The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

By Jacqueline Kelly

Notable Books for Children

Written from 11-year old Calpurnia Tate’s point of view, this book tells her story of growing up “the only girl out of seven children.” She says, “Can you imagine a worse situation? I was spliced midway between three older brothers – Harry, Sam Houston, and Lamar – and three younger brothers – Travis, Sul Ross, and the baby, Jim Bowie...”  (p. 2).

And so begins Calpurnia’s story of that very hot, eventful summer in Lockhart, Texas when her eyes were opened to a world of possibilities.  It is the summer that she came to know her grandfather and became his partner in studying nature with a scientist’s eye. The problem is that it’s 1899 and girls don’t often have the privilege of deciding their own fate. Calpurnia’s mother insists that she learn to sew, cook, play the piano, and learn how to manage a household, but Calpurnia’s heart is in hypothesizing about grasshoppers, plants, caterpillars, and the world around her.

Calpurnia is such a likeable character and I sympathized with her and all girls of her generation for being trapped by the inequalities of the time. As she awaits the turn of the century, she ponders her future. She says, “Grandaddy had told me I could make whatever I wished of my life. Some days I believed him, and other days I did not.” (p. 328).

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons, primarily Kelly’s beautiful storytelling style and the depth of her characters. Her use of figurative language paints a complete picture of the setting and helps give context to Calpurnia’s conflict.  I wanted the story to continue, to learn whether Calpurnia realized her dreams, but in the end, her story remains one of hope and rooting for the underdog girl in a man’s world. Go Calpurnia!

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