Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman (born October 4, 1941) is an American author of historical fiction for children, best known for her Newbery Honor-winning novel Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) and Newbery Medal-winning The Midwife's Apprentice (1995). She began publishing at age 52 after careers in museum studies and education, and continues to write from Vashon Island, Washington, with her most recent book When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea in 2025.