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A review by misajane79
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
5.0
Have I ever mentioned how hard it is to find good Texas historical fiction that is not about a)The Alamo and/or Texas Revolution or b)pioneers? No? Well, it's really, really, really hard, especially when you want to find a great book for kids.
So, when I first heard about Calpurnia, I was very, very intrigued. But I was also worried. Will it fall into the many, many pitfalls of historical fiction? Will it be Texas-y without being stereotypical? Will it be a good book?
I am in complete love with Calpurnia. In some ways, it's a typical coming-of-age tale. And it's also almost a typical "women's opportunities were different in the past" tale. Calpurnia begins to learn how to be a naturalist, even as her mother is trying to make sure she learns all those important womanly skills--sewing, cooking, knitting.
But, the central Texas landscape rang true (though I am tempted to check and see if it really snowed on January 1, 1900). I loved her grandfather--his gruffness, his stories, and his ability to reach out to Calpurnia even though he never quite saw how radically he was changing her world. I loved that a love of science was such a big part of the book. Calpurnia's struggle with what she wants to do and be with what everyone else expects her to do and be was handled with grace and style. And it's a book that will make you giggle.
Best of all, I was left wanting to know more. There's no postscript declaring that Calpurnia became a scientist. There's no change in how her parents view her future. There's no author's note at the back explaining things about women's opportunities or life in Texas. It just ends--with Calpurnia still struggling. Exactly like so many other smart women born during that era.
This is the first book that we'll be discussing at the museum's book club this year. And it's one I will be recommending to all of my junior historians, as well as teachers. And hopefully, it will soon be in our museum store. As I said above, I'm in love with Calpurnia Tate. And can't wait to see what Kelly writes next.
So, when I first heard about Calpurnia, I was very, very intrigued. But I was also worried. Will it fall into the many, many pitfalls of historical fiction? Will it be Texas-y without being stereotypical? Will it be a good book?
I am in complete love with Calpurnia. In some ways, it's a typical coming-of-age tale. And it's also almost a typical "women's opportunities were different in the past" tale. Calpurnia begins to learn how to be a naturalist, even as her mother is trying to make sure she learns all those important womanly skills--sewing, cooking, knitting.
But, the central Texas landscape rang true (though I am tempted to check and see if it really snowed on January 1, 1900). I loved her grandfather--his gruffness, his stories, and his ability to reach out to Calpurnia even though he never quite saw how radically he was changing her world. I loved that a love of science was such a big part of the book. Calpurnia's struggle with what she wants to do and be with what everyone else expects her to do and be was handled with grace and style. And it's a book that will make you giggle.
Best of all, I was left wanting to know more. There's no postscript declaring that Calpurnia became a scientist. There's no change in how her parents view her future. There's no author's note at the back explaining things about women's opportunities or life in Texas. It just ends--with Calpurnia still struggling. Exactly like so many other smart women born during that era.
This is the first book that we'll be discussing at the museum's book club this year. And it's one I will be recommending to all of my junior historians, as well as teachers. And hopefully, it will soon be in our museum store. As I said above, I'm in love with Calpurnia Tate. And can't wait to see what Kelly writes next.