The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

By Jacqueline Kelly

63 ratings 78 reviews 93 followers
Book 1 of 2 in the  Calpurnia Tate Series
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 4 - 8Y5.380972

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. This title has Common Core connections.

Publisher: Square Fish
ISBN-13: 9780312659301
ISBN-10: 031265930X
Published on 1/4/2011
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 368

Book Reviews (78)

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What I liked about the story is this, Callie got in trouble by missing a lesson of piano and by staying at the river too long. She went to her room.She came out of the room when her mom called her.But then she knew that her brother Harry was going to marry someone.

This looks like a really good book to read over the summer. I have not read it but i would like to very much. :)

This story has an interesting main character, but the good qualities of the book start there. There is no plot, no real character development, and no satisfying conclusion to wrap things up. I do not recommend this book to any reader.

Calpurnia lives in 1899. In 1899 girls are expected to wear corsets, scrathcy petticoats, hoopskirts, and to grow up and marry, spending the rest of your life cooking, cleaning, knitting and sewing. Calpurnia is afraid her life as a naturalist will end.

I've read this book, and I HATE it. I didn't even finish it, and I'm not one to dislike books, either.

Calpurnia Tate is a wonderful tale about finding your talents, deciding what to do with your life, and how to set about doing it. And Calpurnia's crusty old grandfather seems to know how to teach Calpurnia to use her skills. The book is full of Calpurnia's cunning schemes that often lend hilarity to the plot. I highly recommend this book.

Calpurnia Tate is a wonderful tale about finding your talents, deciding what to do with your life, and how to set about doing it. And Calpurnia's crusty old grandfather seems to know how to teach Calpurnia to use her skills.

i like this book because it shows that girls can do any thing they want. this book is amazing because calpurnia is the only girl in a huge family of boys in texas.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was a beautiful book! I loved it! It is all about the life of a girl named Calpurnia Tate. It is a really great book!

This was an interesting story about a young girl in the early 1900's who is learning her place in the world. In this story Calpurunia is the only girl in a family with six brothers. As she comes to understand her grandfather as a teacher, she also struggles with her mother. Her mother wants her to become a domesticated wife, who knows how to sew, cook, knit, etc. But Calpurinia is not interested in these things at all. She just wants to study science and nature with her grandfather, and maybe become a scientist herself, not a housewife. As Calpurnia tries to keep her family together she learns lessons of trust and self-confidence, and being who you really are inside. I recommend this book to older people, however there aren't any action scenes, and some people may become bored with the storyline if they do not enjoy this type of book, setting in the past.

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