Catherine, Called Birdy

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1994. Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: NY. Harper Trophy. ISBN 9780064405843

Plot Summary
Catherine, Called Birdy is the diary of a young teenage girl who is high spirited and determined to chase away the men her father chooses for her to marry.

Critical Analysis
Catherine is a spitfire young maiden who detest spinning yarn, writing in a journal, and does not wish to get marry any time soon. She in turn would rather be spending time outdoors with the goat boy, be a rich lady so someone else could do the work for her or spent time with the birds that she keeps in her chamber. However, Catherine’s father is quick to remind her of her place as a daughter by striking her each time she chooses to do things according to her will. All the while she continues to anger her father by driving away rich man he wants her to marry, until a year later she actually considers marriage and is making a list of her future children’s names. Set in the Medieval Ages during 1290’s readers are taken on a journey filled with Catherine’s longing for adventures beginning the 12th of September to the 23rd day of September of the following year. The diary entries that make references to the feast of the Saint being celebrated that day aid to establish the setting and beliefs of the time such as on the 16th day of February, Feast of Saint Juliana, who argued with the Devil. Young readers will identify with the fourteen year old Birdy who like many teens despise house chores, is sharp-tongued and dislikes her life or as Catherine would say, “Corpus Bones! I utterly loathe my life!”

Review Excerpt(s)
*School Library Journal, Starred Review-“Birdy reveals fascinating facts about her time period. A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable…Superb historical fiction.”

*The Horn Book, Starred Review-“Her diary of the year 1290 is a revealing, amusing, and sometimes horrifying vie of both Catherine’s thoughts and life in the Middle Ages…The vivid picture of medieval life presents a seemingly eye-witness view of a culture remote from contemporary beliefs. Fascinating and thought-provoking.”

*The 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. Her tenacity and ebullient naivete are extraordinary.”

Connections
*Received the Newbery Medal Honor Winner
* Compare and Contrast Catherine the main character from Catherine, Called Birdy with Beetle from The Midwife’s Apprentice another Newbery Medal Honor book by Karen Cushman
*Medieval Literature
*Women’s rights throughout the ages