HISTORICAL FICTION

THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE

written by Jacqueline Kelly

Henry Holt and Company

New York, New York

2009

SUMMARY

Calpurnia’s life at the turn of the 20th century, as the only girl of seven children was interesting.  Being the only girl meant she didn’t share a room with any siblings, therefore she was able to get away with things her brothers could not.  Spending time at the creek when the others were napping was the start of her bits of quiet rebellion.  Rebellion against societal expectations and her parents, who wanted her to follow those expectations.

Much by accident, she began working with her grandfather, helping him collect specimens and assisting him in his lab.   Her mother simply tolerated his “quirkiness” and was not pleased that Callie (as she was called by her brothers) was neglecting the “feminine skills” to waste time chasing after insects, plants, and animals.  Mother required Callie to begin cooking lessons and spend more time perfecting her needlework.  With all of this, Callie realizes her true desire: she wants to attend university.  She holds little hope this will happen and the novel ends, leaving the reader wondering as well.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although this story is set at the turn of the last century, it is easy to identify with Callie Vee.  Her parents and society expect certain things from her, while her desires and wishes are traveling on an entirely different path.  Today’s readers can certainly relate to not pleasing their parents or wanting something different for themselves than their parents want for them.  It is not a stretch to believe that a girl so long ago would do things her mother didn’t want her to do, just as some readers today may do themselves.

Jacqueline Kelly has taken a period in history that could have been considered boring by young readers and made it feel alive.  Kelly has created moments of sadness while other scenes will cause the reader to laugh with the characters.  Callie Vee shares her perspective and gives just enough details about this sleepy little south Texas town to make readers understand the events happening at this time: Victorian era dress, afternoon tea, telegraphs, introduction of the telephone (one for the entire town), the new automobile, Charles Darwin, and the endless duties of the housewife).  Details readers may want to further explore, but not so much that they become distracted by minute details. 

Kelly leaves the end up to the reader’s imagination.  Callie Vee’s life is not wrapped up in a nice, neat bow at the end of this book.  The reader is left to wonder if Callie continues her scientific studies or if she succumbs to societal pressure to study the science of housewifery.

Jacqueline Kelly chose to connect the title of this novel with the Theory of Evolution (Darwin - who is mentioned several times in the book and whom Grandfather had the honor of meeting).  Clever!

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist - 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... 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.

The New Yorker - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” is 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.

New York Times - 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 Darwin’s masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie’s ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.

Booklist - 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.

BCCB - Narrator Calpurnia’s 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.

CONNECTIONS

Students could read another book set during this time period (Rodzina, for example) and compare and contrast the children in the two books.  This could be done with a Venn diagram or a T-chart.

         Cushman, K. (2003). Rodzina. New York: Clarion Books.

 

Students could write diary/journal entries from a characters point of view.  For example: From Callie’s point of view the day she and her grandfather received the telegram telling them they had discovered a new species; from Travis’s point of view when he knew his turkeys would be eaten for Thanksgiving; from Mother’s point of view when Callie’s needlework was less than acceptable.

Take students outside and have them sit quietly, recording everything they see, hear, and smell in nature.  Have them draw conclusions based on their observations.

AWARDS

2010 Newbery Honor Award

2010 ALA Notable Children’s Book

2010 IRA Children’s Book Award

2010-2011 North Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee

2011-2012 TN YA Volunteer State Book Award Nominee

2009 Virginia M. Law Award

2010 Josette Frank Award

2010 Judy Lopez Award

2010 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best List

2012 Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List

2010 Texas Lone Star Reading List

2009 Junior Library Guild Selection

Kelly, J. (2009). The evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry Holt.