--- product_id: 8840552 title: "Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012" brand: "karen cushman" price: "AED 96" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/8840552-catherine-called-birdy-paperback-june-19-2012 store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012 **Brand:** karen cushman **Price:** AED 96 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012 by karen cushman - **How much does it cost?** AED 96 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/8840552-catherine-called-birdy-paperback-june-19-2012) ## Best For - karen cushman enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted karen cushman brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Csjvt8b4L.jpg) ![Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ASEdODodL.jpg) ![Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012 - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YeFH9ISlL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Engaging book that will encourage children's interest in history *by Z***S on Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2010* This is another gem that I discovered in a graduate class. Catherine, Called Birdy is a historical novel set in Medieval England in the year 1290, and is written in the form of diary entries. Catherine, who is fourteen-years-old, is the daughter of Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn, and sister to Thomas, Edward, and Robert. She lives in a manor house, and begins the diary upon the prompting of her favorite brother Edward, who is a monk at an abbey.The diary contains Catherine's entries of a year in her life which is filled with rich details of life in medieval England. It begins on the 19th of September, 1290 and Catherine writes on the leftover skins from the household accounts. She writes that she is the daughter of a country knight with ten servants and seventy villagers. Catherine's intense dislike of her father is evidenced throughout the diary. She also laments her situation as a girl with limited prospects. All she does on a daily basis is sew, hem, brew, nurse, and count linen, activities which she does not care for. Instead, she daydreams about going off to fight in the Crusades and lead an adventurous life, like some of her brothers and uncle Robert. She also finds herself in a predicament as her father keeps trying to marry her off to a series of incompatible suitors, finally betrothing her to a vile old man whom she calls Shaggy Beard.Catherine is a complex and multi-dimensional character who is well-delineated. Contrary to the times she lived in, where women were considered no more than chattel to be bartered at will, Catherine is presented as a strong-willed and opinionated young woman. The feelings that Catherine expresses through her diary entries are typical for an adolescent dealing with difficult issues, and though the setting of the story is medieval England, these feelings are relevant in today's context and are feelings many adolescents will identify with.The author's writing style is witty and engaging with the main character using interesting and often funny phrases to convey how she is feeling, such as "Corpus Bones!" as an expression of frustration. Catherine is a young woman ahead of her time and a character many adolescents will relate to. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Touch Anachronistic, But Believable *by O***N on Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2012* Let me say that I read this book in one sitting, I enjoyed it that much. Catherine, the 14-year-old daughter of a Knight and Lady, has an arranged marriage in her future: that's how things were done. We the reader are privy to Catherine's journal, which is an absolute delight to read because it shows us how people behaved at the time, what they believed, what they ate, wore, how they cleaned themselves and their homes, and so on. Religion in the form of the Catholic Church is ever-present in the life of the people.Catherine has some of the sensibilities of a modern young woman: though not so much that the story was unbelievable. As one reviewer on Amazon pointed out, she uses precious paper and ink in a very modern way, to write down her thoughts and curses ("Corpus bones, what a torture."). It seems highly, highly unlikely for a young woman of that time to do something like this, and most likely even if she had a journal, her mother would have supervised what was written in it, or checked up on it.On the other hand, if the author hadn't presented Catherine this way, she (the character) wouldn't be very interesting. And so I'm willing to suspend belief for a while to enjoy this story about a young woman trying in her own way to assert her identity, to rebel against the narrow role that society has dictated for her. The ending is realistic and therefore satisfying. This is a very good book that is very deserving of its Newbury Honor Medal. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dear Medieval Diary... *by K***C on Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2009* 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. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ae/products/8840552-catherine-called-birdy-paperback-june-19-2012](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/8840552-catherine-called-birdy-paperback-june-19-2012) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-05-13*