Historical Coming-of-Age YA(?) Novel

[snowfleet]

Hello! I have been searching for the title of a novel I read for a book report during Sixth Grade (circa. 1998-99). Of course, the book could have easily been written much earlier than this time period.

My memory is hazy in terms of what the novel was actually about, but I remember one scene quite clearly. There is a young girl (red-headed, I believe), and she is sent into town to fetch supplies for the old woman who is taking care of her. During this time the young girl experiences her first menstrual cycle, and the older woman admonishes her for going out in public while this is happening.

I think this novel was truly just about a young girl who was trying to find herself/purpose in life. I come back to it from time to time, wishing I could re-read it to possibly gain a better perspective now that I'm older.

Comments

[greendryad]

This makes me think of Catherine, called Birdy and also The Midwife's Apprentice, both by Karen Cushman. Just the right reading level, same theme with both books. I can't remember whether either female main character is a redhead, but it could depend on the cover art of the book you read, and there are several versions of each.