The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a great book for 5th graders and up. The characters are relatable and the storyline is easy to follow.

I loved everything about this book. It was a wonderful story of a smart, resourceful 11-year old girl with a passion for scientific exploration and discovery in a time and place when girls just weren't allowed to be interested in those things. The book was beautifully written--the details and choices of words, down to the names of Callie's brothers and the family's dogs were perfectly fitting. Callie's relationships with her... Read Full Review

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... Read Full Review

There is so much to love about this book. I finished it days ago but can't stop thinking about Calpurnia and her family. The writing is gorgeous. Small gems are everywhere. When Calpurnia finds an old hummingbird nest, "fragile and expertly woven, smaller than an eggcup" her grandfather tells her to treasure it, she may never find another one in her whole life. Calpurnia examines it, thinking: "The nest was the most intricately... Read Full Review

A masterpiece of historical fiction, THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE is rewarding at every level. The protagonist, 11-year old Calpurnia, is the only daughter of seven children living at the turn of the last century in a sleepy Texas town. Calpurnia, who has a keen eye and a native curiosity, wishes to become a naturalist; her mother wishes to turn her into a respectable young lady. Calpurnia's ally is her grandfather, and... Read Full Review