The Midwife's Apprentice

Set in medieval England, this is the story of a homeless, orphaned girl named Brat whose life changes when she becomes an assistant to a midwife named Jane. Although the short-tempered Jane wants a mindless assistant, someone who will anticipate her needs and silently help her with her work, the observant Brat (whom Jane has renamed Beetle) begins to pick up the art of delivering babies. As Brat/Beetle gains confidence, she adopts an actual name--Alyce--and begins to dream of becoming a midwife herself. Thoroughly researched, THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE is full of realistic details about life in medieval England and concludes with a historical note about the history of midwifery. Winner of the 1996 Newbery Medal. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.