The Midwife's Apprentice

I remember when almost everyone I knew was reading either this book or Catherine Called Birdy, both by Karen Cushman. I just wasn’t interested at the time, so I read neither. The Midwife’s Apprentice, however, received a Newbery Medal and I decided to catch up on what I’d missed. It is an engaging story about an orphan girl who goes from having no name, to being called Beetle, to calling herself Alyce after being mistaken for someone else by that name. She is taken in by the Midwife of the village as an apprentice, but the Midwife treats her like she is not worthy. After some successes and failures, Alyce runs away to an inn a few miles down the road and works there until some unexpected visitors from the village come to the inn. Alyce and her cat friend are reminded that the village was the only place they truly belong, even if being a midwife's apprentice was difficult and thankless. In the end, Alyce learns a life-lesson of inspiring work ethic. On page 117, Alyce says "I have come back. And if you do not let me in, I will try again and again. I can do what you tell me and take what you give me, and I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up. I will not go away." Her dedication was a testimony to the self-esteem and appreciation she had gained throughout the book.

In more ways than one, this story is about birth. There is the obviously plotline of babies being born as the story is about a midwife and her apprentice, but then there is Alyce, lost and lonely, unrecognized by anyone in the world. On one particular day, she is helping sheer sheep and finds herself in a river with soap, washing down the wool. Unexpectedly, she washes off the caked-on dirt from her hands and legs, seeing that underneath her earthen shell, she is pretty and clean. In this moment, Alyce is reborn and rededicates herself to life and the many things she is able to learn, such as the alphabet, or the ability to sing. Her experiences bring her wisdom, but also friends and a make-shift family.

The character of Alyce reminded me of Miggery Sow from The Tale of Despereaux in that she was never asked what she wanted. Toward the end of the book, Magister Reese notices her and finally asks what it is that she would want more than anything. She thinks for a while about what most people would say: blackberry pie? new shoes? a snug cottage and a bit of land? Instead, she answers "A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world" (p 81). Fortunately, Alyce receives all these things.

There is a lot of historical information in this book. I would not expect young readers to understand everything that happens - they would really need to bring any and all background knowledge they had to this story, especially when considering some of the vocabulary. As an adult reader, I found myself questioning how much of it was real when it came to folklore and practice of midwivery. There are so many superstitions and wives' tales that I was having a hard time sorting out the truth. With this in mind, Karen Cushman included an author's note at the end with much research on the real history of midwivery. I learned so much! I don't know what I would have gotten out of this story 10 years ago when it was written, but I appreciate it now.