Catherine, Called Birdy (Review by Leighanne Massey)
Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: Clarion Books, 1994. ISBN 0395681863
Plot Summary
Catherine, Called Birdy is the story of a 14-year old girl living in Medieval England in the late 1200's who begins to account her daily life in a journal upon the request of her brother, Edward.
Critical Analysis
Catherine, Called Birdy is an account of a 14-year old girl who happens to be the daughter of a country knight living in a village in Medieval England in the late 1290's. Upon the request of her favorite older brother, Edward (the monk), she begins an account of her life as a favor to him. It is the hope that Birdy's constant reflection will mature her wily ways. Upon her first attempt at writing, Birdy's entry is brief, detailing how many fleas she removed and her strong dislike for spinning. She deliberates the relevance of her entries seemingly doubtful of its benefits...that is until her mother tells her if she journals for her brother then she won't be expected to embroider as much.
Birdy accounts her days in often humorous detail with easily understood English excepting some period-specific words such as her go-to saying "Corpus Bones" and others like "privy," and "glorious robes of samite and ermine," which rely on context. Readers will be amused when they read about her antics at driving suitors away, find themselves surprisingly empathetic toward her limitations and longing for adventure, mischievousness, and love of her mother, uncle and brother as well as her birds. As Birdy matures, she experiences the inequality of men and women of different stations/places in Medieval England as well as prejudice and racism against people of Jewish descent. Cushman portrays the events of England in the late 1200's realistically with town hangings, the health and hygiene of the people, drunken and rioting behavior resulting in deaths or burned cottages, a royal funeral procession, church influences, and even details of castles and manors such as Birdy's and how they were often dirty (the rushes had to be constantly replaced and/or cleaned), they often had vermin such as rats and in Winter, the inside of castles or manors could be very cold and even freeze on the inside. Many aspects of Medieval life are developed throughout this story that will seem foreign to readers. Cushman offers an Author's Note at the end of the book, detailing additional research about this time period and the mindset and priorities of people in Medieval England.
Birdy accounts her days in often humorous detail with easily understood English excepting some period-specific words such as her go-to saying "Corpus Bones" and others like "privy," and "glorious robes of samite and ermine," which rely on context. Readers will be amused when they read about her antics at driving suitors away, find themselves surprisingly empathetic toward her limitations and longing for adventure, mischievousness, and love of her mother, uncle and brother as well as her birds. As Birdy matures, she experiences the inequality of men and women of different stations/places in Medieval England as well as prejudice and racism against people of Jewish descent. Cushman portrays the events of England in the late 1200's realistically with town hangings, the health and hygiene of the people, drunken and rioting behavior resulting in deaths or burned cottages, a royal funeral procession, church influences, and even details of castles and manors such as Birdy's and how they were often dirty (the rushes had to be constantly replaced and/or cleaned), they often had vermin such as rats and in Winter, the inside of castles or manors could be very cold and even freeze on the inside. Many aspects of Medieval life are developed throughout this story that will seem foreign to readers. Cushman offers an Author's Note at the end of the book, detailing additional research about this time period and the mindset and priorities of people in Medieval England.
Review Excerpt(s)
Newbery Honor Book (1995)
Publishers Weekly (1994):
"You can run, but you can't hide" is the rather belated conclusion reached by Catherine, called "Birdy" for her caged pets, in this fictive diary of a medieval young woman's coming-of-age and struggle for self-determination..."
Starred Review from School Library Journal (1994):
"Grade 6-9-This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house. Much of Birdy's energy is consumed by avoiding the various suitors her father chooses for her to marry..."
Kirkus Reviews (1994):
Unwillingly keeping a journal at the behest of her brother, a monk, Birdy (daughter of a 13th-century knight) makes a terse first entry--``I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say''--but is soon confiding her pranks and troubles in fascinating detail. Her marriage must suit her drunken father's financial needs, and though the 14-year-old scares off several suitors (she pretends to be mad, sets fire to the privy one is using, etc.), in the end she's ``betrothed and betrayed.''
Publishers Weekly (1994):
"You can run, but you can't hide" is the rather belated conclusion reached by Catherine, called "Birdy" for her caged pets, in this fictive diary of a medieval young woman's coming-of-age and struggle for self-determination..."
Starred Review from School Library Journal (1994):
"Grade 6-9-This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house. Much of Birdy's energy is consumed by avoiding the various suitors her father chooses for her to marry..."
Kirkus Reviews (1994):
Unwillingly keeping a journal at the behest of her brother, a monk, Birdy (daughter of a 13th-century knight) makes a terse first entry--``I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say''--but is soon confiding her pranks and troubles in fascinating detail. Her marriage must suit her drunken father's financial needs, and though the 14-year-old scares off several suitors (she pretends to be mad, sets fire to the privy one is using, etc.), in the end she's ``betrothed and betrayed.''
Connections
Other Karen Cushman books to check out:
A 1996 Newbery Award Winner:
Other Karen Cushman books to check out:
A 1996 Newbery Award Winner:
- Cushman, Karen. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books, 1995. ISBN 978-0547722177
- Cushman, Karen. Matilda Bone. New York: Clarion Books, 2014 (reprint edition)
- Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. New York: Clarion Books, 2012 (reprint edition)
Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice provide historical accounts and practices of Medieval England which would appeal to readers or students studying or interested in this time period. The two stories could be compared and contrasted based on the female lead characters and what their lives were like during this period.
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