Catherine Called Birdy, Karen Cushman
Catherine Called Birdy, Karen Cushman
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Catherine Called Birdy

Author: Karen Cushman

Narrator: Kate Maberly

Abridged: 3 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/05/2000


Synopsis

An abridged audiobook of the historical fiction classic, a Newbery Honor Book.
 
Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man—any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call—by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all. Unfortunately, he is also the richest.
 
Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father? Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!

Catherine, a spirited and inquisitive young woman, tells in diary form the story of her fourteenth year—the year 1290.

About The Author

Karen Cushman’s first book, Catherine, Called Birdy, was a Newbery Honor winner and her second, The Midwife’s Apprentice, was awarded the Newbery Medal. She was an adjunct professor in Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University for 11 years, before retiring to Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington, in order to write full time.Kate Maberly is an English actress, director, and musician who has appeared in film, television, and theater. Her film appearances include The Secret Garden, Finding Neverland, and Standing Up. Onstage she played Juliet in the Midas Touch Theatre Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Her audiobook narration for Catherine Called Birdy received an Audie Award in 1995.


Reviews

Goodreads review by J.G. Keely on August 03, 2008

Entertaining, but overall highly anachronistic. Yet another author who transplants a spunky, modern heroine into a vastly different culture without an explanation of how such a character could have developed. People forget that 'teenagers' have only existed since the middle of the last century. I wis......more

Goodreads review by Heidi on July 13, 2024

Filled with medieval life and the charm of our headstrong title character, this was a delight from start to finish. From the Saint Day headers of Birdy’s diary entries to the myriad of ways she rebels, it’s a wonderful “year in the life “ book. Had this been published when I was a young teen, I woul......more

Goodreads review by Carre on August 23, 2008

If there were a 6-star rating, I'd give it to this book. When it won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature, it was Cushman's first book. It's Hi. Lar. I. Ous. Birdy is the 14-year old daughter of a 14th-century landowner in Merrie Olde Englande. While her father plots suitable arranged marriag......more

Goodreads review by Emily May on February 23, 2023

Can't believe I never read this before! Super fun and enjoyable, delivered in short diary entries which made me fly through it.......more


Awards

  • Audie Awards