1. BibliographyCushman, Karen. 1994. Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780395681862
2. Plot Summary
Fourteen-year-old Catherine strikes a deal with her brother Edward the monk so she can forego the much despised task of spinning in favor of keeping a diary of her daily life. Edward believes that keeping the diary will help her become more learned and less childish. Catherine is known as Birdy because of her love and keeping of various kinds of birds. She records aspects of her daily life and includes her hatred for her household duties (“14th day of September - Tangled my spinning again. Corpus bones, what a torture.”), her wonderings about her future, her dislike for her brothers and frustration with her parents, and her attempts to avoid any possible marriage arranged by her father. Her father is a minor lord of Lincolnshire who is using Catherine’s marriage to suit his financial needs. She finally resigns herself to wed an older, unattractive man that she refers to as Shaggy Beard only to receive word that she will not have to marry him after all. The Author’s Note discusses further discusses life and culture of Medieval England and includes a list of additional resources for further reading.
3. Critical Analysis
Cushman’s medieval tale is a revealing and humorous look into a very difficult period in time. Death is commonplace, Catherine shares a bed with her old nurse, and her mother has miscarriage after miscarriage. Since the story is presented in a diary format, the reader is able to get to know Catherine well. She is a complex young narrator who possesses a wild imagination, a wealth of hope and a bunch of tenacity. In her hopes to escape an arranged marriage, she dreams of becoming a scribe, a Crusader, a minstrel until she finally resigns herself to her destiny realizing “I am who I am wherever I am.” Many other characters are introduced through Catherine’s diary though none are as deeply developed as Catherine. The reader is able to get to know her family and her friends Aelis from Belleford and Perkin the goat boy more so than some of the minor characters since she interacts with them on a more consistent basis. Much of the novel centers on Catherine’s attempts to scare off any possible suitors (she pretends to be mad, sets fire to the privy one is using, disguising herself as an ugly serving girl, etc.) The reader learns about her life, family, trials and joys. The diary begins almost as a dreaded homework assignment (“12th day of September - I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.”) but Catherine’s attitude changes and she begins to describe her adventures and gives confessions. The novel is a coming-of-age of sorts for Catherine as she finally accepts her place in her world and discovers that she can still be true to herself.
4. Review Excerpts and Awards
Starred review in Kirkus Reviews: “The period has rarely been presented for young people with such authenticity; the exotic details will intrigue readers while they relate more closely to Birdy’s yen for independence and her sensibilities toward the downtrodden.”
Review in School Library Journal: “A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable...Superb historical fiction.”
Review in Publisher’s Weekly
Review in Booklist
Review in Horn Book
Newbery Honor Book
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
ALA Notable Books for Children
5. Connections
· Read Cushman’s The Midwife’s Apprentice. Compare and contrast the lead characters and their situations.
· Read in conjunction with social studies Medieval European societies unit.
· Catherine’s mother housed a Jewish family for the night. Research why the Jews were being expelled from England at this time.
· Catherine’s uncle George is part of the Crusades. Research the Crusades and their importance at this time.
· Nonfiction books about Medieval life:
Gies, Joseph and Frances Gies. Life in a Medieval City. ISBN 9780060908805
Gies, Joseph and Frances Gies. Life in a Medieval Village. ISBN 9780060920463
Gies, Joseph and Frances Gies. Life in a Medieval Castle. ISBN 9780060906740
Cosman, Madeleine Pelner. Fabulous Feasts: Medieval Cookery and Ceremony. ISBN 9780807608982
Duggan, Alfred. Growing up in Thirteenth Century England. ISBN 9780394912080
