THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE
By Jacqueline Kelly
Henry Holt, 2009
Category: Middle grade historical fiction
A few weeks ago, I participated in a discussion about the teen detective in contemporary fiction, and I asked aloud for books that featured female protagonists with a scientific bent. Someone recommended THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE, by Jacqueline Kelly, and I am so very glad they did.
Calpurnia Virginia Tate, known to neighbors and friends as Callie Vee, is a wonderful girl detective. Mentored by her grandfather, she awakens during the glorious summer of 1899 to the mysteries all around her: Why does this single species of grasshopper come in two distinct colors? Why don’t caterpillar have eyelids? What in heaven’s name are those somethings-with-hairs swimming in the river water she looked at through Grandfather’s microscope? Must all girls grow up and become wives and mothers?
Callie Vee is that rare heroine who transcends her time and her place; she inspires readers—at least this one!—to wonder, observe, strive and dream. I highly recommend you make her acquaintance.
(For a proper review, check out this one from Colleen Mondor.)