common_household_mom's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thebookishboymom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I simply read this one because I needed to fill a prompt in the PopSugar Reading Challenge. The prompt was "a book you should have read in high school."
ipasiuk's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
josiegrooms's review against another edition
another 7th grade book, really looking forward to reading about the slipperiness of a woman’s womb with 12 year olds
lehine's review against another edition
5.0
Re-reading my childhood (2023).
This is another book my mom read with me, so that I could learn a bit of the history of her profession. Karen Cushman does not play around, and this book is not for the faint of heart child. It starts with a graphic description of Alyce sleeping in a dung heap, malnourished and desperate to stay warm. She’s beaten, degraded, verbally abused. She saves a cat drowning in a sack and assists in births. Theres also a great lesson about persistance, and an informative afterward about midwifery and its history.
This is another book my mom read with me, so that I could learn a bit of the history of her profession. Karen Cushman does not play around, and this book is not for the faint of heart child. It starts with a graphic description of Alyce sleeping in a dung heap, malnourished and desperate to stay warm. She’s beaten, degraded, verbally abused. She saves a cat drowning in a sack and assists in births. Theres also a great lesson about persistance, and an informative afterward about midwifery and its history.
fionak's review against another edition
4.0
An easy read that tripped along effortlessly and I was surprised to come the end so quickly. Its not spectacular though and I'm surprised it won a Newbery.
mcwinningkoff's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
babayagareads's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great read, and a great introduction to women's health care in the middle ages. It's super interesting to see how the occupation has changed and how in some ways, it is viewed similarly now as it was to then. It's also a good introduction to reading old(er) English, since much of the dialogue is written so. I wouldn't recommend this for more conservative families, but I think it's awesome and would recommend it otherwise.
bookishdelights's review against another edition
4.0
This book was an easy read, but tugs so deeply at your heart. One can learn so much from Alyce. She has become one of my fictional heroes. She did not let life turn her sour, like it with Midwife Jane. Alyce had a heart that was so pure, so brave. She is simple and yet so extraordinary.