Will Sparrow's Road

Title: Will Sparrow's Road

Author: Karen Cushman

Will Sparrow's Road takes place in Elizabethan England. It follows twelve year old Will through the trials and hardships that he faces and the decisions that he has to make all by himself to survive.

After being sold to an innkeeper by his father (who blamed him for the depart of his mother) to settle a drinking debt, he decides to run away instead of becoming a "climbing boy".

-A climbing boy is the term for a small person or child who was send up to work as a chimney sweep. This was a very dangerous position as there were no safety regulations.-

On his way he meets many disreputable people and learns that the only one he should truly trust is himself. He also learns to judge people not by what they look like or appear to be, but by their actions towards oneself and others.

I was surprised at this book, as Cushman generally writes with female main characters. This was a very welcome addition to her writings. I really enjoyed the bits and pieces added in about buskers and sideshows. 

Great work as always.

Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Sparrows-Road-Karen-Cushman/dp/0544336321

ISBN: 978-0-547-73962-5

The Midwife's Apprentice

Title: The Midwife's Apprentice
Author: Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman has a habit of writing books that can really draw in young girls. Whether or not this is her goal (to get girls into reading) or not, she does a wonderful job of it.

Her stories are often have young people finding out who they are, and the woman really does her research and applies it in such a way that it is easy for a younger reader to understand. I highly recommend her as an author to look into.

The midwife's apprentice follows the story of a young peasant girl who has never known home nor family. She has known, however, what is necessary to survive. She shows this when she enlists herself as help to a village midwife who is a formidable woman. Soon she starts coming to the realization that she is a person, and that she too deserves to be thought of as such; finding herself a name, some friends, and the fortitude to stand on her own two feet against the world.

This is a very short story at 112 pages (in a small sized book) and an easy read. It has no "hero" and no "villain" but peeks into the girls mind in a year of her life. A time of great change.

I highly recommend this book to children capable of reading chapter books and beyond.

This is one that I might get a copy of if I don't already have one, and one that I may do fanart of in the future.

Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Midwifes-Apprentice-Newbery-Cushman-Hardcover/dp/B015X54I90/

ISBN: 0-395-69229-6