Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman pages: 1-10
This book is about a girl who doesn't have a home or a name. She travels through villages where she is constantly getting made fun of. This girl other wise known a Beetle because she lays in dung to keep warm.
Beetle meets a cat that is orang with a white spot under its chin that she later names purr. Beetle one day comes across boys in a village that torment Purr and put him in a bag with an eel to see which would win. After the boys leave the bag with the eel and the cat Beetle starts to open the bag and remembers there is an eel so she uses a stick to open the bag to let the eel out. Beetle then saves the cat and they became good friends and she is not afraid of him like she was before.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman pages: 1-42
This book is about a girl who doesn't have a home or a name. She travels through villages where she is constantly getting made fun of. This girl other wise known a Beetle because she lays in dung to keep warm.
Beetle meets a cat that is orang with a white spot under its chin that she later names purr. Beetle one day comes across boys in a village that torment Purr and put him in a bag with an eel to see which would win. After the boys leave the bag with the eel and the cat Beetle starts to open the bag and remembers there is an eel so she uses a stick to open the bag to let the eel out. Beetle then saves the cat and they became good friends and she is not afraid of him like she was before.
After meeting the cat, Beetle then meets a woman that she had never seen befor. Beetle asks her if she has any food to spare and she tells her that she doesn't give out food to people who don't work for it. Beetle offers to work for her so the midwife takes her in and gives her hard bread and sour ale but beetle doesn't notice because she hadn't eaten in days. Beetle soon became the midwifes apprentice and helped make things to sooth the mothers of the newborn. Beetle was never allowed to go into the building were the midwife was helping the women give birth. After some time beetle figured out the midwifes real name wich was Jane Sharp. Beetle had thought for some time that Jane sharp was a witch.
One day Beetle followed Jane on one of her errands but she saw Jane with some man and fell out of her hiding spot in a tree. Jane was furious she told Beetle that if she told any one she would put her out on the streets again to live in the dung heap. Beetle did not want to give up the food that Jane was providing for her so she promised she wouldn't say anything and she returned home waiting for the worst from Jane.
Title: The Midwifes's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman Pages: 12-
While waiting for Jane to return home a man Miller came looking for Jane. When Beetle told him Jane was not around Miller grabbed Beetle to deliver his wifes child but she is to afraid to do it. The Miller's wife gets angry with Beetle gets up and throws things any thing she can reach at her until Jane soon comes and makes the miller's wife get back into bed. Beetle then again gets into trouble with Jane but she still doesn't get put out into the dung heap.
There is a fair in the village but being in trouble enough with Jane Beetle doesn't dare ask Jane if she could go with her. Jane sneeks of to the fair and buys a comb with a cat on it and she bargains with the salesman and he just gave it to her. On her way back home Beetle starts to comb out her hair but she can't so she uses a pond as a mirror. As shes trying to fix her
While waiting for Jane to return home a man Miller came looking for Jane. When Beetle told him Jane was not around Miller grabbed Beetle to deliver his wifes child but she is to afraid to do it. The Miller's wife gets angry with Beetle gets up and throws things any thing she can reach at her until Jane soon comes and makes the miller's wife get back into bed. Beetle then again gets into trouble with Jane but she still doesn't get put out into the dung heap.
There is a fair in the village but being in trouble enough with Jane Beetle doesn't dare ask Jane if she could go with her. Jane sneeks of to the fair and buys a comb with a cat on it and she bargains with the salesman and he just gave it to her. On her way back home Beetle starts to comb out her hair but she can't so she uses a pond as a mirror. As shes trying to fix her hair when a man runs up and calles her alyce and wants her to read but she doesn't know how so the man notices that Beetle is not The man runs off to find the girl he is looking for. Beetle then changes her name to Alyce.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman 5 w's: Who: Alyce What: Alyce journeys to many villages. She meets Jane Sharp she runs away and finds an inn and meets a minister. where: A village in England. When: Fourteenth century. why: Alyce doesn't have a mother or a father and she needs food so she works for Jane Sharp. She fails to help a mother so she runs away and begins to work for a woman at an it for food and a place to live out of the bad weather.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman pages:40-60
One day boys from the village were chasing Alyce. She climbed a tree to escape from the boys when one of the boys will fell backward and fell into the river. The rest of the boys ran away so they wouldn't get in trouble so the only person left was Alyce. She was to afraid to get down so she climbed to the end of the tree limb until it dipt down over the water were will could grab a hold. Will said he couldn't thank her enough but when everyone started making fun of her will would make them leave her alone or go pick on somebody else.
A little while later something was roming through the village and nobody new what it was. The villagers would follow the tracks around but the never quite figured out what it was. People started making Alyce run their errands because they were to affraid to and Alyce had lived outside most of her life and she never seen anything so she was not afraid of what was out there.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman pages:40-60
One day boys from the village were chasing Alyce. She climbed a tree to escape from the boys when one of the boys will fell backward and fell into the river. The rest of the boys ran away so they wouldn't get in trouble so the only person left was Alyce. She was to afraid to get down so she climbed to the end of the tree limb until it dipt down over the water were will could grab a hold. Will said he couldn't thank her enough but when everyone started making fun of her will would make them leave her alone or go pick on somebody else.
A little while later something was roming through the village and nobody new what it was. The villagers would follow the tracks around but the never quite figured out what it was. People started making Alyce run their errands because they were to affraid to and Alyce had lived outside most of her life and she never seen anything so she was not afraid of what was out there. Many people were caught in the wrong and were punished for letting the devil take control of them.
Another part of this book a baby was getting ready to be born and the people took Alyce instead of Jane and she was angry as anyone could be at Alyce for taking her mothers having birth. Alyce tried to sooth her like she did the other lady but it did no use so she sent the boy to go get Jane. After watching Jane help the mother give birth Alyce thought she had failed so she ran away and found an inn outside of the village she had been staying in. Alyce worked in a kitchen there and took care of people when they visited the inn.
At the Inn that Alyce ran off to a women named jennet took her in and used her around so she could earn food. Jennet liked Alyce because she did not steel food, sneak ale, or dally with the guests. Alyce worked around the inn laying fires, sweeping floors, and carrying water all spring. When guests came to the inn jennet always told her to put clean sheets on the beds but she new Jennet just wanted the guests to feel conforted by the thought of having new clean sheets.
Alyce always wondered about the little boy she found with the cows that she saved from the boys and that she helped name Edward. Edward went to find work from people in the village in which she had just come from. One day Alyce was helping Jennet when she heard a familiure voice. She went out to inspect who it was when she notice it was will Russet the boy from the village who she rescued from the water.
A few days after will visited Jane Sharp came to visit and talked with the magister that stayed at the inn. Alyce felt like crying because she was sure Jane would tell the magister all about her running away because she was a failure. Jane did compliment that she was not as stupid as some girls shes had working for her and quite a bit more company.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman Pages:89-
One day in spring Alyce decided to go visit Edward. She just wanted to know if he was well fed and had shelter at the manor. Alyce would imagine Edwards first sight of her and it made her feel terrible inside, she imagined him starving and cold out in the weather. Alyce walked around asking everyone were the boy Edward was but everyone said they didn't know where the boy was or they never heard of him. Alyce asked the cook and she new right were Edward was.
The cook that told Alyce were the boy was thought they were brothers and sisters because they looked alike. When Alyce found Edward in the hen house he jumped up and threw his arms around her just like she had imagined before.
That night Edward asked Alyce to stay the night and she agreed nowing Jennet would yell at her for not coming home. The two ate bread and bacon for supper all during that time Edward talked of life on the manor. Before going to bed that night Edward wanted Alyce to tell him a story but she didn't know any so she had to make one up and soon Edward was a sleep.
The next day the wooly black sheep were washed before shearing, Alyce and Edward ate their bread-and-beer breakfast down by the river to watch the great event. The first to finish breakfast was Edward and Alyce gave him her breakfast. Alyce helped the men shear the sheep and took a bath with the soap that they used. After that she said goodbye to Edward and headed back to the inn.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman Pages:89-103
One day in spring Alyce decided to go visit Edward. She just wanted to know if he was well fed and had shelter at the manor. Alyce would imagine Edwards first sight of her and it made her feel terrible inside, she imagined him starving and cold out in the weather. Alyce walked around asking everyone were the boy Edward was but everyone said they didn't know where the boy was or they never heard of him. Alyce asked the cook and she new right were Edward was.
The cook that told Alyce were the boy was thought they were brothers and sisters because they looked alike. When Alyce found Edward in the hen house he jumped up and threw his arms around her just like she had imagined before.
That night Edward asked Alyce to stay the night and she agreed nowing Jennet would yell at her for not coming home. The two ate bread and bacon for supper all during that time Edward talked of life on the manor. Before going to bed that night Edward wanted Alyce to tell him a story but she didn't know any so she had to make one up and soon Edward was a sleep.
The next day the wooly black sheep were washed before shearing, Alyce and Edward ate their bread-and-beer breakfast down by the river to watch the great event. The first to finish breakfast was Edward and Alyce gave him her breakfast. Alyce helped the men shear the sheep and took a bath with the soap that they used. After that she said goodbye to Edward and headed back to the inn.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman pages:104-117
One day at the inn a women came in and they thought she was going to die from a stomach worm but Jennet told the man that she was just having a baby and all the man could do was yell back at her about his wife's discomfort and how she was discontent since the day they were married. Jennet told the womens husband that the baby was coming soon but it was a long time before the baby was actually born. The baby was not born right away but no one could comfort her enough.
During this time Alyce was watching from beneath a staircase and soon came out when no one could help the poor women. Alyce remembered everything Jane Sharp did while she was helping other women give birth. Alyce moved the women around and sang to her and moved her around some more until finally the baby was born.
Magister Reese was so proud of Alyce that he asked her to join him on his way home. Jennet wanted her to stay and she didn't know what to do so she went with magister Reese. On the way she stopped and knocked on Jane's door and when Jane opened the door Alyce decided to stay with the first person who gave her a home.
Title: The Midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman Historical fiction book review.
This story is about a girl who didn't have a family or a name. The girl romes from village to village and she lives in or around dung heaps. One day she was in a dung heap when a women asked her if she was alive or dead. The women was a midwife and she called the girl by beetle after a dung beetle. The woman let Beetle work for food and gave her a place to live.
Beetle always saw a cat roming around it was orange and had a white spot under its chin. Beetle took a liking to the cat. The cat was tormented by the village boys just like Beetle was. One time the village boys were messing with the cat and put it in a bag with an eel to see who would win and threw it in the water. Beetle stayed out of sight untill the boys left and went and pulled the cat out of the bag, the cat was still alive. She put the cat in the dung heap so it would warm up and she stayed with the cat until it was plenty warm enough.
Beetle found out the midwifes name was Jane Sharp and she had become a midwife because she had six children and none of them lived. Jane did her job with care and enthusiasm. Beetle helped the midwife every day by stocking the fire and going off into the woods to gather honey, trap birds, and collected herbs, leeches, and spiders' webs. When Beetle was called she accompanied the midwife to someones cottage to help a women give birth. Beetle always had to wait out side so she thought Jane was some kind of a witch and she didn't want her to see the magic she preformed. Beetle was always gathering things for Jane so she could comfort the mothers who gave birth to the newborn.
One day Beetle followed Jane when she was running an errend and found out she was fooling around with the baker. Jane threatened Beetle that if she told any one she would turn her back out in the cold and break both of her knees before she did. Beetle got hime and was sitting by the front of the house when the miller came looking for Jane and when Beetle told him Jane was not around he took her instead but Beetle did not now what to do so she tried to resist but he had a firm grip on her arm and forced her to come and help his wife. Beetle tried remembering everything that Jane did when she was helping other women and she remembered Jane telling a women "PUSH YOU COW" so Beetle said that to the millers wife and she went crazy and threw any thing she could reach at Beetle. Jane finally came in and yelled at Beetle to leave the room so she sat in a shaded spot in the room where she could not be seen and this proved that Jane was not a witch and she used no magic to deliver a baby.
One day the midwife was suppose to go to the fair on a job but she broke her ankle so she had to send Beetle instead. Beetle was excited at the sound of being able to go to the fair. While she was there she wondered the fair grounds and she found one booth that was selling combs she didn't have enough so she bargained with the person working there and he gave her the comb free. Beetle set home and stopped along the way at a pond so she could see her reflection to brush out her curls. While she was sitting there a man ran up and started calling her Alyce and wanted her to read something but she did not now how to read. The man realized that she was not Alyce and set off to find who he was looking for. Beetle got excited at the thought of looking like someone with curly hair. Beetle then thought that she should have a beautiful name to so she also used the name Alyce from then on.
Beetle took the name Alyce and she tried to figure out a name for the cat. It took her sometime but she soon came up with the name Purr.
Title: The Midwife's Apprentice Author: Karen Cushman Book Review
This book took place in a village in England in the fourteenth century. A girl known as Brat lived in the dung heap. She didn't have a name or a family so she wondered from village to village.
As you record your reading blog, be sure in apply one the the following reading strategies.
Question-While you read, question what's
happening. Searching for reasons behind events and characters' actions can help you
get more involved in what you read.
Connect-Connect personally with what you're
reading. Think of similarities between the descriptions in the selection and what you
have personally experienced, heard, or read.
Predict-Try to figure out what will happen
next and how the selection might end. Then read on to see if you made good guesses.
Clarify-Stop occasionally to review what you
understand so far, and expect to have your understanding change and develop as
you read on.
Evaluate- Form opinions about what you read,
both while you're reading and after you've finished. Make judgments about the
characters and develop your own ideas about events.
Visualize- Make a picture in your mind of what
the text says. Imagine you are looking at what is describe.
13 comments:
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
pages: 1-10
This book is about a girl who doesn't have a home or a name. She travels through villages where she is constantly getting made fun of. This girl other wise known a Beetle because she lays in dung to keep warm.
Beetle meets a cat that is orang with a white spot under its chin that she later names purr. Beetle one day comes across boys in a village that torment Purr and put him in a bag with an eel to see which would win. After the boys leave the bag with the eel and the cat Beetle starts to open the bag and remembers there is an eel so she uses a stick to open the bag to let the eel out. Beetle then saves the cat and they became good friends and she is not afraid of him like she was before.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
pages: 1-42
This book is about a girl who doesn't have a home or a name. She travels through villages where she is constantly getting made fun of. This girl other wise known a Beetle because she lays in dung to keep warm.
Beetle meets a cat that is orang with a white spot under its chin that she later names purr. Beetle one day comes across boys in a village that torment Purr and put him in a bag with an eel to see which would win. After the boys leave the bag with the eel and the cat Beetle starts to open the bag and remembers there is an eel so she uses a stick to open the bag to let the eel out. Beetle then saves the cat and they became good friends and she is not afraid of him like she was before.
After meeting the cat, Beetle then meets a woman that she had never seen befor. Beetle asks her if she has any food to spare and she tells her that she doesn't give out food to people who don't work for it. Beetle offers to work for her so the midwife takes her in and gives her hard bread and sour ale but beetle doesn't notice because she hadn't eaten in days.
Beetle soon became the midwifes apprentice and helped make things to sooth the mothers of the newborn. Beetle was never allowed to go into the building were the midwife was helping the women give birth. After some time beetle figured out the midwifes real name wich was Jane Sharp. Beetle had thought for some time that Jane sharp was a witch.
One day Beetle followed Jane on one of her errands but she saw Jane with some man and fell out of her hiding spot in a tree. Jane was furious she told Beetle that if she told any one she would put her out on the streets again to live in the dung heap. Beetle did not want to give up the food that Jane was providing for her so she promised she wouldn't say anything and she returned home waiting for the worst from Jane.
Title: The Midwifes's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Pages: 12-
While waiting for Jane to return home a man Miller came looking for Jane. When Beetle told him Jane was not around Miller grabbed Beetle to deliver his wifes child but she is to afraid to do it. The Miller's wife gets angry with Beetle gets up and throws things any thing she can reach at her until Jane soon comes and makes the miller's wife get back into bed. Beetle then again gets into trouble with Jane but she still doesn't get put out into the dung heap.
There is a fair in the village but being in trouble enough with Jane Beetle doesn't dare ask Jane if she could go with her. Jane sneeks of to the fair and buys a comb with a cat on it and she bargains with the salesman and he just gave it to her. On her way back home Beetle starts to comb out her hair but she can't so she uses a pond as a mirror. As shes trying to fix her
Anonymous said...
Title: The Midwifes's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Pages: 12-
While waiting for Jane to return home a man Miller came looking for Jane. When Beetle told him Jane was not around Miller grabbed Beetle to deliver his wifes child but she is to afraid to do it. The Miller's wife gets angry with Beetle gets up and throws things any thing she can reach at her until Jane soon comes and makes the miller's wife get back into bed. Beetle then again gets into trouble with Jane but she still doesn't get put out into the dung heap.
There is a fair in the village but being in trouble enough with Jane Beetle doesn't dare ask Jane if she could go with her. Jane sneeks of to the fair and buys a comb with a cat on it and she bargains with the salesman and he just gave it to her. On her way back home Beetle starts to comb out her hair but she can't so she uses a pond as a mirror. As shes trying to fix her hair when a man runs up and calles her alyce and wants her to read but she doesn't know how so the man notices that Beetle is not The man runs off to find the girl he is looking for. Beetle then changes her name to Alyce.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
5 w's:
Who: Alyce
What: Alyce journeys to many villages. She meets Jane Sharp she runs away and finds an inn and meets a minister.
where: A village in England.
When: Fourteenth century.
why: Alyce doesn't have a mother or a father and she needs food so she works for Jane Sharp. She fails to help a mother so she runs away and begins to work for a woman at an it for food and a place to live out of the bad weather.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
pages:40-60
One day boys from the village were chasing Alyce. She climbed a tree to escape from the boys when one of the boys will fell backward and fell into the river. The rest of the boys ran away so they wouldn't get in trouble so the only person left was Alyce. She was to afraid to get down so she climbed to the end of the tree limb until it dipt down over the water were will could grab a hold. Will said he couldn't thank her enough but when everyone started making fun of her will would make them leave her alone or go pick on somebody else.
A little while later something was roming through the village and nobody new what it was. The villagers would follow the tracks around but the never quite figured out what it was. People started making Alyce run their errands because they were to affraid to and Alyce had lived outside most of her life and she never seen anything so she was not afraid of what was out there.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
pages:40-60
One day boys from the village were chasing Alyce. She climbed a tree to escape from the boys when one of the boys will fell backward and fell into the river. The rest of the boys ran away so they wouldn't get in trouble so the only person left was Alyce. She was to afraid to get down so she climbed to the end of the tree limb until it dipt down over the water were will could grab a hold. Will said he couldn't thank her enough but when everyone started making fun of her will would make them leave her alone or go pick on somebody else.
A little while later something was roming through the village and nobody new what it was. The villagers would follow the tracks around but the never quite figured out what it was. People started making Alyce run their errands because they were to affraid to and Alyce had lived outside most of her life and she never seen anything so she was not afraid of what was out there. Many people were caught in the wrong and were punished for letting the devil take control of them.
Another part of this book a baby was getting ready to be born and the people took Alyce instead of Jane and she was angry as anyone could be at Alyce for taking her mothers having birth. Alyce tried to sooth her like she did the other lady but it did no use so she sent the boy to go get Jane. After watching Jane help the mother give birth Alyce thought she had failed so she ran away and found an inn outside of the village she had been staying in. Alyce worked in a kitchen there and took care of people when they visited the inn.
Title:The midwife's Apprentice
Author:Karen Cushman
Pages:82-88
At the Inn that Alyce ran off to a women named jennet took her in and used her around so she could earn food. Jennet liked Alyce because she did not steel food, sneak ale, or dally with the guests. Alyce worked around the inn laying fires, sweeping floors, and carrying water all spring. When guests came to the inn jennet always told her to put clean sheets on the beds but she new Jennet just wanted the guests to feel conforted by the thought of having new clean sheets.
Alyce always wondered about the little boy she found with the cows that she saved from the boys and that she helped name Edward. Edward went to find work from people in the village in which she had just come from. One day Alyce was helping Jennet when she heard a familiure voice. She went out to inspect who it was when she notice it was will Russet the boy from the village who she rescued from the water.
A few days after will visited Jane Sharp came to visit and talked with the magister that stayed at the inn. Alyce felt like crying because she was sure Jane would tell the magister all about her running away because she was a failure. Jane did compliment that she was not as stupid as some girls shes had working for her and quite a bit more company.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Pages:89-
One day in spring Alyce decided to go visit Edward. She just wanted to know if he was well fed and had shelter at the manor. Alyce would imagine Edwards first sight of her and it made her feel terrible inside, she imagined him starving and cold out in the weather. Alyce walked around asking everyone were the boy Edward was but everyone said they didn't know where the boy was or they never heard of him. Alyce asked the cook and she new right were Edward was.
The cook that told Alyce were the boy was thought they were brothers and sisters because they looked alike. When Alyce found Edward in the hen house he jumped up and threw his arms around her just like she had imagined before.
That night Edward asked Alyce to stay the night and she agreed nowing Jennet would yell at her for not coming home. The two ate bread and bacon for supper all during that time Edward talked of life on the manor. Before going to bed that night Edward wanted Alyce to tell him a story but she didn't know any so she had to make one up and soon Edward was a sleep.
The next day the wooly black sheep were washed before shearing, Alyce and Edward ate their bread-and-beer breakfast down by the river to watch the great event. The first to finish breakfast was Edward and Alyce gave him her breakfast. Alyce helped the men shear the sheep and took a bath with the soap that they used. After that she said goodbye to Edward and headed back to the inn.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Pages:89-103
One day in spring Alyce decided to go visit Edward. She just wanted to know if he was well fed and had shelter at the manor. Alyce would imagine Edwards first sight of her and it made her feel terrible inside, she imagined him starving and cold out in the weather. Alyce walked around asking everyone were the boy Edward was but everyone said they didn't know where the boy was or they never heard of him. Alyce asked the cook and she new right were Edward was.
The cook that told Alyce were the boy was thought they were brothers and sisters because they looked alike. When Alyce found Edward in the hen house he jumped up and threw his arms around her just like she had imagined before.
That night Edward asked Alyce to stay the night and she agreed nowing Jennet would yell at her for not coming home. The two ate bread and bacon for supper all during that time Edward talked of life on the manor. Before going to bed that night Edward wanted Alyce to tell him a story but she didn't know any so she had to make one up and soon Edward was a sleep.
The next day the wooly black sheep were washed before shearing, Alyce and Edward ate their bread-and-beer breakfast down by the river to watch the great event. The first to finish breakfast was Edward and Alyce gave him her breakfast. Alyce helped the men shear the sheep and took a bath with the soap that they used. After that she said goodbye to Edward and headed back to the inn.
Title: The midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
pages:104-117
One day at the inn a women came in and they thought she was going to die from a stomach worm but Jennet told the man that she was just having a baby and all the man could do was yell back at her about his wife's discomfort and how she was discontent since the day they were married. Jennet told the womens husband that the baby was coming soon but it was a long time before the baby was actually born. The baby was not born right away but no one could comfort her enough.
During this time Alyce was watching from beneath a staircase and soon came out when no one could help the poor women. Alyce remembered everything Jane Sharp did while she was helping other women give birth. Alyce moved the women around and sang to her and moved her around some more until finally the baby was born.
Magister Reese was so proud of Alyce that he asked her to join him on his way home. Jennet wanted her to stay and she didn't know what to do so she went with magister Reese. On the way she stopped and knocked on Jane's door and when Jane opened the door Alyce decided to stay with the first person who gave her a home.
Title: The Midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Historical fiction book review.
This story is about a girl who didn't have a family or a name.
The girl romes from village to village and she lives in or around dung heaps. One day she was in a dung heap when a women asked her if she was alive or dead. The women was a midwife and she called the girl by beetle after a dung beetle. The woman let Beetle work for food and gave her a place to live.
Beetle always saw a cat roming around it was orange and had a white spot under its chin. Beetle took a liking to the cat. The cat was tormented by the village boys just like Beetle was. One time the village boys were messing with the cat and put it in a bag with an eel to see who would win and threw it in the water. Beetle stayed out of sight untill the boys left and went and pulled the cat out of the bag, the cat was still alive. She put the cat in the dung heap so it would warm up and she stayed with the cat until it was plenty warm enough.
Beetle found out the midwifes name was Jane Sharp and she had become a midwife because she had six children and none of them lived. Jane did her job with care and enthusiasm. Beetle helped the midwife every day by stocking the fire and going off into the woods to gather honey, trap birds, and collected herbs, leeches, and spiders' webs. When Beetle was called she accompanied the midwife to someones cottage to help a women give birth. Beetle always had to wait out side so she thought Jane was some kind of a witch and she didn't want her to see the magic she preformed. Beetle was always gathering things for Jane so she could comfort the mothers who gave birth to the newborn.
One day Beetle followed Jane when she was running an errend and found out she was fooling around with the baker. Jane threatened Beetle that if she told any one she would turn her back out in the cold and break both of her knees before she did. Beetle got hime and was sitting by the front of the house when the miller came looking for Jane and when Beetle told him Jane was not around he took her instead but Beetle did not now what to do so she tried to resist but he had a firm grip on her arm and forced her to come and help his wife. Beetle tried remembering everything that Jane did when she was helping other women and she remembered Jane telling a women "PUSH YOU COW" so Beetle said that to the millers wife and she went crazy and threw any thing she could reach at Beetle. Jane finally came in and yelled at Beetle to leave the room so she sat in a shaded spot in the room where she could not be seen and this proved that Jane was not a witch and she used no magic to deliver a baby.
One day the midwife was suppose to go to the fair on a job but she broke her ankle so she had to send Beetle instead. Beetle was excited at the sound of being able to go to the fair. While she was there she wondered the fair grounds and she found one booth that was selling combs she didn't have enough so she bargained with the person working there and he gave her the comb free. Beetle set home and stopped along the way at a pond so she could see her reflection to brush out her curls. While she was sitting there a man ran up and started calling her Alyce and wanted her to read something but she did not now how to read. The man realized that she was not Alyce and set off to find who he was looking for. Beetle got excited at the thought of looking like someone with curly hair. Beetle then thought that she should have a beautiful name to so she also used the name Alyce from then on.
Beetle took the name Alyce and she tried to figure out a name for the cat. It took her sometime but she soon came up with the name Purr.
Title: The Midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman
Book Review
This book took place in a village in England in the fourteenth century. A girl known as Brat lived in the dung heap. She didn't have a name or a family so she wondered from village to village.
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