Historical Fiction: Catherine, Called Birdy

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cushman, Karen 1995. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780064405843

PLOT SUMMARY

Catherine, Called Birdy is a wonderfully written novel about the life of a young girl in the Middle Ages through diary form. Catherine is a young girl living with her good natured-mother, brash father and siblings at the end of 1290. At the suggestion of her brother, Catherine, called Birdy, begins her own journal. Catherine starts out by documenting her everyday life. Catherine write about the tasks she must accomplish and skills she must learn to be a good wife. Catherine’s father’s main concern is finding her a husband. All Catherine wants to do is become a painter or go off to fight in the crusades. Catherine’s independent personality causes her to reject all the suitors her father sends her way. Eventually, he finds a suitor for her named Shaggy Beard whom Catherine absolutely despises. Due to this betrothal, Catherine attempts to run away and have her aunt help her to escape.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Catherine, Called Birdy is the story of a young girl in the Middle Ages living on a manor with her family. Readers will enjoy the journal entry format and Catherine’s conversational tone about the events in her daily life. The story is told from Catherine’s perspective from September 1290 to September 1291. The Middle Ages is thoroughly fleshed out through the eyes of Catherine. She explains, through her journal entries, the status of her position and what was expected of 14-year-old girls in the Middle Ages.  One of the main character traits that defines Catherine is her independence. Young girls at the time were required to be gentle and obedient while Catherine was almost the opposite. Catherine is very strong-willed and she is disdainful of anything that is considered girly. Catherine chooses not to follow her father’s orders and often fights with him. Young girls will appreciate Catherine’s own brand of feminism and independence especially when they begin to understand the pressure put on young girls in the Middle Ages. This novel also includes many important references to events happening during this period as well. Catherine’s uncle has recently returned from the crusades and finds a wife, Lady Ethelfritha. Catherine also discusses festivals and holidays like Easter and May Day. Young readers will feel like they have been immersed in the world of Catherine and will enjoy getting to know the time period better through a young person’s eyes.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST: “Fortunately, it's a sprightly voice, complete with its own brand of cursing ("God's thumbs!"), that moves the action. Kids can read this on their own or as a supplement to studies of the Middle Ages”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Despite the too-convenient ending, this first novel introduces an admirable heroine and pungently evokes a largely unfamiliar setting.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable. A somewhat philosophical afterword discusses the mind set of medieval people and concludes with a list of books to consult for further information about the period. Superb historical fiction.”

CONNECTIONS

*This is a book that could be used as a supplement to any Middle Ages unit.

*Young readers may want to start their own journal after reading Birdy’s story.

*Encourage your young readers to search out other books that document the lives of young people in the Middle Ages and in other historical time periods.

*Look for these other works about young girls in the Middle Ages:

Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. ISBN 0547722176

Konigsberg, E. L. A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER. ISBN 0689846243

Cushman, Karen. MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418221