genre: middle grade historical fiction
Catherine (yes, called Birdy) is the daughter of a knight in medieval England. Neither truly rich but certainly not poor, her life is one of chores and responsibilities, the cycles of the seasons and it revolves around her family. Knowing she is destined to be married to whatever oaf her father chooses, Birdy's journal entries are filled with her rage against a world she cannot control. She is so very, delightfully, snarky and as we watch her mature and find happiness in the small moments where she can, we watch Birdy figure out how to make a place for herself.
I read this because I watched the trailer for the new movie coming out and it looks delightful. I acknowledge that if you're some kind of medieval purist, you'd have a hard time believing in Birdy and her way of looking at the world. But I am NOT a purist - I can appreciate that Birdy can give us an idea of what life was like long ago, I can appreciate her wit and her spunk, her mistakes and her regrets. I think I would've loved this book when I was a young teen and I am happy it exists for young people to read.
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