The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate [L0077]

2011 - PB Excellent condition. Newberry Honor Book and winner of the 2010 Bank Street - Josette Frank Award. Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones. With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century. Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Callie's voice is so clear and true to character that it brings the entire book to life, not just her character. Her dismay at her mother's and society's expectations, the pull of her own personal interests, and the glory of her grandfather's scientific endeavors are vividly displayed in this gem of a novel. Kelly's writing is crisp and clear, revealing a previous century and what a girl's role is. But the book is more about Callie as an individual than Callie as a symbol for any type of feminist movement."; "The various masculinities in the book are complex enough to be satisfying (and to avoid binaries) The book also avoids the trap of condemning or mocking more traditional femininities (Calpurnia and her mother struggle to understand each other, there is a difficult prickly warmth between Calpurnia and Viola for instance. There are no "bad guys" as such but there are strong oppositions to what Callie Vee wants and needs in life. The love her oppression comes packaged in is believable for anyone who has struggled with the limitations of traditional female roles. It is a feel good book, albeit one with complexity, it comes down on the side of agency over fate (or social determinism) but acknowledges hardship and opposition. I recommend this book highly!"; "Whether you are 8 or 80 or somewhere in between I urge you to read this book. Calpurnia Tate is an inquisitive girl on the brink of adolescence at the turn of the 20th century. The evolution in the title refers to her special, scientific-based relationship with her wealthy, cantankerous grandfather, a friend of Charles Darwin. The natural wonders they discover on daily walks around their Texas farm endow Calpurnia with love for even the smallest living creatures. Calpurnia's other evolution, the internal struggle she faces as the only daughter in a family of six, boisterous sons, reminds us that girls were still destined to be wives and mothers at that time. College will be denied her even though Calpurnia longs for higher education and the family has the means to send her. She chafes against her mother's efforts to teach her to cook and sew. The struggle for her to coax an edible pie out of flour and apples is epic. Here I am almost seventy years old telling readers of all ages that they won't want to put down this book once they get started."