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36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historical Fiction for the intelligent child., June 7, 2001
"Catherine Called Birdy" is a young adult book in a class of its own. Unlike the petty, superficial novels usually written for children, this book's historical setting and endearing heroine make it a must read for all precocious children who grew up on fairy-tales, etc. Set in The Middle Ages, this novel explores the society of the time and also the conditions of the time including some hilarious insights on the hygiene! When I read this book in 4th grade I was automatically hooked on everything Middle Ages and actually was inspired to do research in my free time! Setting of the book aside, "Birdy" is a wonderful character that many girls will be able to connect with even though they live more than 500 years later. Each diary entry tells you more about this character, which makes her personality more in-depth than other books for this age group. I recommend this book for all ages but especially for girls who are just beginning to choose what kind of books they want to read and have always enjoyed fairy-tale and historical fiction type works. This book has a permanent place on my bookshelf--- right next to the Jane Austen and Charles Dickens I have come to cherish because of the pathways of literature this book created.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Little bird, little bird, in the cinnamon tree..., June 24, 2004
Arbitrators of historical accuracy in works of fiction decried "Catherine Called Birdy" as a travesty when it first came out. They said it was inaccurate and filled with factual misrepresentations. They said the main character could not and would not have acted the way she did (Birdy is both headstrong and willful) not because she wasn't capable of it but because of the times in which she lived (Medieval England). I was very partial to "Catherine Called Birdy" when I read it. I thought it was a breezy romp through a time entirely different from our own today. I thought the plot was enjoyable, the main character likable, and the setting fascinating. But yes, if pressed, I would admit that this is definitely not the book you're going to want to read to if you want a realistic portrayal of the Middle Ages. So there it is.
Lady Catherine (called Birdy) is the fourteen-year-old daughter of a knight and lady of a manor. Their only daughter, she is expected to wed soon, thereby bringing in a significant price from her suitor. Birdy, however, has other ideas. She knows that in terms of some people (barons, kings, etc.) her family is not particularly rich, but she also feels that no money in the world would be worth her marriage to some empty headed blockhead. As such, the book follows the day-to-day activities of a young lady in jolly old England as she outsmarts and drives away a variety of different potential husbands. To do so, the tale is told through Birdy's journal entries, usually beginning with a note as to what the saint day it is and how they died. The book really hits its stride when Birdy finds herself engaged to a man that repulses and disgusts her more than any other she's met thus far.
I contest the notion that the book is entirely inaccurate, however. First of all, the ending of the book is, however fortuitous, believable. I feel the book taken as a whole is meant to show how trapped the lives of women during medieval times were. We are constantly bombarded with images of cages and caged birds. Birdy is told not to fight her position in life since it will do her little good. The book does not end with Birdy marrying outside her class or running away to live the single life. Instead, it remains faithful to the ideals of the time, for which I was very glad.
Just the same, Birdy is not your average girl. I have to agree that she's a mighty unlikely character for her time period too. Girls reading about her today might identify with her intrinsically, but that's only because she's written with a particularly modern eye. For example, Birdy expresses an interest in running away and joining the Crusades. I challenge anyone to say that any girl growing up in 1290 England even harbored a glimpse of a thought about such a thing. It wasn't just the girls couldn't, it was the fact that they would have considered such an idea alien to their culture. Birdy has lots of thoughts along these lines as well. She likes to fart and spit and do all sorts of things that, quite frankly, girls younger than fourteen might be into but that a kid her age would probably have outgrown. That was actually one of my problems with the book as well. Too often is Birdy immature for her age or irrational beyond her otherwise cool head. After all, being fourteen now and being fourteen then were two entirely different ideas. People grew up faster back in the day, an idea that Birdy does not seen to convey. In fact, in some things Birdy is perfectly ahead of her years. She seems to have a very clear idea of sex and human reproduction. On viewing some grass stained villagers returning from the woods she observes wryly that there will probably be quite a few babies born the coming December. Nine months away, that is.
Just the same, I liked this book. I liked how Birdy's conceptions of humans on the whole changes. I liked the humor in this tale, something that most books set in the Middle Ages neglect. In short, I liked "Catherine Called Birdy" in spite of its flaws. Author Cushman is good enough to include an Author's Note at the end of this text that offers not only further information about the times, but non-fiction resources and other medieval children's books for reference. I challenge you to read this story and not enjoy it, at least on some level. It's a lovely romp. And if you still find yourself yearning for something a little more believable, check out "Dante's Daughter" instead.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb historical fiction!, January 11, 2011
"You are lucky, Little Bird, for you have wings. But you must learn to master them. Look at the baron's hawk there on her perch. Just because she doesn't flap her wings all the time doesn't mean she cant fly."
Catherine, also called Birdy, is a 14 year old girl from England (the year is 1290). Her brother Edward insists on her writing an account of her days to help her grow "less childish and more learned." So she does, reluctantly at first, her first entry being:
12th Day of September
I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by my family. That is all here is to say.
Catherine is "the daughter of a country knight with but ten servants, seventy villagers, no ministrel, and acres of unhemmed linen." Her mother wants to make her a fine lady who keeps her eyes down and her mouth shut. And her father is determined to wed her to an honorable, wealthy suitor to improve on their family status. Catherine won't let none of this happen to her: she is witty and strong-minded, looking with a critical eye upon the world around her. The only problem is, that nobody but the caged birds in her chamber would share her outlook on life. But she doesn't give up: from now on much of Birdy's energy is consumed by avoiding the various suitors her father has lined up for her marriage. One by one, they are all sent packing, thanks to Catherine's determination. Until she is almost wed to an older, unattractive man she refers to as Shaggy Beard. Should she run away or join the Crusades?
Catherine has to go a full circle, get lost in her emotions and feelings, and find the answer for herself. At the end, the words of old Jewish woman come to her mind: "Remember, Little Bird, in the world to come, you will not be asked 'Why were you not George?' Or 'Why were you not Perkin?' But 'Why were you not Catherine?' " Birdy finally learns how to use her wings: "I am who I am wherever I am."
"Catherine, Called Birdy" is a book that is revealing, amusing, and horrifying at times. With an insider-look, Catherine tells of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house. She lays before readers a festive account of details about medieval England: about the food, dress, religious beliefs, manners, health, medical practices, and the lack of sanitary habits of the people of her day. It's an example of superb historical fiction, no doubt!
For more stories set in or near the Middle Ages, check out "Dante's Daughter" by Kimberly Burton Heuston, "Innocent Wayfaring" by Marchette Chute, "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite De Angeli, "Adam of the Road" by Elizabeth Janet Gray, "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver" by E.L. Konigsburg, "The Maude Reed Tale" by Norah Lofts, "The Devil's Workshop" by Katherine Marcuse, "Pangur Ban" by Mary Stolz, "Knight's Fee" and "The Witch's Brat" by Rosemary Sutcliff.
Julia Shpak
Author of "Power of Plentiful Wisdom". Available on Amazon.
For more reviews on children's books visit my blog "Julia's Library" at: ForwardQuoteDOTcom
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