Books like Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Catherine, a lively teenager living on a medieval English manor, chronicles her fourteenth year in a diary that blends humor, authenticity, and bold imagination. While her mother trains her for the role of a gentlewoman and her father seeks a profitable marriage, Catherine imagines a future as a painter, Crusader, songwriter, peddler, monk, minstrel, or war charmer. She openly rejects the possibility of being sold, asserting her desire for autonomy and self‑determination. Set against the vivid everyday life of the Middle Ages, the book offers a richly entertaining perspective on family, friendship, gender expectations, and the legal status of women in 13th‑century England.
First publish date: 1994
Genre: History/Medieval History
Authors: Karen Cushman
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3.8 (5 community ratings)
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