Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)

I'm not sure if i can estimate right this audio book because I bought for my kid for school project and it looks like she is satisfied.
I has 5 cassettes placed in VHS cassette size box. 6 hours in total, clear distinguished voice with British accent. So I was satisfied with price and my daughter with book.

THIS IS MY FAV BOOK SO I WAS VERY HAPPY WHEN THE BOOK ARRIVED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

Fans of diaries will take to Karen Cushman's CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, wherein a 14-year-old girl in 13th-century England spills her innermost thoughts on matters medieval. Chief among Birdy's troubles is her dad (a.k.a. "the Beast") who chooses to marry her off to the disgusting "Shaggy Beard" (a man old enough to be her father). Birdy has used wit and guile to fend off Dad's previous choices, but this time it appears she's stuck.

What works well: the tone and characterization of Birdy. We come to enjoy her humor, stubbornness, and intelligence as she plays "color man" to the action playing out around her. Thus is the late 13th century made palatable to even history-phobic readers, and Cushman has done her homework, accurately protraying family dynamics, village life, and social mores from mating to medicine.

What doesn't work as well: Each entry starts with an italicized bullet about that day's saint (Birdy gets a copy of LIVES OF THE SAINTS early on). Some of these are funny, but most are straightforward and drab. With the number of entries in the diary, readers may be tempted to jump over the saint-of-the-day bits without losing much in the narrative. Finally, the book ends with a bit of deus ex machina. In that sense, Birdy's life becomes a Miracle Play in itself. I guess it's a personal call on each reader's part, but I dislike that type of finish.

Nevertheless, a spirited, intelligent read that should satisfy most readers willing to appreciate not only history, but how the human heart never changes, no matter what the century.

I love the Middle Ages, especially the time period in which Birdy lives. The book is written as a diary, which she begrudgingly does, if only to avoid having to sew. I like this book because it's a very different view from the usual books about Kings and Palaces. Birdy's father is a minor Baron, and they own a Manor. They have serfs, but Birdy's mother is still teaching her how to make soap, small ale, and other household things. Since she is now 14, her father is trying to marry her off, and she is constantly in trouble for "ruining her chances". Her misadventures are reminders of any girl's youth, and when she receives a book of saints from her brother who is a monk, the "Saint's Day" descriptions are both hysterical, and slightly disturbing. This is a great book for anyone interested in another age, because the way it is written, you feel as though you are there, and you actually know these people. It's very earthy. It's also a great book for a daughter getting ready to graduate, get married, as is what eventually happens to Birdy, or just moving from one stage of growing up to another.

Yes, I had to read this for school. There seems to be no plot, but the book is trying to teach you how little freedom women had in the Medieval ages. Took me a while to get that. Obviously, this book is more written for girls than it is for boys. The language is not bad, but some material in the book referring to young adult themes, which is NOT appropriate for children who have to read this book.