The Midwife's Apprentice
By Karen Cushman

Fifth Grade (on-grade level)

A Summary of The Midwife's Apprentice

    A young girl has survived alone without anyone for the first twelve years of her life. She traveled from place to place searching for food and shelter, stealing bread if she needed.  She often slept in dung heaps to keep warm on chilly nights.  She had no name except Dung Beetle which she got because someone thought she resembled a dung beetle.  One day as Beetle slept in her dung pile, a woman happened by and took notice of Beetle.  The woman was the village midwife and offered for Beetle to work for her i exchange for food and shelter.  Beetle did not hesitate, for anything would be better than starving on the streets.
    The story proceeds as Beetle lives and learns from the midwife.  Slowly, Beetle gains confidence through many trial and error situations.  She befriends a cat, helps save the lives of two calves, a cow, a woman and her baby, and a young boy much like herself.  Beetle goes through hardships and sacrifice.  This is a bittersweet story of hard work, perseverance, dedication, and the evolution of a poor, desperate child into a caring, bright and confident young woman.