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~ (Author) "I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family..." (more)
Key Phrases: ale head, goat boy, high meadow, Shaggy Beard, William Steward, Odd William (more...)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Newbery Honor Book, this witty and wise fictive diary of a 13th-century English girl, according to PW, "introduces an admirable heroine and pungently evokes a largely unfamiliar setting." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house. Much of Birdy's energy is consumed by avoiding the various suitors her father chooses for her to marry. She sends them all packing with assorted ruses until she is almost wed to an older, unattractive man she refers to as Shaggy Beard. In the process of telling the routines of her young life, Birdy lays before readers a feast of details about medieval England. The book is rich with information about the food, dress, religious beliefs, manners, health, medical practices, and sanitary habits (or lack thereof) of the people of her day. From the number of fleas she kills in an evening to her herbal medicines laced with urine, Birdy reveals fascinating facts about her time period. A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable. A somewhat philosophical afterword discusses the mind set of medieval people and concludes with a list of books to consult for further information about the period. Superb historical fiction.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Product Details

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (March 31, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0064405842
  • ISBN-13: 978-0064405843
  • Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (292 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,326 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #1 in  Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Cushman, Karen
    #15 in  Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Medieval
    #96 in  Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Historical Fiction

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Karen Cushman
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Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ale head, goat boy, high meadow
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Shaggy Beard, William Steward, Odd William, Father Huw, John Swann, Our Lord, Brother Norbert, Saint George, Saint Peter, Thomas Baker, Madame Joanna, Virgin Mary, Ralph Littlemouse, Easter Day, Baron Selkirk, John At-Wood, King Herod, Master Lack-Wit
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Customer Reviews

292 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (292 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction for the intelligent child., June 7, 2001
By Margaret P Harvey (Charlottesville, Va United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
"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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18 of 20 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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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Young Adult Historical Book, December 27, 2005
I read this book when I was about 13. Although that was years ago, I still own it and still look back at it fondly. This is a great book. The main character is not your typical medieval damzel in distress, she has an intellect and humor that is refreshing. The book provides good historical details into medieval life. The ending is good, and historically accurare. I would wholey recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction, not just YA readers.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Dear Medieval Diary...
Fans of diaries will take to Karen Cushman's CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, wherein a 14-year-old girl in 13th-century England spills her innermost thoughts on matters medieval. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ken C.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book about Growing up and Becoming "Yourself".
I love the Middle Ages, especially the time period in which Birdy lives. The book is written as a diary, which she begrudgingly does, if only to avoid having to sew. Read more
Published 2 months ago by L. Carroll

2.0 out of 5 stars It was alright...
Yes, I had to read this for school. There seems to be no plot, but the book is trying to teach you how little freedom women had in the Medieval ages. Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Chow

1.0 out of 5 stars Catherine called BORING!
This book is uterly terrible. It was soooo boring that I had to push myself to read it. All it is, is her talking about how much she hates her life. Read more
Published 7 months ago

1.0 out of 5 stars Catherine called BORING!
This book is uterly terrible. It was soooo boring that I had to push myself to read it. All it is, is her talking about how much she hates her life. Read more
Published 7 months ago

5.0 out of 5 stars Catherine Called Birdy was the book that spurred my intrest in reading!
I have read this book at least 6 times and it is still as hilarious as ever! This book gives an accurate picture into the life of a medieval (not-so-wealthy) knight's daughter... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Elizabeth

5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical novel for children
I have the most wonderfully fond memories of reading this as a child and can't wait to buy a copy for my kid.
Published 9 months ago by A. K. Rathan

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Read for Eng. Lit., Historical Study, and High Interest
Catherine, Called Birdie, written by Karen Cushman provides an excellent example of historical writing describing the life of a young girl living during the Medieval Ages. Read more
Published 14 months ago by AB

1.0 out of 5 stars If I could rate this zero stars, trust me I would
I had to read this book for school, and it was boring and had absolutely no plot. It was SUPPOSED to be about a girl who's father kept trying to set her up with rich people and... Read more
Published 14 months ago

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
I am a music teacher and am doing a medieval/renaissance program at the library. I made this required reading for my students because it really helps them see what it would have... Read more
Published 16 months ago by brooksmusic

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