Matilda Bone

A new medieval heroine bursts upon the literary scene in Cushman's latest novel, created as only Cushman can concoct such a girl. The orphan, Matilda, is an excessively pious young woman, obsessed with the saints whose voices chorus in her ear and the recollected wisdom of her former teacher and mentor, Father Leufredus. She is dropped into Blood and Bone Alley to become servant, and later apprentice, to the wise and infinitely tolerant Red Peg, the Bonesetter. Tony Award-winning actress Janet McTeer meets the challenge of a wide-ranging cast of quirky characters, among them Peg's witty and sentimental husband, Tom; the rhyming bloodletter Horanswith Leech; the officious and deceitful Master Theobald, the Wonderworker; the earnest kitchenmaid, Tildy; and the gruff yet kindly Doctor Margery Lewes. A delightful tale is enhanced by the audio format! T.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 11, 2002
Orphaned 13-year-old Matilda becomes apprenticed to Peg, a bonesetter in medieval times. "Matilda is less winning than her supporting cast. Fiery Peg, her witty husband and her circle of friends will be the characters readers remember," wrote PW. Ages 10-up.