Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Listen and read as much as you want
  • Over 400 000+ titles
  • Bestsellers in 10+ Indian languages
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Subscribe now
Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Catherine, Called Birdy

7 Ratings

4.4

Duration
6H 31min
Language
English
Format
Category

Children

Heartland Award • Commonwealth Club of California Silver Medal • Newbery Honor Book • Horn Book Fanfare • Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts (NCTE) • Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award • American Bookseller Pick of the Lists • South Carolina Children's Book Award • Golden Kite Award • Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Vermont) • ALA Notable Children's Book • School Library Journal Best Book • New York Public Library's One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing

Read the book behind Lena Dunham’s 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 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 the New York Times, illustrator Vera Brosgol spoke for many fans of this beloved book: "I fell hard for Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy the 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 to the cages life makes for you. Sometimes the power is in deciding to be yourself in whatever cage you're in."

© 2008 Recorded Books (Audiobook): 9781436136945

Release date

Audiobook: 6 June 2008

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. The Midwife's Apprentice Karen Cushman
  2. Howl’s Moving Castle Diana Wynne Jones
  3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone J.K. Rowling
  4. The Girl Who Drank the Moon Kelly Barnhill
  5. Watership Down Richard Adams
  6. Catherine, Called Birdy Karen Cushman
  7. Caddie Woodlawn Carol Ryrie Brink
  8. Peter Pan J. M. Barrie
  9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A Harry Potter Hogwarts Library Book J.K. Rowling
  10. Nightbooks J. A. White
  11. We Dream of Space: A Newbery Honor Award Winner Erin Entrada Kelly
  12. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple Karen Cushman
  13. Little House in the Big Woods Laura Ingalls Wilder
  14. The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
  15. The Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum
  16. The Egypt Game Zilpha Keatley Snyder
  17. Hello, Universe Erin Entrada Kelly
  18. Dear Mr. Henshaw Beverly Cleary
  19. Little House on the Prairie Laura Ingalls Wilder
  20. The Wednesday Wars Gary D. Schmidt
  21. Winnie-the-Pooh A. A. Milne
  22. Princess Academy Shannon Hale
  23. The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre Gail Carson Levine
  24. Pages & Co.: Tilly and the Bookwanderers Anna James
  25. Listen, Slowly Thanhhà Lai
  26. Awful Auntie David Walliams
  27. The View From Saturday E.L. Konigsburg
  28. Howl’s Moving Castle Diana Wynne Jones
  29. Kilmeny of the Orchard L. M. Montgomery
  30. The Story Girl L. M. Montgomery
  31. Children’s Stories by Oscar Wilde Volume 2 Oscar Wilde
  32. A Sprinkle of Sorcery Michelle Harrison
  33. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Avi
  34. Charmed Life Diana Wynne Jones
  35. The Problim Children Natalie Lloyd
  36. The 13-Storey Treehouse Andy Griffiths
  37. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street Karina Yan Glaser
  38. Emily of New Moon L. M. Montgomery
  39. The World’s Worst Teachers David Walliams
  40. The Ravenmaster’s Secret: Escape from the Tower of London Elvira Woodruff