Catherine, Called Birdy

Read the book behind Lena Dunhams acclaimed new movie! This historical fiction classic told in the form of a diary has drawn in generations of readers and is a Newbery Honor Book. Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich manany 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 callby 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 yearthe year 1290. In an appreciation in the New York Times illustrator Vera Brosgol spoke for many fans of this beloved book: "I fell hard for Karen Cushmans Catherine Called Birdy the second I opened it. More than any other heroine Id read this one sounded like me. For Catherine and for me there is no easy solution to the cages life makes for you. Sometimes the power is in deciding to be yourself in whatever cage youre in."