Week 6: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

• Week: 6
• Book Title: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
• Book Cover Image:

Copyright 2009, Square Fish

• Book Summary:  Calpurnia is a girl growing up at the turn of the century, in 1899.  She is the only girl in the family and has six brothers to contend with.  To her mother's dismay, she is very much a tomboy, spending her days catching bugs and frogs with her grandfather.  Her mother decides to do something about this because as a daughter, Calpurnia has to uphold certain family expectations.  This is the story of how Calpurnia tries to evade those expectations.
• APA Reference:  Kelly, J. (2009). The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.  New York, NY:  Square Fish.
• My Impressions:  I loved this book!  The hysterical situations Calpurnia finds herself in made me laugh out loud at times.  I kept imagining my grandmother, who grew up at around the same time with 11 brothers and sisters, going through the same type of antics.  I loved the fact that Calpurnia got the way the temperature was printed in the newspaper from degrees in the sun to degrees in the shade (because who stands out in the hot sun?).  The fact that she and her grandfather found a new plant in the name of science is fascinating, as are all of the references to Charles Darwin.  Calpurnia's interactions with her mother and the cook during her "training" bring to light the changes in culture for women in the last 100 years.  I can't imagine being given a book called "The Science of Housewifery," although I'm sure there were such things out there at that time.  Calpurnia's emotions shine through within Kelly's writing, making this a captivating and excellent read.
• Professional Review:

Voice of Youth Advocates ( April 01, 2009; 9780805088410 )

Texas in the summer months is almost unbearable for Calpurnia Tate. There is no such thing as air conditioning in 1899, and the heat is oppressive even in the shade. In the afternoon, however, Calpurnia sneaks to the nearby river to cool off. She finds the outdoors a fascinating place with its variety of plants and insect and animal life. Before long, Calpurnia is recording her observations in a notebook and conferring with her amateur naturalist grandfather. When they discover a new species of plant, Calpurnia and her grandfather send their report and notes to the Smithsonian and anxiously await verification of their discovery. The culture and social life of the early twentieth century is reflected in the lives of Calpurnia and her family and community. What is central always to this novel, though, is the close relationship shared by Calpurnia and her grandfather, who are brought together through their interest in observing nature. Grandfather encourages Calpurnia not only to be scientific in her approach to studies but also underscores the importance of learning the other skills she deems useless, such as learning how to cook. Each chapter opens with an excerpt from Darwin's Origin of Species, offering a quote that mirrors what is also occurring in Calpurnia's life. Science teachers might use portions of this story to discuss the scientific method. Tie it to Deborah Heligman's Charles and Emma, the biography of the Darwins (Henry Holt, 2009/VOYA December 2008), for an interesting text pairing.-Teri S. Lesesne.

Lesesne, T.  (2009, April 1).  [Review of the book The evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by J. Kelly].  Voice of Youth Advocates.  Retrieved from Bowker booksinprint.com.

• Library Uses:  Portions of this book could be read for many different classes and grade levels.  First graders at our school study plants, and the information regarding the finding, care, and patenting of the vetch would be pertinent.  The scientific method used in the book could be compared to what we do in science classes now.  The very important fact that Calpurnia and her grandfather kept journals may increase interest in the writing journals that students have to keep today.  Fourth and fifth grade students studying US History can use this book as a bridge between Western Expansion and more recent happenings.  In the library, I would add this book to my displays of insect books and materials to interest older readers in entomology.