Catherine, Called Birdy facts for kids
1994 Edition
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| Author | Karen Cushman |
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| Illustrator | None |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Clarion Books |
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Publication date
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1994 |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 169 |
| ISBN | 978-03-9568186-2 |
Catherine, Called Birdy is a popular children's novel written by Karen Cushman. It's a historical novel told like a diary, set in England during the 1200s. The book came out in 1994. It even won the Newbery Honor in 1995, which is a big award for children's books!
Contents
What's the Story About?
This book is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Catherine. She lives in the English countryside. Catherine keeps a journal where she writes about her daily life. She really wants exciting adventures. She also tries hard to avoid getting married off, which was common for girls back then. The book also helps you understand how people thought in medieval times.
Catherine's World in 1290
The story starts in September 1290. Catherine describes her home, which is her father's manor. She tells us about her parents: her dad is a bit grumpy, and her mom is very kind. She also writes about the different people she meets every day. The diary entries are often marked by Catholic Saints' Days.
Catherine is called "Birdy" because she loves keeping many birds as pets. She has three older brothers. Her oldest brother, Robert, is a knight. He marries a very young woman, who sadly passes away. Her second brother, Thomas, works for the king. Edward is her third brother. He is a monk living nearby, and Catherine is closest to him. They often write letters to each other.
Family Life and Marriage Plans
Catherine's relationship with her parents is a big part of the book. Her mother wants her to be a proper and gentle lady. Her father, however, wants her to marry someone important. This would help his family gain more power and connections.
Many men come to Stonebridge Manor to try and marry Lady Catherine. But Birdy doesn't like any of them. She uses clever tricks to make them leave. Eventually, her father insists she marry an older man she calls "Shaggy Beard." Catherine spends the whole year fighting this marriage. She absolutely refuses to marry him. She dreams up many ways to escape. She even imagines running away to become a monk or going on a big adventure overseas.
Love, Fate, and Responsibility
A major part of the story happens when her favorite Uncle George comes home. He has been away on the Crusades. Uncle George falls in love with Catherine's best friend, Lady Aelis. But they can't marry because of their social standing. They both end up marrying other people. This makes Catherine think about fate, love, and what it means to be responsible.
As the day for Catherine's official engagement gets closer, she runs away. She goes to stay with her Uncle and Aunt. While there, she realizes something important. She will still be herself, no matter who she marries. So, she lets her uncle take her home.
When she arrives home, she gets wonderful news! "Shaggy Beard" has passed away. Now, she is engaged to his son, Stephen. Stephen is young, clean, and educated. Catherine is very happy about this new match. She starts to dream about being married to him. She counts down the days until she can finally meet him.
Daily Life in Medieval Times
Catherine, Called Birdy shows us many parts of medieval life. Catherine writes about everyday things, like killing fleas or doing embroidery. She also describes festivals and holidays, such as Easter or May Day, which the whole village celebrates. Her travels are limited, but she does go to places like Lincoln with her father. She also spends a few days at Lady Aelis's manor.
Images for kids
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1994 Edition
