Catherine, Called Birdy

Rating:
Summary: I've read it five times.
Review: This is a superbly written book that makes the reader feel as if Catherine is talking to her. As for it being "disgusting" some more immature or uninformed readers may not realize that in the time that this book is staged, life was not all that clean. People bathed infrequently, worked in the dirt all day, and did not have indoor plumbing. So if you can't handle those facts, don't read this book, stick with your Sweet Valley High and RL Stine.

Rating:
Summary: Dull and Boring
Review: This is a diary of a girl who lived a long time ago and threw her spinning down the privy. It is very boring and I kept reading it, thinking something interesting would happen, but it never did. Don't waste your money on this book. You will probably never finish it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for Teenage Girls!
Review: "Catherine, Called Birdy" is a wonderful book, in my opinion. Being a 13 year old girl myself, I found the book very funny, and I learned a lot about a time period that I virtually knew nothing about. I like the way it is written in diary form, and I was so happy at the end. If you are a teenage girl with a sense of humor, you will not be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Terrific book!
Review: I got this book in a pack of Newbery winners. Along with it I got Indian Captive (Lois Lenski)and Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech) but this was definitely the best of the three. Catherine lives with a beast of a father who is reluctant to sell her off like cheese to any rich man. Catherine manages to send off many nitpicking suitors, but the last one comes-a drooling, ugly pig who Birdy nicknames Shaggy Beard who attacks harmless animals with knives and burps and farts constantly. Catherine is stuck with Shaggy Beard until Shaggy Beard is killed-in a brawl over a tavern maid! Some fiance! So Catherine is left with Shaggy Beard's son, Stephen, a handsome, kind, non-farting or burping young man. I loved this book and hope everyone who reads it will too-unless they say it stunk or sucked like some reviews I know who gave it one star.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: WOW! I just finished the book and loved it! Catherine seems like a really neat person. I liked how she thought of really bazar (spelling?) things at really odd times, like I do. :) I really like Cushman's writing style!

Rating:
Summary: Humorous History
Review: "Catherine, Called Birdy" is a beautiful book I own and have read many times. Cushman has a passion for being historically correct in her stories, and this book is so believable. Catherine is a bookish teenager in 1290, tortured by the agony of betrothment. "Corpus Bones!" is a regular curse in her diary and she explains her tricks, chores, and her family. This book is funny, vivid, and overflowing with life and culture.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: Cushman did great historical research for this book, even if Birdy is a bit more independent than any girl dared to be at that time. More importantly, though, is the humor! This is a very funny book, even with the sad parts and the crude realities of her day tossed in. It is also a story well told. I don't know how this book missed getting the Newbery Award, especially when one of Cushman's other books, The Midwife's Apprentice, won the award and was dark, depressing and without much form compared to this book. The adults who choose the Newbery Award winners missed a great one!

Rating:
Summary: Is there any way to do less then one star?
Review: I hate to sound like a jerk, but in my not-so-humble opinion, THIS BOOK STANK!!!!! I found the heroine course and disgusting (what kind of person wonders where their waste goes?), and I still can't understand WHY she gave up her freedom for a BEAR. I like animals, but still!!! I found the entire book just plain DISGUSTING!!!! ::shudders:: The only reason I reccomend it to anybody is because I know that I'm not like other people, and that people my age usually ENJOY disgusting. ::shudders again, and starts praying to God:: And I thought I was crazy......

Rating:
Summary: What an incredible book!
Review: I was almost 15 when it first came out and I read it in one sitting. I was 17 and 19 when Karen Cushman's next two books came out and I am not ashamed to say that I've read both of them as well. Books for young adults these days, especially girls, usually stink (Sweet Valley High springs to mind) and so does most historical fiction (with the fortunate exception of the American Girl books). However, 'Catherine, Called Birdy' is excellent. It's one that I actually encouraged my younger sisters to read, and I'm very picky about what I recommend to them.

Rating:
Summary: This Book SUCKED
Review: I found this book dull and boring. Catherine is a stupid main character. I hated the way it was written in the form of a diary. Who wants to hear about how many fleas Catherine picked off, and how dull it was doing embroidery. Honestly. Why would Catherine force off all of those perfectly eligible (and rich) young men. Catherine needs to get a life. She lives in some sort of sick fantasy world