Monday, August 8, 2011

Catherine Called Birdy



Title: Catherine Called Birdy
Author: Karen Cushman
Genre: Historical Fiction
# of Pages: 212
Books Read: 16/50

The bi-line on the cover, "She's not your average damsel in distress," sums up the tone of the book fairly well. Catherine is a 14 year old ambitious dreamer stuck in the medieval era. She's expected to take small steps, sit silently, sew elaborate embroidery, know which herbs cure headaches, and most importantly, marry whomever her father needs her to marry to form a good match or alliance. But "Little Bird," as she is affectionately nicknamed by her family, doesn't want any of these things. She wants to be a puppeteer, or a traveling minstrel, goat herder, monk, crusader, artist... anything to escape her beastly father and indulge her yearning for adventure. 

The book is written as a first-person journal, which makes it so real and relatable. Little Bird's mini-rants made me laugh so many times while reading this on my deck, 21st century smoothie in hand. A great book for any independent young lady who'd rather find her own way than be told what to do! 

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