Catapulted from a life of prayer and study to the physical, earthy world of medieval medicine, Matilda is a resistant and resentful assistant to Red Peg the Bonesetter, but she comes to appreciate the strong women whowork ashealersand discovers that love and compassion, laughter and companionship, are indeed the best medicine in this witty novel from Newbery medalist Karen Cushman. (School Library Journal, starred)