Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tracy recommends "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Cover image

Calpurnia Tate lives in Fentress, Texas in 1899. She is the only girl in the middle of 6 brothers, right in the middle. Her brothers are named for famous Texans, except for Harry, he was named for an uncle with no heirs. She is not interested in any of the domestic sciences she is supposed to learn, knitting, needlework, or cooking to name a few. Calpurnia wants to be a scientist. Her Grandfather helps her learn the scientific method of observing, collecting data and recording their results. This book has a Little House on the Prairie or All of a Kind Family feel. Calpurnia’s Grandfather is a mystery. His ongoing quest is to create a potable drink from pecans, of which they have an abundance of. He spends most of his time in his lab or his library and is very unapproachable. Calpurnia’s relationship with her Grandfather begins when she wants to know how come there are small green grasshoppers and large yellow ones. Her grandfather tells her that she is smart enough to figure it out for herself, and when she does come back with the answer. Thus begins Calpurnia’s journal of observations. This is a happy book with a lot of life’s struggles for a young girl trying to find her place in the world.

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