REVIEWS-- "The robust characterizations captivate, the lilting dialogue twangs, and the sharply individual first-person narrative gives the material authority and polish."
1999 Newbery Honor Book
Parents’ Choice Silver Award
Publishers Weekly Best of 1999 Book
Publishers Weekly Honor Book 1999
Parents’ Choice Silver Awardt of 1999 Book
Publishers Weekly
CONNECTIONS
GETTING NEAR TO BABY by Audrey Couloumbis ISBN 9780698118928AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES by Janet Taylor Lisle ISBN 9780698118065
ART OF KEEPING COOL by Janet Taylor Lisle ISBN 9780689837883
- Students can research Finland and the customs of Finland. Students can look for evidence of Finnish customs within the novel.
- Students will write a short paper describing their family unit.
- Students will create a timeline of the events of the story or a map that details the events at each location..
- TURTLE IN PARAFISE ISBN-13: 9780375836909
- PENNY FROM HEAVEN ISBN-13: 9780375836893
- THE TROUBLE WITH MAY AMELIA ISBN-13: 9781416913740
GETTING NEAR TO BABY by Audrey Couloumbis ISBN 9780698118928AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES by Janet Taylor Lisle ISBN 9780698118065
ART OF KEEPING COOL by Janet Taylor Lisle ISBN 9780689837883
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