Catherine, Called Birdy

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man—any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call—by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all. Unfortunately, he is also the richest.

Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father? Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!

Catherine, a spirited and inquisitive young woman, narrates in diary form the story of her fourteenth year—the year 1290.

In an appreciation in theNew York Times, illustrator Vera Brosgol spoke for many fans of this beloved book: "I fell hard for Karen Cushman'sCatherine, Called Birdythe second I opened it. More than any other heroine I'd read, this one sounded like me. For Catherine, and for me, there is no easy solution tothe cages life makes for you. Sometimes the power is in deciding to be yourself in whatever cage you're in."