Catherine, Called Birdy

Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. 1st Edition. New York, NY: Harper Trophy, 1995. ISBN: 0-06-440584-2. PBK $4.95.

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

Annotation: A tale written in journal form by a 14 year old young woman during the Midevial ages, the only daughter of a Lord and Lady. Her brothers are rascals, her father barely tolerable and her mother is the salt of the earth. Her father's sole mission in life though seems to be marrying her off and that is what Cathering, called Birdy will do anything to avoid!

Booktalk:

"September 12th:

I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.

 Instead I thought to make a list of all the things girls are not allowed to do: 

Go on crusade

Be horse trainers

Be monks

Laugh very loud

Wear breeches

Drink in ale house

Cut their hair

Piss in the fire to make it hiss

Wear nothing

Be alone

Get sunburned

Run

Marry whom they will

Glide on the ice"

(p. 1, 83-84). 

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