The two novels, Crispin: Cross of Lead by Avi and The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman have many similarities, yet many differences. Both novels received Newbery Awards. The Midwife’s Apprentice received the Newbery Award in 1996 and Crispin received the Newberry Award in 2003. However, winning the Newbery Award is not the only thing these two novels have in common. Both novels take place in Medieval England in the 14th century. Another similarity is that both of the main characters in the novel are about 13 years old, including a young girl named “Brat,” who eventually changes her name to “Alyce,” and a young boy named Crispin. Not only were they both the same age, but both characters lived without parents. “Brat” was a young homeless
…show more content…
Therefore, both characters are entering their teenage years without the guidance or comfort that comes from a parental figure. In the plots of both novels, the main characters each have an attachment to a certain animal that at some point is harassed by others. In The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce is very attached to a cat she finds next to a fence post, and eventually the young village boys begin to bully the cat. In Crispin, the steward of the land, John Aycliffe, tells Crispin that he must sacrifice his pet ox as a sacrifice for his mother’s funeral. Not only do the main characters have no parental figures in their life, but the important relationships they do have with their pets is at some point in danger in both books. Another large similarity between the books is the common theme of Christianity. In The Midwife’s Apprentice, one of the ways Alyce gets revenge on the villagers was by making their sins public. She did this by making devil footprints that led to the scene of their …show more content…
However, in The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce doesn’t have anyone in particular by her side advocating for her success in life. Besides the company of her cat, Alyce is left to her lonesome to make a name for herself and work hard to become more than an orphan left in a dung heap. Another difference between the two novels is that in The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce’s feud against her “rival” is not a physical battle, but more of a psychological and behavioral battle where she is trying to prove to the Midwife and all of society that she is worthy of respect and honor. However, Crispin experiences more of a physical battle as he is forced to escape his village in hopes of not being killed for a crime he didn’t commit. Although Alyce was bullied and hurt emotionally, at least her life wasn’t at
Therefore, both characters are entering their teenage years without the guidance or comfort that comes from a parental figure. In the plots of both novels, the main characters each have an attachment to a certain animal that at some point is harassed by others. In The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce is very attached to a cat she finds next to a fence post, and eventually the young village boys begin to bully the cat. In Crispin, the steward of the land, John Aycliffe, tells Crispin that he must sacrifice his pet ox as a sacrifice for his mother’s funeral. Not only do the main characters have no parental figures in their life, but the important relationships they do have with their pets is at some point in danger in both books. Another large similarity between the books is the common theme of Christianity. In The Midwife’s Apprentice, one of the ways Alyce gets revenge on the villagers was by making their sins public. She did this by making devil footprints that led to the scene of their …show more content…
However, in The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce doesn’t have anyone in particular by her side advocating for her success in life. Besides the company of her cat, Alyce is left to her lonesome to make a name for herself and work hard to become more than an orphan left in a dung heap. Another difference between the two novels is that in The Midwife’s Apprentice, Alyce’s feud against her “rival” is not a physical battle, but more of a psychological and behavioral battle where she is trying to prove to the Midwife and all of society that she is worthy of respect and honor. However, Crispin experiences more of a physical battle as he is forced to escape his village in hopes of not being killed for a crime he didn’t commit. Although Alyce was bullied and hurt emotionally, at least her life wasn’t at