A diary of a 13-year-old British girl in 1290. Absolutely delightful. Birdy's commentary is loads of fun: earthy, funny, and brutally honest. Things just get better when she obtains a book of saints and marks whose feast day it is, often with hilarious commentary. I wonder how many of them are real. (Probably most, given the level of Christian superstition during those days.) Definitely recommended for anyone - children and adults alike - looking for an interesting and entertaining sample of medieval life (pay particular attention to the food - eww!). I don't know why I didn't read this years ago. ( )

Lady Catherine, or Birdy as she prefers to be called, is 14 and her parents expect her to marry--and soon. Birdy is not sold on the idea, however, and her daily diary entries describe her methods of subtly (or not so subtly) discouraging her various suitors.

In many ways, Birdy is a bit too modern, considering the novel is set in medieval England, but she is a sympathetic and entertaining character that modern readers will enjoy. ( )

Very humourous. Quite entertaining. An easy read and about pocket size. ( )

Cushman reveals through Birdy’s daily diary entries the many struggles that medieval people endured daily. Birdy talks about everything from the privy to embroidery to unwanted marriages to helping the poor. She reveals the jobs each person performed and the societal status based on those jobs. Readers will enjoy the candid manner in dealing with such mundane and oftentimes unmentionable daily activities. In the author’s note, Cushman explains the realities of what medieval people might have experienced in daily life, within family units, personal identity, within their community, and employment anchoring Birdy’s commentary with that of historical research. Cushman includes a booklist of medieval topics.
The universal theme of finding one’s place within limited boundaries resounds among teens today. Trying to please and be obedient while struggling to discover what is true to oneself is a constant battle that teens face. Though bound to her father’s arranged marriage, Birdy is able to find resolve when she reflects on the few voices of reason who whispered to her throughout the year. She can be herself no matter where she is bound by agreement and can become true to herself--- a lesson teens can find parallel to their own lives. The only stretch of belief is in that Birdy must marry who her father has decided upon AND she has enough gumption to bargain for her future. So, the stretch lies in how believable is it that a woman would stand up against the ruling male? A bit of a stretch of reality but overall an interesting vantage of medieval life. ( )

Funny and poignant. ( )