Cushman, Karen. (1995). Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. 212 pp.

Grade Range: 6-9

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary and Critique

Catherine, also known as Little Bird or Birdy, is fourteen years old and growing up in the year 1290. The sole daughter of Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn, Catherine is clever, witty, and determined not to marry any of the rich suitors her father has selected. In hopes of maturing her into a respectable young lady, Catherine's brother, Edward, insists she keep a daily diary of her affairs. Regardless of her protests, the young damsel records her plight against the expectancies placed upon women of the court, including her boredom with sewing, spinning, cooking, and, of course, her determination to escape an arranged marriage. Catherine soon begins to question the role women play within society. She does not care to sit, sew and gossip her days away, but yearns for adventure and escape, often resulting in disciplinary action from her father for her misconduct. While Catherine uses her cunning antics to evade most of her father's suitors, there remains one persistent prospect, Shaggy-Beard. Though the most unattractive and revolting of them all, Shaggy-Beard is also the wealthiest. As the potential suitor continues to negotiate the terms of the dowry with Lord Rollo, Shaggy Beard seems completely undaunted by Catherine's obvious objections and appalling behavior.

Written in diary format, this novel personifies the difficulties placed upon young women in a medieval court. Through her entries, the audience is welcomed into the daily life of this witty and inventive young girl. Refreshingly rebellious and headstrong, the young teen humorously challenges the conventional behavior expected of a lady. Critics praise this novel for the portrayal of a tenacious and strong female protagonist.

Awards

1995 Newbery Honor Book

1995 Best Books for Young Adults (American Library Association)

1995 Teachers'Choices (International Reading Association)

1995 IRA Distinguished Book Award for Fiction

1995 Fanfare Honor List (The Hornbook)

1994 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators)

1995 Notable Trade Book in Language Arts (National Council for Teacher Education)

1994"Pick of the Lists" (American Library Association)

Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle-School- Aged Teens

Themes/Topics

Families

Challenges and Triumphs

Love, Sex, and Romance

The Individual vs. Society

Friends and Enemies

Generations

Author Information

Having written her first book in her fifties, Karen Cushman considers herself a late-bloomer in the field of fiction writing. She earned her master's degree in Human Behavior and Museum Studies, and has always been interested in history, particularly the medieval era. Her research into the Middle Ages launched her books Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice. Instead of focusing her research on kings, queens and princesses, however, Cushman was more interested in what life was like on an individual level for ordinary young people within the Middle Ages.

For more information on Karen Cushman:

http:/www.eduplace.com/author/cushman An informative Web site that includes biography of the author, a summary of her works, and classroom activities incorporating a historical and literary interpretation of the novel.

http:/www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/cushman.html An interesting site providing an in-depth biography of the author, a lists of her awards, and interesting reviews and critiques of her major works.

Media Connections

Movies

The Joy Luck Club (1993) Explores the lives of four Chinese women and their relationships with their four Chinese-American daughters.

The Princess Bride (1987) Princess Buttercup is kidnapped and betrothed to the despicable Prince Humperdinck. A classic fairytale, complete with sword fights and torture devices, the Princess is true to her heart, awaiting the return of hr beloved Westley to come to the rescue.

The Black Cauldron (1985) Taran, an assistant pig keeper, has big dreams of becoming a great warrior. When his oracle pig is kidnapped by a cruel king, Taran and a few of his misfit friends attempt to reclaim the oracle pig. The young boy soon learns the meaning of a true hero.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) An inspiring tale of feminine power, Idgie Threadgoode, a southern tomboy in the 1920's, displays unmatched assertiveness and determination as an individual fighting the conventional roles of women.

The Karate Kid (1984) Daniel, a poor, skinny, young boy new to his neighborhood, finds himself an easy target for bullies. When he meets Mr. Myagi, who teaches him the art of karate, he realizes his true physical and mental potential.

Cry of the Children (1912) This documentary of child labor displays the contrast between workers and the elite, similar to the servants and the nobility within the Middle Ages.

Clueless (2001) In a light-hearted spin-off of Jane Austen's Emma, Cher's manipulative social skills and natural charm convince teachers to raise her grades, as well as provide her fashionably challenged friends with a strong sense of self-worth and self-esteem. As Cher tries to better the lives of her loved ones, she discovers the meaning of personal achievement and true love while maturing into adulthood.

Television

The George Lopez Show (ABC) Latino family with Teens coming-of-age

Music

"Wide Open Spaces." Lyrics by the Dixie Chicks. Wide Open Spaces. Sony, 1998. A song about personal freedom.

Online Resources

http://http://www.ipl.org/ The Internet Public Library has a wealth of information for the purpose of addressing and understanding the needs of preteen and adolescent girls.

http://www.mcmaster.ca/home.html An interactive Web site offering research and articles comparing and contrasting women of the Middle Ages with contemporary women. The site also provides a timeline of all major historical events.

http://library.thinkquest.org/12834 An interesting look into the day-to-day lives of medieval women, including a interactive quiz to judge exactly how much you know of women in the Middle Ages. This Web site offers valuable insight in regards to the role women played in the economical, political and social scenes of the times.

http://marriage.about.com/od/arrangedmarriage/ This Web site provides information on the history and purpose of arranged marriages within different cultures, including Japan and India.

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/cimpullitti/resources.html An in-depth look into the Middle Ages, this Web site offers information on all aspects of life in the Medieval era, including medicine, housing, food/recipes, and a complete bibliography for further research.

Related Texts

Blume, Judy. (1981). Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Bantam Doubleday Books. 160pp. Margaret Simon is having a difficult time growing up. She has to adjust to a new town, a new school and new peers. Struggling with puberty and religion, Margaret begins to chat with God about her many questions and concerns.

Alvarez, Julia. (1992). How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. New York: Plume Publishers. 290pp. Moving from a privileged life in Santo Domingo to the Bronx, the four Garcia girls rebel against their Mami and Papi's old-world ways in order to acclimate themselves to American life. This story could serve as a great comparison to the rebellious behavior displayed by Catherine in Catherine, Called Birdy.

Meyer, Carolyn. (2002). Beware, Princess Elizabeth: A Young Royals Book. San Diego: Harcourt. 240pp. This is a fictional autobiographical account of Elizabeth I of England before her actual reign as Queen.

Angelou, Maya. (1983). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York: Bantam. 289pp. This book is an autobiographical account of Maya Angelou's turbulent childhood. As a young black girl in the South, Maya endures physical/sexual abuse, racism, and poverty, presenting an excellent comparison to the problems facing Catherine in Catherine, Called Birdy. the "bird" motif, specifically, plays a significant role in both stories.

Achebe, Chinua. (1994). Things Fall Apart. Anchor Books. 212pp. This book is the honest, unsentimental account of Nigerian tribal life before and after colonialism. In a world of violence, suffering, and war, Igbo leader Okonkwo still expresses a strong sense of tradition and ritual. Through this cruel, yet sympathetic character, the author powerfully displays the disruption which occurs when old ways meet new times.

Frank, Anne. (1947). Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. New York: Bantam Books. With engaging, detailed personal entries, this young Jewish girl chronicles the 25 months spent in clustered hiding to avoid the Nazi concentration camps of WWII. The diary hits the heartstrings of all adolescents with Anne's youthfully honest concerns ranging from clothing to true love.

Teaching Ideas

(1)"And the Oscar Goes to…" In groups of two or three, have students brainstorm for Oscar Award titles to hand out to different characters in the b4teens_book. List a few more possible awards then there are students in the class (to give them some choices), then have them randomly pick one award each to pitch in front of the class. Their homework will be to come up with three possible candidates (characters, phrases, or scenes, depending on the award) that are deserving of the award, and then write a few sentences using evidence taken from the text as to why they should win the Oscar. The next day in class, each student will read aloud his three nominations and supporting arguments, and the class will vote for each award by secret ballot. Some clever ideas for Oscar awards are: Most Powerful Phrase, Most Colorful Character, Most Chilling Moment, Strongest Antagonist, Most Beautiful Moment, and Most Descriptive Death. The numerous and distinct characters within Catherine, Called Birdy would make this an interesting classroom activity.

[Summarized from "Oscar Motif" by Rosemary Laughlin in Ideas Plus Book 19. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. Fall 2001, pp. 25-26.]

(2) "Student/Teacher Correspondence" At the end of the grading period, write one letter to copy for all your students. Tell them how you feel about their performance, give them a preview of what is to come, and focus on any potential problems that may arise in upcoming classes. Make it personal. Relate some family information, music or movies you enjoy, or comment on current events. Being open with them will allow them to share honest thoughts with you. Their homework will be to write back (emphasize that this will be confidential), and encourage their honesty by asking questions about what they liked or did not like about class or school in general. Many children, especially adolescents, will welcome the option and outlet to express their honest opinion and thoughts, or just enjoy the excuse to vent some frustrations. It hopefully will lead to more open literary discussion in class regarding texts that cover the issues and concerns overwhelming many teenage minds.

[Summarized from "Letter to Students" by Dallin Malmgren in Ideas Plus Book 9. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. August1991, pp.48.]

(3) "Creating Conversation" In pairs of two or three, have the students write a conversation that was not actually written in the text, but was alluded to have occurred. The conversations must be three to four minutes long, and require at least a few pages of writing. Most importantly, the writers must stay true to the characters portrayed in the literary conversation. Have the students perform the conversation in front of the class. For example, in Catherine, Called Birdy, it would be interesting to create one of the conversations between Catherine and her father regarding Shaggy Beard, since Catherine infers most of the arguments, simply stating she received a"crack."

[Summarized from "Imagined Conversation" in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teacher of English. January 2002, pp.9.]

(Written by Summer Foley and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)