Helpful Score: 4
This is a charming story about a girl who learns how to choose her own path in life. Beetle, who has no family and cannot remember her name, realizes that she can be Alyce, a confident woman and sensitive person.
Helpful Score: 4
VERY good book. Young girl goes from being homeless and abused to a respected member of society.
Helpful Score: 3
this is a book for the young and old. absolutely brill. touching, sad at times, sweet, but altogether funny! a must read!
Helpful Score: 2
A wonderful look at how a begger becomes worth wial.
This is dealing with a MIDWIFE'S apprentice, so there were just a couple descriptions that I would not have been ready for my 8 year old to read, even though we were studying medieval history in our homeschool. I'm very thankful I read it first. I might recommend this to an older, more mature child but not a little kid. Seems like you sometimes can't trust the Newbery Award to be without questionable materials so I've learned to use discretion and read the books first. We're much more sensitive in our home about sexuality in books, movies, and TV than maybe most people are, I guess. It was still well written and I enjoyed the setting of the middle ages.
Okay, so I read this book a *while* ago, bu I do remember that I liked it. Very good for any kid who is interested in history.
We read this book aloud for our homeschool unit study. There are some graphic details that I can't see why they didn't leave out but is really good from historic point of view.
This is an educational read about midwives and courage. A poor young girl is found in a dung heap and taken in by a midwife. She does not remember who she is or where she came from. The midwife takes her on as an apprentice. The girl believes that she is no one and has no worth. As this short novel proceeds she learns a great deal about herself and how important it is to try and try again. Do not let failure defeat you. The author discusses midwifery in her notes at the end of the book. Very nice children's read.
This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up. It is a Newberry Medal Winner.
very easy read and a good a good story
An interesting story. It presents a young heroine who starts out from the gutter and learns how to care for herself and others and make a place for herself in her world.
A good Cushman book for those of you who like her writing.
Winner of the John Newbery Medal, this YA novel set in 14th century England is about a nameless, homeless girl who becomes the village midwife's helper - and eventually, and without the help of her employer, becomes a midwife on her own, with her own name, the ability to read, and willingness to help other waifs.
award winning novel for young adults-orphan becomes apprentice midwife
A good story.
Good book! My 15yo dd enjoyed it!
I am a grandmother now, but I have been an elementary school librarian and a homeschool mother. I recently enjoyed listening to this book very much. It gave me a feel and understanding of the 14th century England (which I was not familiar with). I also learned about the midwife's craft and the daily life in this time period, such as needing to take grain to the mill to be ground into flour, and the need to gather your own herbs. I really came to understand the feelings of the young girl who was homeless and hungry and with no parent. This would be a great addition to a homeschool unit on the Middle Ages.
This wasn't my kind of book, but I know a lot of people have enjoyed it.
Newberry Medal Winner
