Review: Catherine, Called Birdy

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York, Harper Collins. ISBN 0064405842.

PLOT SUMMARY
Birdy, an unfortunate denizen of medieval England, finds herself doubly unfortunate when her father sets about to finding her a potential husband. While she does not rule out the possibility of marriage some day, each of her suitors is worse than the last. Using her fine acting skills and a little bit of trickery, Birdy manages to repulse each… that is, of course, until the arrival of the equally repulsive Shaggy Beard, her most unappealing, and also her richest, suitor to date. Can Birdy avoid a nightmare of a life as Shaggy Beard’s wife, or is her latest suitor too much for even her to handle? Find out in Karen Cushman’s Newberry Award-winning masterpiece.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Written as a journal, the first thing one will notice in Cushman’s work is the immense level of detail. Medieval life is documented with startling accuracy; furthermore, this factual information is presented not as a history lesson, but as a way of life, as interesting as it is intricate. Birdy herself is an immensely likeable protagonist, one whom the reader will support wholeheartedly from the start, triumphing along with her as she thwarts the advances of her father’s hand-picked suitors. She is a powerful female lead and an excellent role model, a brave girl who stands up for herself in an age when women were property. Of course, this would all be for naught if Cushman’s narrative fell short. However, as with virtually any book bearing the Newbery Award on its cover, one can approach this title with confidence, knowing that this is hardly the case. Cushman presents an engaging, exciting, dramatic read, with a strong female lead and historical accuracy to spare.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Book
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “A feminist far ahead of her time, [Birdy] is both believable and lovable.”
BOOKLIST review: “Birdy's is the only real voice. Fortunately, it's a sprightly voice, complete with its own brand of cursing ("God's thumbs!"), that moves the action."
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “at once comic and thought-provoking, this first novel is a delight.”

CONNECTIONS:
* This title is a quintessential work of feminist literature, and a cornerstone of any unit involving women in books
*Other Karen Cushman books about the lives of women in difficult times
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X.
Cushman, Karen. MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418224