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 ...
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Jan 14, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it: 
The spunky girl heroine. She’s an enduring character in our middle grade fiction. From 1928’s The Winged Girl of Knossos by Erick Berry to Caddie Woodlawn and Roller Skates, historical fiction and so-called tomboys go together like cereal and milk. It would be tempting then to view The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate as just one more in a long line of spunkified womenfolk. True and not true. Certainly Calpurnia chaffs against the restrictions of her time, but debut novelist Jacqueline Kelly has
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Jun 17, 2011
Rachel
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First, let me try to be fair and share things I liked. I liked Calpurnia--her spunk,loyalty and ambition to do "great things". I liked her curiosity about the world and her courage to forge a relationship with her grandfather. In and of itself, I loved that relationship; to be "in" with a grandparent the way she "became" would be a boon and blessing to any child. However, though I thought her grandfather was likable and validated Calpurnia in important ways, his
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(11 people liked it)
Jul 25, 2011
joє
rated it: 
3.25/5
it's the summer of 1899. the sun is burning hot like a ball spouting fire, even the insects are desperately trying to get to a droplet of water by marching through the smallest cracks in the tate house. amidst all the chaos is 11-year old callie vee tate. the only girl out of seven children. the title says it all. this is her story.
callie is as witty, entertaining, caring, understandably self-conscious, vulnerable as she can be determined and blunt to the point of b More...
it's the summer of 1899. the sun is burning hot like a ball spouting fire, even the insects are desperately trying to get to a droplet of water by marching through the smallest cracks in the tate house. amidst all the chaos is 11-year old callie vee tate. the only girl out of seven children. the title says it all. this is her story.
callie is as witty, entertaining, caring, understandably self-conscious, vulnerable as she can be determined and blunt to the point of b More...
May 30, 2011
JG (The Introverted Reader)
rated it: 
"My name is Calpurnia Virginia Tate, but back then everybody called me Callie Vee. That summer, I was eleven years old and the only girl out of seven children. Can you imagine a worse situation?" "That summer" is the summer of 1899 and it is a scorcher. Amid the heat and the drought though, Callie is finding out who she is. She is a born scientist. She is a little lost in the shuffle of all those brothers, but one day, desperate for an answer to a scientific question, s
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 18, 2010
Kelly Jo
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This book renewed my faith in the Young Adult book category. I've been frustrated, to the point of sheer anger, with the junk that's being published and marketed to young adults - Twilight anyone? This book is expertly written in a language that is not dumbed-down to the lowest-common-denominator. It has believable and three-dimensional characters and a plot that does not revolve around sickening love stories or paranormal silliness. In short, this book is intelligent.
Calpurnia is n More...
Calpurnia is n More...
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Feb 23, 2009
Tasha
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In1899, girls are expected to grow up to be either wives or teachers. So what is a girl like Calpurnia to do? She is much more interested in different species of grasshoppers than in tatting or cooking. She would rather spend hours with her grandfather in his shed doing experiments than learning to knit all of her six brothers socks. As the only daughter in the family, Calpurnia is expected to be ladylike, play the piano, and eventually be launched into society. Calpurnia is much more likel
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(8 people liked it)
Aug 25, 2011
rachel
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Think Caddie Woodlawn, with more Darwin and less boredom. Or don't, because I read Caddie Woodlawn for a class at a time when I hated everything that wasn't by Christopher Pike or featured some breed of sexy, pre-Twilight vampire/monsterman. So I'm not really qualified to judge.
Like Caddie, Calpurnia Tate is also the sort of "educational" book that will probably be required reading in elementary schools for advanced English classes. I think that's a shame, because I am More...
Like Caddie, Calpurnia Tate is also the sort of "educational" book that will probably be required reading in elementary schools for advanced English classes. I think that's a shame, because I am More...
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Jul 22, 2009
Heather
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I loved this book, but I didn't give it 5 stars because I don't think it is a life-changing book for me at this stage in my life. Perhaps it would have been when I was younger, but not now. What it did for me, however, was reaffirm that time in my life when I started to "wake up," and really realize that I--a girl--could have aspirations of my own. I had a childhood much like our heroine Calpurnia--lots of time spent outdoors with animals. I too had a mother who exposed me to the "
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(9 people liked it)
Oct 11, 2011
Amy
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Although there is a trend in YA literature of female lead characters, the question of "being a girl" is often left aside. If only we truly lived in a post-feminist world where there were no barriers on young women!
This book, set at the turn of the 20th century, addresses the issue of girlhood through the eyes of Callie Vee, the only girl in a household of boys, expected to learn sewing, cookery and other womanly tasks - but not until she gets to know her slightly scary grandfath More...
This book, set at the turn of the 20th century, addresses the issue of girlhood through the eyes of Callie Vee, the only girl in a household of boys, expected to learn sewing, cookery and other womanly tasks - but not until she gets to know her slightly scary grandfath More...
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Mar 15, 2009
Lisa
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Jacqueline Kelly is an enormously talented writer and has created a character who will become an instant classic. Twelve-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate (Callie Vee) lives with her charming, well-off family in Texas in 1899. Callie has just become her naturalist grandfather's assistant and mentee, and is in love with science and discovery. Meanwhile, her mother decides it's time to improve Callie's feminine skills: tatting, cooking, knitting. As the only girl in a family with six boys, all the
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 11, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I was disappointed with this book. I felt like the author kept introducing characters and plot lines and then only developing them halfway. That was frustrating.
Also, I found myself irritated slightly with the the way the author portrayed the whole notion of growing up, and becoming a woman, and what it meant in those days. Calpurnia yearns to be a scientist, go to the university and do things that matter in a time when women just got married and had families. Well, I think that More...
Also, I found myself irritated slightly with the the way the author portrayed the whole notion of growing up, and becoming a woman, and what it meant in those days. Calpurnia yearns to be a scientist, go to the university and do things that matter in a time when women just got married and had families. Well, I think that More...
Jun 20, 2011
Cheryl in CC NV
rated it:
The best bit was on p. 16. Callie Vee is frustrated so she runs down to the river,
"and ducked my head underwater and let out a long loud scream, the sound burbling in my ears. I came up for air and did it again. And one more time, just to be thorough.... 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 wi More...
"and ducked my head underwater and let out a long loud scream, the sound burbling in my ears. I came up for air and did it again. And one more time, just to be thorough.... 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 wi More...
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Feb 28, 2011
Shauna
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I just finished reading this book, and it was one of the most enjoyable things I have read in a long time. Jacqueline Kelly writes so beautifully about eleven-year old Calpurnia and her awakening to the world around and her place in it. This is not an adventure story and there is very little action. Ms. Kelly’s writing reflects this languor and slowness—her words are often like poetry: so perfectly chosen and evocative that they need to be read slowly to savor their impact. Besides the wonde
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Sep 01, 2010
BJ Rose
rated it:
In this engaging tale, 11-year-old Calpurnia talks about herself, her family, and other people and events in the year 1899. This was especially interesting to me as this time in history is very close to that of my dad's growing-up years. Callie talks about the advent of the new drink, Coca Cola, and the viewing of the new auto-mobile, which looked so strange without any horses in front of it. And I loved her growing relationship with Granddaddy, who decided he'd devoted enough of his life to th
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Apr 30, 2011
Addie
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. Calpurnia Tate is growing up on a farm with her family and begins spending more and more time with her naturalist Granddaddy, one day they stumble upon an amazing finding, but Calpurnia's mother has other things in mind for her and she pushes Calpurnia towards the housewife role and that is not what Calpurnia had in mind for herself.
I could not put this book down, it caught me from the very beginning and I loved reading about all the adventures of Calpurnia and More...
I could not put this book down, it caught me from the very beginning and I loved reading about all the adventures of Calpurnia and More...
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Apr 13, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
I found this book and started reading it for my girls, 8.5 and 6.5. The language is a bit advanced for the 6.5 year old and I do need to explain certain period settings and prop devices to my 8.5 year old. The writing is excellent and my girls are very engaged in the book.
I will not place any spoilers, but I was terribly upset at the ending. It was unsatisfying and perhaps echoed something Grandaddy explained as finishing the experiment. Once it is done, it's over and you lose the ex More...
I will not place any spoilers, but I was terribly upset at the ending. It was unsatisfying and perhaps echoed something Grandaddy explained as finishing the experiment. Once it is done, it's over and you lose the ex More...
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Jul 29, 2009
Alia
rated it:
Wow, I really loved this book. It's just so well written. Truth be told when I read the description it sounded a bit boring. Young naturalist learning about Darwin in Texas at the turn of the century? Eh...maybe. But the characters are so wonderful you can't help fall in love with them and the descriptions of the natural world blew me away. I was hooked by the end of the first chapter.
There's only one problem, while I can think of a few select girls who would love this book, I'm n More...
There's only one problem, while I can think of a few select girls who would love this book, I'm n More...
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Jan 20, 2012
Cherylann
rated it:
Calpurnia Tate is my new favorite protagonist! From the first lines of the book Callie's voice rings strong and true. With humor and poignancy, Callie learns what it means to be female at the turn of the 20th Century. I also love the multiple meanings of the title. This is a book I wanted to savor, but I ended up gulping it down. I have a feeling, I'll be revisiting this book often. If I were to give a literary dinner party, Calpurnia Tate would be seated at the table along with Scout, Flavia de
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Oct 25, 2011
"En el verano de 1899, Calpurnia tiene once años. Es la mediana de siete hermanos (todos los demás son chicos) y vive en una familia acomodada gracias a las plantaciones de pacana. Su madre quiere que aprenda a tocar el piano, a bordar y a tejer como le corresponde a una chica de buena familia, pero lo que le gusta a Calpurnia es la ciencia. Al principio se dedica a observar a los animalitos que la rodean, pero pronto contará con la ayuda de su abuelo que le deja libros, le explica teorías
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Feb 05, 2011
Its definitely not something I'd usually read but once i picked it up i couldn't put it down. i also met the author a week ago she was a very good speaker.
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Jan 11, 2010
Prairie
rated it:
Although this book received good reviews, including a glowing one from a colleague, I was not in a hurry to read it, put off by the summary. However, I am tempted to give this a five star rating and may go back and change my mind after a few days of digesting this novel. This is one of those books for me, like The Secret Life of Bees, where the writing and story are bewitching. The novel chronicles six months in the life of Calpurnia Virginia Tate, a.k.a. Callie Vee at the turn of the century
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Feb 10, 2012
Iria
rated it:
Callie es una niña de Texas, cuya historia se desarrolla a finales del siglo XIV, cuando la mujer aún está simplemente designada a sus tareas en la casa. Desde el principio de la historia ella descubre que eso no es lo que ella realmente desea, que tejer y zurcir no le interesa y lo único que desea es estudiar la naturaleza. Gracias a su abuelo, su aprendizaje avanza y su curiosidad crece, pero serán muchas las personas que quiera impedírselo.
Desde un principio la historia me pareció e More...
Desde un principio la historia me pareció e More...
Feb 09, 2012
Asakiyume
rated it:
We read this for book group, and I very much liked the young narrator's voice. I was most interested in the parts of the story that dealt with her relationship with her grandfather; I loved his pecan whiskey experiments and his gently pushing her to be a better observer. His war story was heartbreaking. I liked him quite a bit as a character. I also liked Cally's relationships with all her brothers, especially her little brother who's named all the kittens after gunslingers. In fact, all the cha
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Jan 27, 2012
Yakety
rated it:
I need to get this out of the way: The cover. *gush, gush, gush*
There. Okay, moving on.
Calpurnia won the Newberry Award in 2010 and let me just say, that’s not surprising. Jacqueline Kelly portrays that awkward stage of self-awareness deftly. I love Newberry Award winning books. Books like The Sign of the Beaver, Number the Stars, and The Bridge to Terabithia are still some of my favorites of all time. This book brought me back to that same precious sweet-spot in literatu More...
There. Okay, moving on.
Calpurnia won the Newberry Award in 2010 and let me just say, that’s not surprising. Jacqueline Kelly portrays that awkward stage of self-awareness deftly. I love Newberry Award winning books. Books like The Sign of the Beaver, Number the Stars, and The Bridge to Terabithia are still some of my favorites of all time. This book brought me back to that same precious sweet-spot in literatu More...
Dec 04, 2011
Matt
rated it:
Historical Fiction
This is a coming of age book about the turn of the century findings. The little girl in this book is taught by her mother and father to be what is expected of a woman in these days and work in the house. She didn't want to do those things. She was much more interested in reading and becoming more knowledgeable. Her grandfather has a bunch of books on Darwin and sneaks her the book so she can read about his findings and things that changed the world. Her grandfather is More...
This is a coming of age book about the turn of the century findings. The little girl in this book is taught by her mother and father to be what is expected of a woman in these days and work in the house. She didn't want to do those things. She was much more interested in reading and becoming more knowledgeable. Her grandfather has a bunch of books on Darwin and sneaks her the book so she can read about his findings and things that changed the world. Her grandfather is More...
Nov 25, 2011
Esther
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable especially Calpurnia, the writing was good and delightful, the story was interesting, I enjoyed reading the quotes from Darwin's Origins of the Species at the beginning of each chapter and how they seemed to play out in Calpurnia's life. A couple things really just bothered me. One is how much Calpurnia wants to be like her grandfather, who in general I like, but who spouts ideas such as life is too short to bother with inessentials, you ne
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Nov 21, 2011
lprater
rated it:
Historical Fiction: Calpurnia Tate is a young, spunky tween exploring her world at the turn of the 20th Century. Her relationship with her grandfather develops as he encourages her to be independent in her thinking and embrace the wonderful natural world around her. The story reminds me of an older person looking back to their childhood, talking about funny events and important moments that made them who they are. Calpurnia keeps a journal, noting discoveries made such as different grasshopper
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Nov 19, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
Calpurnia Tate lives with her family (including six brothers!) on a cotton and pecan farm in Texas in 1899. At age 11, she discovers that her somewhat forbidding grandfather, who also lives with them, is an avid amateur naturalist, and discovers a passion to become a scientist herself. However, in 1899 girls have very circumscribed roles, and Calpurnia's mother is determined, as Calpurnia sees it, to ensure that she is caught and enslaved for life in the drudgery of women's work.
This More...
This More...
Nov 15, 2011
Julia
rated it:
I made a personal resolution not to buy any new books for myself, but to use the library instead. Or buy them from yard sales or library book sales. However, I broke my resolution for this one because it was being sold at the Scholastic Book Fair to support my son's school. And it was a great read. Calpurnia lives on a fairly well-to-do farm in Texas at the turn of the century, and is the only girl in a large family of boys. Up to this point in her childhood, she's had a lot of freedom, and
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Nov 14, 2011
Kristin
rated it:
Historical Fiction and Biography
The Evolution of Calpurina Tate by Jacqueline Kelly is set in the late 1800s and is a story of an eleven-year-old who is a single girl child in a family full of six brothers. She is generally ignored, until her grandfather begins to take an interest in her. Calpurnia finds herself interested in science and Charles Darwin, which is really not the kind of thing a girl of her age and era would be interested in. However, with her grandfather's encouragement she More...
The Evolution of Calpurina Tate by Jacqueline Kelly is set in the late 1800s and is a story of an eleven-year-old who is a single girl child in a family full of six brothers. She is generally ignored, until her grandfather begins to take an interest in her. Calpurnia finds herself interested in science and Charles Darwin, which is really not the kind of thing a girl of her age and era would be interested in. However, with her grandfather's encouragement she More...
