Synopses & Reviews
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. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a 2010 Newbery Honor Book and the winner of the 2010 Bank Street - Josette Frank Award.
Review
Praise for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate: “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callies struggles to find a place in the world where shell be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.”—
The New Yorker, “Book Bench” section
“In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of a new century. And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie… Readers will want to crank up the A.C. before cracking the cover, though. That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat.”—
The Washington Post “Each chapter of this winning…novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species—a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwins masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callies ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.”—
New York Times Book Review“Callies transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kellys rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all 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.”—Booklist, Starred Review
“Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.”—Kirkus, Starred Review
“A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century… theres no uncertainty over the achievement of Kellys debut novel.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Narrator Calpurnias voice is fresh and convincing, and Granddaddy is that favorite relative most readers would love to claim as their own. Historical fiction fans are in for a treat.”—BCCB
“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman whos refreshingly ahead of her time.”—The Horn Book Review "That rare book that will appeal to child and adult alike."—Austin American-Statesman “Introduces a turn-of-the-20th-century heroine for modern times.” —Shelf Awareness
Review
Praise for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate: "Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become."--Kirkus, Starred Review
Review
Praise for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate: "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."--Booklist, Starred Review "Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become."--Kirkus, Starred Review "A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century… theres no uncertainty over the achievement of Kellys debut novel"--School Library Journal, Starred Review
Review
“
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. . . . Callies struggles to find a place in the world where shell be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.”—
The New Yorker“In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of a new century. And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie . . . Readers will want to crank up the A.C. before cracking the cover, though. That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat.”—The Washington Post
“Each chapter of this winning . . . novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species—a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwins masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callies ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.”—New York Times Book Review
“Callies transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kellys rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all 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.”—Booklist, Starred Review
“Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for “Callie Vee” and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century . . . theres no uncertainty over the achievement of Kellys debut novel.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Narrator Calpurnias voice is fresh and convincing, and Granddaddy is that favorite relative most readers would love to claim as their own. Historical fiction fans are in for a treat.”—BCCB
“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman whos refreshingly ahead of her time.”—The Horn Book
“That rare book that will appeal to child and adult alike.”—Austin American-Statesman
“Introduces a turn-of-the-20th-century heroine for modern times.”—Shelf Awareness
Review
"This is a lovely, sweet coming-of-age story."
—VOYA, 3Q 4P M J S
"Lovely descriptions highlight this story for readers who enjoy a bit of history and mystery with their romance."
—Booklist
"Wallace deftly uses the Spiritualist fervor of the 1920s period setting to populate her novel with characters who are paralyzed by ghosts of the past, both real and metaphorical, and demonstrates the need to balance honoring the past and living in the present."
—The Horn Book Magazine
Synopsis
In this witty historical fiction middle grade novel set at the turn of the century, an 11-year-old girl explores the natural world, learns about science and animals, and grows up. A Newbery Honor Book.
"The most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. . . . Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today." --The New Yorker
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.
Author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book and the winner of the 2010 Bank Street - Josette Frank Award. This title has Common Core connections. This is perfect for young readers who like historical fiction, STEM topics, animal stories, and feminist middle grade novels.
Don't miss the sequel
The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate
To follow Calpurnia Tate on more adventures, read the Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet chapter book series:
Skunked
Counting Sheep
Who Gives a Hoot?
A Prickly Problem
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
As 11-year-old Callie Tate explores the natural world around her in 1899 Texas, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.
Synopsis
The summer of 1899 is hot in Calpurnia’s sleepy Texas town, and there aren’t a lot of good ways to stay cool. Her mother has a new wind machine, but instead, Callie’s contemplating cutting off her hair, one sneaky inch at a time. She’s also spending a lot of time at the river with her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist. But just when Callie and her grandfather are about to make an amazing discovery, the reality of Callie’s situation catches up with her. She’s a girl at the turn of the century, expected to cook and clean and sew. What a waste of time! Will Callie ever find a way to take control of her own destiny?
Synopsis
A YA novel set in a seaside New England town in the 1920s, where twelve-year-old Clare discovers a mysterious glass house and falls in love with Jack, the ghost of a boy who cant remember how he died.
Synopsis
In a 1920s seaside town, Clare discovers a mysterious glass house in the backyard of her new summer home. There she falls in love with Jack, the ghost of a boy who cant remember who he was before he died. Their romance is a haven for her from the cruel pranks of her society friends, especially her best friend, Bridget, who cant wait to grow up and embark on romances of her own. As Clare begins to suspect an affair between her mother and Bridget's father, she retreats to the glass house. But that haven begins to crack when she realizes that Jack has lied to her about his name . . .
From a dazzling and fearless new voice comes a shimmering story full of wonder and mystery, in a world where every character is haunted by lingering ghosts of love.
About the Author
Jacqueline Kelly won the Newbery Honor for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, her first book. She was born in New Zealand and raised in Canada, in the dense rainforests of Vancouver Island. Her family then moved to El Paso, Texas, and Kelly attended college in El Paso, then went on to medical school in Galveston. After practicing medicine for many years, she went to law school at the University of Texas, and after several years of law practice, realized she wanted to write fiction. Her first story was published in the Mississippi Review in 2001. She now makes her home with her husband and various cats and dogs in Austin and Fentress, Texas.