Karen Cushman crea ficción histórica con un profundo interés en el comportamiento humano y los estudios de museos. Su escritura se caracteriza por su autenticidad y vívida representación del pasado. Los lectores aprecian su habilidad para dar vida a la historia a través de narrativas cautivadoras y escenarios detallados.
A girl rejected by her alchemist fatherwho is working to change base metal
into goldmeets challenges made all the greater by the fact that she needs
crutches to walk, and undergoes her own transformation to a strong, and
confident young woman in the process. Introduction by best-selling author Gary
D. Schmidt.
Set in 1849, the story follows a twelve-year-old girl named Lucy, who struggles with her family's relocation from Massachusetts to a small California mining town. As she manages the boarding house, Lucy seeks solace in literature while yearning to return to her former home. The narrative explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the power of books to provide comfort in challenging times.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Elizabethan England, the story follows Will Sparrow, a young runaway grappling with his identity as a liar and thief. As he encounters various con artists and joins a troupe of unique performers, Will learns that deception comes in many forms. His journey reveals the complexity of appearances and the realization that he has been deceiving himself all along. This comic tale explores themes of self-discovery and the nature of truth through a cast of engaging characters.
The narrative follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery, delving into themes of friendship and the complexities of growing up Catholic. Set against a backdrop that resonates with contemporary youth, it captures the challenges and triumphs of adolescence, making it a relatable exploration of identity and faith.
Unwillingly catapulted from a reclusive life of prayer and study to
becomeassistant to Red Peg the Bonesetter, Matildadiscovers that
companionship, compassion, laughter, and love are the best medicine in this
witty novel. Introduction by Newbery Honor winner Adam Gidwitz.
The thirteen-year-old daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off
Publishers Weekly: "You can run, but you can't hide'' is the rather belated conclusion reached by Catherine, called "Birdy'' for her caged pets, in this fictive diary of a medieval young woman's coming-of-age and struggle for self-determination. Escaping regularly into a fantasy life of daring escapades and righteous battles, Birdy manages to postpone the inevitable sale of herself as a wife to a very unwelcome suitor. Just as she resigns herself to her fate with the comforting knowledge that "I am who I am wherever I am," word comes that she will not have to marry the oaf after all. Birdy's journal, begun as an assignment, first wells up in the reluctant and aggressive prose of hated homework, and then eases into the lighthearted flow of descriptive adventures and true confessions; the narrative device reveals Birdy's passage from rebellious child to responsible adult. Despite the too-convenient ending, this first novel introduces an admirable heroine and pungently evokes a largely unfamiliar setting
In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.
The Newbery Award-winning author of Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice tells a heartfelt and humorous story of WWII on the homefront. Millie McGonigle lives in sunny California, where her days are filled with beach and surf. It should be perfect--but times are tough. Hitler is attacking Europe and it looks like the United States may be going to war. Food is rationed and money is tight. And Millie's sickly little sister gets all the attention and couldn't be more of a pain if she tried. It's all Millie can do to stay calm and feel in control. Still--there's sand beneath her feet. A new neighbor from the city, who has a lot to teach Millie. And surfer boy Rocky to admire--even if she doesn't have the guts to talk to him. It's a time of sunshine, siblings, and stress. Will Millie be able to find her way in her family, and keep her balance as the the world around her loses its own?