這本書描寫的是孤女Bettle被村裏唯一的助產士收留，當她在幫她處理接生孩子的雜務時也慢慢地學到一些相關的知識，從幫一頭即將分娩的母牛順利產下雙胞胎，幫一位被認定難產的母親順利分娩以及後來因為無法幫一位母親順利分娩，而對自己失去信心而逃離了助產士的家，四處流浪，這中間又會發生什麼事？為什麼最後她決定要重返助產士的家呢？適合12歲以上兒童閱讀。'Like Cushman's 1995 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's . . . dangerous, primitive and raucous. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old. She gets the village midwife to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence.' --ALA Booklist (starred review). '. . .A fascinating view of a far distant time.' -- The Horn Book (starred review) |
