The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Starred review from May 4, 2009
Life at the turn of the century is not easy for a girl who loves books and science. Kelly's first novel presents spirited heroine Calpurnia (Callie) Virginia Tate, a middle child with six brothers, growing up in the isolation of Fentress, Tex., in 1899. To her family's dismay, Callie is stubborn, independent and not interested in darning socks or perfecting her baking skills like a lady. “I would live my life in a tower of books,” she thinks to herself. She spends most of her time with Harry, “the one brother who could deny me nothing,” slowly befriending her Granddaddy, a mysterious naturalist who studies everything from pecan distillation to microscopic river bugs. Together they dream up experiments and seek answers to backyard phenomena, discovering something new about the invisible world each day. Callie follows her passion for knowledge, coming to realize her family “had their own lives. And now I have mine
.” Callie's transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kelly's rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far. Ages 10–up.

Starred review from May 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century. As the only girl in an uppercrust Texas family of seven children, Calpurnia, 11, is expected to enter young womanhood with all its trappings of tight corsets, cookery, and handiwork. Unlike other girls her age, Callie is most content when observing and collecting scientific specimens with her grandfather. Bemoaning her lack of formal knowledge, he surreptitiously gives her a copy of "The Origin of Species" and Callie begins her exploration of the scientific method and evolution, eventually happening upon the possible discovery of a new plant species. Callie's mother, believing that a diet of Darwin, Dickens, and her grandfather's influence will make Callie dissatisfied with life, sets her on a path of cooking lessons, handiwork improvement, and an eventual debut into society. Callie's confusion and despair over her changing life will resonate with girls who feel different or are outsiders in their own society. Callie is a charming, inquisitive protagonist; a joyous, bright, and thoughtful creation. The conclusion encompasses bewilderment, excitement, and humor as the dawn of a new century approaches. Several scenes, including a younger brother's despair over his turkeys intended for the Thanksgiving table and Callie's heartache over receiving "The Science of Housewifery" as a Christmas gift, mix gentle humor and pathos to great effect. The book ends with uncertainty over Callie's future, but there's no uncertainty over the achievement of Kelly's debut novel."Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2009
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Growing up with six brothers in rural Texas in 1899, 12-year-old Callie realizes that her aversion to needlework and cooking disappoints her mother. Still, she prefers to spend her time exploring the river, observing animals, and keeping notes on what she sees. Callies growing interest in nature creates a bond with her previously distant grandfather, an amateur naturalist of some distinction. After they discover an unknown species of vetch, he attempts to have it officially recognized. This process creates a dramatic focus for the novel, though really the main story here is Callies gradual self-discovery as revealed in her vivid first-person narrative. By the end, she is equally aware of her growing desire to become a scientist and of societal expectations that make her dream seem nearly impossible. Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large familythe bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandingsall told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. Many readers will hope for a sequel to this engaging, satisfying first novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
In Texas, 1889, eleven-year-old Calpurnia tries to carve a place for herself as a scientist. Trouble is, the only other family member interested in nature is misanthropic Granddaddy. With his help, Calpurnia starts cataloging her observations and formulating hypotheses--culminating in the discovery of a new plant species. Without anachronism, Kelly has created a spirited young woman who's refreshingly ahead of her time.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2009
Eleven-year-old Calpurnia is the middle child (and only girl) of seven siblings. It's summertime, 1889, in Fentress, Texas, and hot enough to fry an egg outside: the local newspaper reports that "the temperature was 106 degrees in the middle of the street." After Callie's letter to the editor is published ("It seemed to me that the temperature in the shade would be a lot more useful to the citizens of our town"), her favorite brother encourages her to spend the summer writing down her scientific observations. Trouble is, there's only one other family member with any interest in science, not to mention a copy of Charles Darwin's new and controversial book, The Origin of Species: gruff, intimidating, misanthropic Granddaddy. After some initial icebreaking, the two bond over insatiable curiosity about the natural world, culminating in their thrilling discovery of a new plant species. Along the way, Callie learns to carefully catalog her observations, noting questions ("Why don't caterpillars have eyelids?"; "When does the young human organism get a grasp of time?") and formulating hypotheses. She also tries to carve a place for herself as a scientist amidst very different expectations for her future. Calpurnia's perseverance and confidence gained working side-by-side with her grandfather are evidence that she's more than capable of meeting her goals. Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who's refreshingly ahead of her time.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)