• The Midwife's Apprentice

  • By: Karen Cushman
  • Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
  • Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (323 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Midwife's Apprentice  By  cover art

The Midwife's Apprentice

By: Karen Cushman
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $9.45

Buy for $9.45

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Lyrical yet unsentimental, The Midwife's Apprentice won the coveted 1996 Newbery Medal. Filled with striking characters, it paints unforgettable pictures of village life in the Middle Ages, the midwife's craft, and a very remarkable girl's growing independence and pride.

Brat has no name, no home, and no shelter against the 14th-century English winter except the foul warmth of a dung heap. So when Jane the Midwife wakes her with a kick and takes the half-starved creature to her cottage, a curious relationship begins. Jane teaches Brat to gather herbs and make the poultices used to ease the pain of childbirth for the village women.

The skinny young girl quickly learns to obey the sharp-tongued midwife, and secretly watches Jane practice her art whenever she can. But Jane is also teaching Brat unspoken lessons that will take longer - maybe a lifetime - to master.

©1995 Karen Cushman (P)1996 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Midwife's Apprentice

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    161
  • 4 Stars
    81
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    151
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    134
  • 4 Stars
    64
  • 3 Stars
    43
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A book about a young girl in the middle ages

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book accurately portrayed the poverty and suffering. It was not a very happy book overall.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Sort of a surprise ending but I liked how it concluded.

What does Jenny Sterlin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Not sure

Was The Midwife's Apprentice worth the listening time?

Yes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Read

What made the experience of listening to The Midwife's Apprentice the most enjoyable?

Karen Cushman absolutely captures the awakening of a child from sleeping in a dung heap to discovering that she can do things and make decisions about what she wants to do. I loved the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A good story for any age

Would you consider the audio edition of The Midwife's Apprentice to be better than the print version?

Yes as it makes the story more real

What did you like best about this story?

It was fast pased and never got boring.

Have you listened to any of Jenny Sterlin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, This is the first one.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A simple story. Worth reading.

What made the experience of listening to The Midwife's Apprentice the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the story of the girl and her experiences.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Midwife's Apprentice?

When she succeeded in delivering a baby by herself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was able to listen to this book in different pieces. I definitely did not want to just leave it unfinished.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A good listen

Would you listen to The Midwife's Apprentice again? Why?

I might listen again, but will need to wait sometime before I make up my mind.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked to girl's examination of herself & her place in society.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

First 4 chapters only

I was expecting this to be the entire book, but instead, it's only the first 4 chapters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

not for young teens

What would have made The Midwife's Apprentice better?

If you are getting this book for a young teen to read I would not recommend it. As it has adult content that is not appropriate in my opinion.

Would you ever listen to anything by Karen Cushman again?

not sure

Would you be willing to try another one of Jenny Sterlin’s performances?

Yes

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Midwife's Apprentice?

The chapter the Millers Wife. This is where we stopped listening to the story as it wasn't suitable for my young teen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

umg so good

umg the cat is cute and is so orange ant the midwife is good at her job but alyce is still learning



shh

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

interesting insight into another way of life

Is there anything you would change about this book?

longer would have been good

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Midwife's Apprentice?

her gaining self confidence

Did Jenny Sterlin do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes

Do you think The Midwife's Apprentice needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yes I liked going back in time. getting into the old lifestyles

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!