The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

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

Appropriate grade levels:

5-9. The main character of this book, although only "almost" twelve, is also relatable to older students because of her charm, sophisticated wit, and insights on life that span age ranges. While many high school students would not find this book completely compelling, some older high school students would be drawn to the interesting relationships and historical aspects of this turn of the century novel. I would not be afraid to recommend this book to an older high school student or adult although I would not use it in a literature circle or for whole class teaching beyond 8th grade.

Summary:

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate takes place at the turn of the century and as a piece of historical fiction, tells a story of a girl and her family while providing insight into life in a small Texas town in 1899. The main character, Calpurnia "Callie Vee" Virginia Tate, is an "almost" twelve year old who forms an interesting relationship with her seemingly distant and grumpy grandfather. Callie and her grandfather are brought together shortly after Callie's failed quest to obtain a copy of Darwin's controversial book and the bond is solidified when Callie discovers that her grandfather owns this book and used to know Darwin. Callie is a scientist at heart and her and her grandfather find similarities among their passions as he teaches her beyond what her appallingly lacking schooling can do. This novel is not strictly about Science, however. Callie's insights into life, her family, her six brothers, love, and what it means to be a woman at the turn of the century are thoughtful and engaging. Callie's intense journal keeping about her observations of the world question things such as whether or not caterpillars have eyelids and lead her to conclusions about the color and evolution of grasshoppers. Callie's stories about childhood are endearing, especially because she is a rebellious tomboy, always in trouble with her mother and she yearns to be a Scientist rather than a housewife despite societal and cultural norms that make her dreams seem impossible.

Classroom Use:

- Use with Literature Circles or for whole class reading in upper elementary or middle school classrooms, independent reading at middle school or high school level is appropriate. A precocious upper elementary student could read this book independently.

- Writing connection: students could create journal entries observing the world around them as Callie has done in the novel.

- Writing connection: students could do research about the evolution of a species and use blabberize to create an image of the animal/bug/mammal, etc to have it explain how it came to be.

- Reading strategies: Connecting historical knowledge to what is happening in the novel. Summarizing would be an excellent strategy to help students stay focused and self monitor comprehension. Students could use the summarizing formula: Who... Did What/What happened/Problem... As a result (e.g. Callie did not want to lose her brother's affections and as a result she told his secret about his older girlfriend to their mother.)

- Literature analysis: standards related to historical fiction, features of reading historical fiction

Reader’s Response:

When I first picked up this novel I did not expect to like it. At first I found it tolerable and then I as I continued reading I really enjoyed it. I am not a Science person and I was not fascinated by all of the scientific observations, discoveries and analysis. I was engaged by the relationships and historical aspects of this novel, however.

Callie's relationship with her grandfather is fascinating and this is what originally engaged me while reading. Theirs was a mutually beneficial, special relationship where both Callie and her grandfather gained something from each other that they could not have gained otherwise. I also enjoyed Callie's family. Her mother, raising seven children, is doing her best to raise her children "right" with piano lessons and attempting to teach Callie to be ladylike but Callie's constant resistance to this will engage young readers. As the novel continues, Callie's resistance increases and she is devastated when her parents finally give her a book for Christmas: The Science of Housewifery.

Kelly has a way of describing childhood events and feelings so that the reader feels like s/he is back in childhood. One of my favorite scenes in the novel is the piano concert. I loved this from start to finish, from all of the mothers fixing their children's hair (torture for the children, of course), to Callie terrified that she'd trip up the steps while walking onto the stage, to Lula vomiting and George falling off the piano stool. Kelly's description is priceless, "It was a massacre" (72).

Callie's exploratory nature does not just leave her questioning insects and nature. She is growing up and she has a lot of questions about coming-of-age type issues. She is resistant to her family changing and her older, favorite brother Harry possibly getting married one day. She is fascinated by kissing and explains to her frightened friend Lula that kissing is "required" by Texas law once you are married. She seeks out further kissing information from her brother Harry but is sadly disappointed by her research and findings.

When teaching historical fiction, The Evoluation of Calpurnia Tate is a must read. Historical fiction is a fantastic way to "humanize" history (Tomlinson) and engage young readers by allowing them to make connections to characters and experiences of a particular time and place in history.

http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/RHI_magazine/active_citizens/moran.html