BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 2000. MATILDA BONE. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395881560
PLOT SUMMARY
Accustomed to the good life in a medieval manor, thirteen year old Matilda has been raised by an intolerant priest that has taught the girl to live beyond worldly pleasures. Since the young girl has been educated in the likes of reading, writing, French, and Latin, she finds adjusting to her new home as a bonesetter’s apprentice difficult. The snobbish girl continually alienates herself as she randomly throws in a Latin phrase or brags about her now impractical education. On more than one occasion Matilda burns the porridge or spills a potion in her quest to pray and think about saints ceaselessly. Over time she realizes that helping those less fortunate or ill, even if it means hard dirty work, is pleasing to God. With Peg the Bonesetter’s guidance, Matilda finds her way and recognizes her gift in helping others.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through Matilda’s eyes we experience what life in medieval Europe was like. The entertaining story uses vocabulary of the time period to educate the reader on the primitive topic of medieval medicine and it’s sometimes strange ideas of the ways in healing (leeches, soporific sponges). The descriptive setting fully engulfs the reader into the world of apprenticeship and struggle for survival on Blood and Bone Alley. The young protagonist, Matilda, grows and matures along the way as she learns to love others and find a sense of belonging. Anyone that has ever been the new kid in town has surely felt “like a duck living with chickens.” The list of bibliographic sources used offers the reader an opportunity to find out more about medieval medicine as well as defines the accuracy in the novel.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This humorous, frank look at life in the medical quarters in medieval times shows readers that love and compassion, laughter and companionship, are indeed the best medicine.”
BOOKLIST: “Readers will find much of interest here.”
CONNECTIONS
Other novels by Karen Cushman taking place in medieval Europe:
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X
Picture credit: Amazon.com
Cushman, Karen. 2000. MATILDA BONE. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395881560
PLOT SUMMARY
Accustomed to the good life in a medieval manor, thirteen year old Matilda has been raised by an intolerant priest that has taught the girl to live beyond worldly pleasures. Since the young girl has been educated in the likes of reading, writing, French, and Latin, she finds adjusting to her new home as a bonesetter’s apprentice difficult. The snobbish girl continually alienates herself as she randomly throws in a Latin phrase or brags about her now impractical education. On more than one occasion Matilda burns the porridge or spills a potion in her quest to pray and think about saints ceaselessly. Over time she realizes that helping those less fortunate or ill, even if it means hard dirty work, is pleasing to God. With Peg the Bonesetter’s guidance, Matilda finds her way and recognizes her gift in helping others.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through Matilda’s eyes we experience what life in medieval Europe was like. The entertaining story uses vocabulary of the time period to educate the reader on the primitive topic of medieval medicine and it’s sometimes strange ideas of the ways in healing (leeches, soporific sponges). The descriptive setting fully engulfs the reader into the world of apprenticeship and struggle for survival on Blood and Bone Alley. The young protagonist, Matilda, grows and matures along the way as she learns to love others and find a sense of belonging. Anyone that has ever been the new kid in town has surely felt “like a duck living with chickens.” The list of bibliographic sources used offers the reader an opportunity to find out more about medieval medicine as well as defines the accuracy in the novel.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This humorous, frank look at life in the medical quarters in medieval times shows readers that love and compassion, laughter and companionship, are indeed the best medicine.”
BOOKLIST: “Readers will find much of interest here.”
CONNECTIONS
Other novels by Karen Cushman taking place in medieval Europe:
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X
Picture credit: Amazon.com
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