Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman, born October 4, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, is an acclaimed American author of historical fiction for young adults, best known for her Newbery Honor-winning *Catherine, Called Birdy* (1994) and Newbery Medal-winning *The Midwife's Apprentice* (1995). She earned a BA in Greek and English from Stanford University and master's degrees in human behavior and museum studies, later teaching museum studies before becoming a full-time writer in her fifties. Cushman lives on Vashon Island, Washington, and continues to publish novels exploring the lives of spirited young protagonists in various historical settings.