Bibliographic Information
Cushman, Karen MATILDA BONE.New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0395881560.
Plot and Critical Analysis
Similarly with the lead character in Jip, Matilda is an orphan. Raised by a priest then sent to become the bone setter's apprentice she cannot seem to grasp the different path her life has taken. Praying to Saints to get back to a life of scholarly centered living, cleanliness and riches, Matilda is first to complain at the dirtiness of her new home, all detailed descriptively by Cushman. The senses are given full attention to the sights and smells of "Blood and Bone Alley" and of Matilda's caregiver and her wild red hair. As Matilda learns of her new duties as an apprentice, she also learns more about people, specifically that one does not need an education or to speak Latin to be good at their job or to be a kind person. She also learns that intelligence is measured in different ways and learns that things are not often black and white, but that life is messy, some things are out of an individual's control, and that you must think independently. These lessens occur from her interactions with other characters, all diverse in ability, education, and traits - even accents. They are believable as to the types of people that would be in a town - the pompous educated physician, the fish sellers in the market, and fellow apprentices who befriend Matilda. There are valuable lessons about thinking for oneself and realizing life is uncertain and Matilda's thought process is similar to how many children would begin questioning their surroundings.
Cushman's details to the trade of bone setting is riveting and a little gruesome, which adds elements children will love as well as authenticity towards the medieval practice. There are bone settings, illnesses, struggles of the poor, even a quick surgery on the street, all of which offer details of what medical care for the poor was like at this time. The details included are accurate, but nicely mixed with dialog so children will feel they are reading more fiction than facts of history. Even though this is set in the past, the aspects of growing up that Matilda faces are the same aspects that children of any period have faced. Readers will find commonalities with Matilda, from the simplicity of learning new chores to questioning which adults are truly honorable and dependable.
Awards and Reviews
Parents' Choice Awards - Fiction: 2000
School Library Journal Best Books: 2000
School Library Journal Best Books: 2000
Booklist
Books for Youth, Older Readers: Gr. 6-8. Matilda Bone joins Alyce, the midwife's apprentice, and Catherine called Birdy as Cushman's latest heroine of the Middle Ages. But in this story, setting not character takes precedence. Matilda has lived her 14 years in a manor house where Father Leufredus has taught her Latin and encouraged her fear of going to hell. Now, with the priest off to London, Matilda finds herself in Blood and Bone Alley where, much to her dismay, she's been apprenticed to Peg the Bonesetter. It's a whole new world for Matilda, who spends her time mentally conversing with saints and thinking herself better than those around her, as she begins to learn about healing. Bloodlettings, bone settings, foul remedies, and scary surgeries abound throughout the book, and it's easy to lose track of Matilda's evolution. It's the illness and the healing (and the death) that's the focal point here, not pious, whiny Matilda, who takes an inordinately long time to learn that the dependable, hardworking people she comes in contact with are worth more than the fools and cheaters whose learning she admires. Readers will find much of interest here, but it probably won't be the evolution of Matilda. ((Reviewed August 2000)) -- Ilene Cooper
School Library Journal
Gr 4-8-A fascinating glimpse into the colorful life and times of the 14th century. Orphaned Matilda, 13, has lived the good life in a manor where she was well educated by Father Leufredus. Things change drastically, however, when he abandons her, leaving her to serve as an assistant to a bonesetter in return for food and shelter. Matilda is expected to cook the meals, tend the fire, and generally assist Red Peg. And Peg has her hands full dealing with this self-righteous, pious child who snobbishly sprinkles Latin in her everyday speech and continuously brags about her ability to read and write. Peg, however, allows Matilda time to ponder her new role and teaches her, by example, that kindness and friendship go a long way toward lessening the harshness of life in this small English village. Matilda constantly prays for help, guidance, and deliverance. The saints, and this child knows many, respond with humor and sometimes sound advice. The theology espoused by Matilda is consistent with the time period and Father Leufredus has taught her well. She has no thoughts of her own-only the musing and learning of Father Leufredus. She stiffly withholds herself from all attempts at friendship and kindness, and she feels more and more alone. However, when she meets a kitchen maid who joyfully introduces her to the market square, her eyes slowly open to the world around her. Readers witness her spiritual and emotional growth as she blossoms from a self-centered "nincompoop" to a compassionate, competent assistant. Cushman's character descriptions are spare, with each word carefully chosen to paint wonderful pictures. This humorous, frank look at life in the medical quarters in medieval times shows readers that love and compassion, laughter and companionship, are indeed the best medicine.-Kit Vaughan, Midlothian Middle School, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Connections
Focusing on two very detailed elements such as the medieval times and medicine, Cushman has opened the door for these topics for further investigation. A reader may be more interested in medieval living than bonesetting or find the development of medicine more of interest, but either way, this fiction will lead a reader to nonfiction where facts and true biographies await.
As all children grow into their own personalities, they question the world around them, and question their purpose. While Matilda may focus more on praying to the Saints for guidance, her uncertainty towards her decisions is felt throughout - a commonality many readers will share with this character. This theme of adjusting her beliefs occurs with her ideas of what makes someone educated, religious expectations, and even what makes someone a good person. She must decide if she will believe what she has been taught or believe what she is seeing and experiencing. In the end, Matilda complaining ceases and she finds enjoyment and a sense of belonging in her new life, even as she admits she may not be a bone setter forever, it is good for her life at this point. She still does not know her life's path, but she has learned from her experiences and has made important decisions on her own.
In the Author's note at the end, readers will learn more of medieval medicine and research Cushman came across before writing this story. She is the first to admit that Blood and Bones Alley is a creation and that she found no town resembling this one. That is just one example of how she stays truthful and accurate in her writing. She is well respected in the genre of historical fiction and her other books are listed as well, which may connect a child to other pieces of this genre. Finally, Cushman offers cited text at the end to encourage readers to read facts about this time period and the practice of bone setting.
Similar Readings
The making of a knight: how Sir James earned his armor (Patrick O'Brien): a similar piece of historical fiction set in medieval times, only this is an account focused on a boy entering knighthood.
The puppeteer's apprentice (Anne D. Love): Another story of a young girl being an apprentice. This time, however, it is to fulfill a dream and done by hard work.
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