The book Catherine, Called Birdy is a historical fiction novel righten by Karen Cushman. It is set in The Middle Ages were the church ruled the land. The main character is Catherine, a fourteen year old girl who dreams of freedom from her family and equal gender rights. Catherine is religious, as shown when she painted heaven and hell in her perspective. But she is also fearful of the church power, as shown at the end of the book when she realizes that life is dangerous for a girl, she was fearful that she would get excommunicates if she doesn't act right. She is also fearful of her family because if she didn't obey her parents then she would get beaten. She hated her life and she wanted to break away from her family and be free. She also hates the unequal gender rights. She wants to make choices in her life and spend her life how she wants to, But her greedy father thinks other wise. All in all The Middle Ages was a hard time to live in especially for a girl.
