Calpurnia Virginia Tate is a 12 year old girl that lives on her families cotton farm in Texas in 1899. The new millennia looms, and with it Calpurnia’s shucking of the social norms of her day. Instead of learning to cook, she wants to be at the river with her grandfather hunting for new species to observe. Once her grandfather introduced her to the Scientific Method, genus and phylum, Darwin, and Dickens. He values her for more than a favorable marriage match and she wants the promise of the life he offers. Her mother, however, has other ideas and will do all she can to raise a proper lady, no matter how much of that lady’s spirit is destroyed in the process.
The history of the setting is cemented by the unveiling of the first phone in the nearest town and the hiring of a female operator, a woman that makes her own money and does a worthwhile job. This is something that Calpurnia clings to. The first automobile is highlighted at a fair and her grandfather wants to drive one despite the dangers. Together, Calpurnia and her grandfather uncover a new species of plant and wait for news to see if they are correct. All of these things, and the continual reminder of a woman’s proper places during the time, make the historical details and the setting accurate.
The end of the novel offers hope, shepherded on n the New Year of 1900. However, Calpurnia still struggles against what society believes a woman should be and should do, which doesn’t include science. This passage shoes Calpurnia’s view point perfectly:
“One day I would have all the books in the world, shelves and shelves of them. I would live my life in a tower of books. I would read all day long and eat peaches. And if any young knights in armor dared to come calling on their white chargers and plead with me to let down my hair, I would pelt them with peach pits until they went home” (Kelly, 2009).
Teri Lesesne from the Voice of Youth Advocates said, “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” (2009).
Readers who enjoyed the journey of Calpurnia will want to check out the second book in the series as well.
Awards:
2010 Newbery Honor Book; Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth 2010; 2010 ALA Notable Children ‘s Books, Middle Readers; ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2010; Amelia Bloomer List 2010; IRA Teachers’ Choices 2010, Advanced Readers; Indies Choice Honor Award 2010, Middle Reader; Booklist The Best of Editors ‘ Choice 2009; 2009 Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth; Bulletin Blue Ribbons 2009, Fiction; Publishers WeeklyBest Children ‘s Book of 2009
Kelly, Jacqueline. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry Jolt and Company, LLC. (2009).
Kelly, Jacqueline. “Calpurnia Tate – Quotes”. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2824557.Jacqueline_Kelly Accessed 13 November 2017.
Junior Library Guild. “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate”. https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/books/view/9780805088410 Accessed 13 November, 2017.
Lesesene, Teri. “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate – Book Review”. https://ipage.ingramcontent.com/ipage/servlet/ibg.common.titledetail.pd1000?ttl_id=9438254 Accessed 13 November, 2017.
Ramblings of Jhenry 