Newbery Medal Winner
The Midwife's Apprentice
by Karen Cushman
Summary
A homeless girl who sleeps in a dung heap is taken in by a sharp tempered midwife in medieval England and slowly claims a name, a skill, and a place in the world. Cushman grounds the story in vivid, earthy detail of village life while charting a quiet journey toward self worth. The short novel is admired for its historical texture and its determined, unforgettable heroine.
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Historical Context & Significance
Karen Cushman won the Newbery Medal here just one year after earning a Newbery Honor for her debut, Catherine, Called Birdy.