★★★
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate reads like a childhood memory. Set in 1899 in a small town of Texas, we follow the life of 11-year-old Calpurnia as she nurtures a love of science with her grandfather as well as the realities of being a girl during that time period.
Calpurnia is a very adventurous and curious kid. Every morning, she sits outside her house and observes all the animals and wildlife around her, writing questions about their habits in her notebook. Her grandfather is very well-learned, and after a while they become good friends. They venture out to the river, collecting specimens and making observations. While her grandfather enlightens her on the laws and discoveries, Calpurnia’s world starts to expand. She dreams of becoming a scientist and studying at the university.
I loved moments with Calpurnia and her grandfather. It was refreshing to rediscover the world through Calpurnia, and it reminded me of why learning and science is truly a wonder. I loved seeing Calpurnia start to understand concepts and theories, and with her inquisition and intelligence she will truly become a force.
But as much as Calpurnia wants to roam free in the wilds of science, 1899 expectations bar her from doing so. Aa a girl, she’s forced to learn how to embroider, knit, play the piano, and cook; all of which she is very abysmal at and despises. This leads her to a strained relationship with her mother, who wants Calpurnia to be successful at her future as a housewife. Calpurnia struggles with understanding who she is and who she wants to become, all the while realizing other’s expectations for her. This struggle is something that people can relate to today. These scenes contrasted to the various ventures to the river with grandfather, and helped define Calpurnia’s character.
In addition to that, Calpurnia’s brothers were hilarious to read about. Having six of them, things can become quite a mess. From their puppy love for Calpurnia’s best friend Lula to the time when her younger brother got too attached to the Thanksgiving turkey, they were a delight. They made the story a lot more lively and homely.
All in all, I had a great time reading this. Calpurnia was so fun to read about, and the setting was well ingrained in the story. Fans of Laura Ingalls’s Little House on the Prairie would be sure to love this one!
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