Karen Cushman is an American writer of historical fiction. Her 1995 novel The Midwife's Apprentice won the Newbery Medal for children's literature, and her 1994 novel Catherine, Called Birdy won a Newbery Honor. She has a bachelor of arts degree in Greek and English from Stanford University. In addition, she has a master's degree in human behavior as well as a master's degree in museum studies. For eleven years she was adjunct professor in the Museum Studies Department at John F. Kennedy University before resigning in 1996 to write full-time. She lives and writes on a misty green island near Seattle, Washington. 

October 4th, 1941 in Chicago (Age 83)