Publishers Weekly
★ 05/04/2015
Six years after debuting in Kelly’s Newbery Honor–winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, the budding Texas scientist returns, as curious and charming as ever, and now preoccupied with fauna instead of flora. Travis, one of Callie’s six brothers, continually needs her help because of his bad choices in pets (armadillo, blue jay, raccoon, etc.). Callie’s training under the tutelage of her gruff, beloved grandfather continues with increasingly complex dissections. Meanwhile, the devastating 1900 Galveston hurricane sends refugees to Fentress that include an injured veterinarian, who finds an eager assistant in 13-year-old Callie, despite his reservations about a young lady working in an often gruesome field. Undeterred, Callie finds her passion at precisely the same moment she realizes how unfairly the deck is stacked against girls of her era. But if anybody can figure a way around studying the domestic arts, it’s whip-smart Callie, literary cousin to Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce, and just as sharp an observer. Happily, the episodic narrative leaves the door wide open for further adventures—if we’re lucky. Ages 9–12. Agent: Marcy Posner, Folio Literary Management. (July)
From the Publisher
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.” —The New Yorker, "Book Bench" section
“In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of a new century. And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie . . . Readers will want to crank up the A.C. before cracking the cover, though. That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat.” —The Washington Post on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Each chapter of this winning . . . novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species'—a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwin's masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie's ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.” —New York Times Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Animal lovers will revel in the abundant anecdotes about the benevolent country vet and Travis' mangy strays-some heart-wrenching, some hilarious-while learning plenty about nature ("from pond water up to the stars"), the deadly 1900 Galveston hurricane, and early Texas history as recounted by Callie's scholarly and beloved Granddaddy. A warm, welcome stand-alone companion to Kelly's lauded debut.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Well worth waiting for . . . Readers will flock to this sequel for the pleasure of revisiting this beloved character and her world.” —Booklist, starred review
“Humor and little heartbreaks abound as Callie learns animal care under the tutelage of Dr. Pritzker, the town's veterinarian. . . . Recommended for fans of the original novel and strong readers who enjoy character-driven narratives.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Six years after debuting in Kelly's Newbery Honor-winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, the budding Texas scientist returns, as curious and charming as ever, and now preoccupied with fauna instead of flora . . . Happily, the episodic narrative leaves the door wide open for further adventures—if we're lucky.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Callie's transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kelly's rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. Many readers will hope for a sequel to this engaging, satisfying first novel.” —Booklist, starred review, on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.” —Kirkus, starred review, on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Narrator Calpurnia's voice is fresh and convincing, and Granddaddy is that favorite relative most readers would love to claim as their own. Historical fiction fans are in for a treat.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who's refreshingly ahead of her time.” —The Horn Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century... there's no uncertainty over the achievement of Kelly's debut novel.” —School Library Journal, starred review, on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
School Library Journal - Audio
10/01/2015
Gr 4–6—Calpurnia is turning 13 and realizing that she receives half as much allowance and education as her brothers, and her parents don't expect her to become anything other than a housewife. But Calpurnia's love of science and all things related to the natural world leave her yearning for a different future. An older female cousin who lands in their household following the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900 unexpectedly helps Calpurnia begin to glimpse new possibilities for herself. Further, Calpurnia's escapades with the new vet, Dr. Pritzker, give her some direction as well as a way to earn money. Narrator Natalie Ross is magnificent, perfectly capturing the tone of the young Calpurnia, her family, and the secondary characters. Each has their own recognizable voice, making the narrative easy to follow as well as entertaining. The pacing is just right throughout, with pauses and changes in tempo in all the right moments. VERDICT Full of the ups and downs of growing up, this work will appeal to fans of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Holt, 2009), as well as listeners who just love a good, character-driven story. ["Recommended for fans of the original novel and strong readers who enjoy character-driven narratives": SLJ 3/1/15 starred review of the Holt book.]—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT
School Library Journal
★ 03/01/2015
Gr 4–6—Thirteen-year-old Callie Vee returns in this stand-alone sequel to the Newbery Honor-winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Holt, 2009). Callie's thirst for scientific discovery remains strong, as does her parents' disregard for any plans for the future that don't involve debutante balls and marrying a well-respected gentleman. In between recording questions and observations in her journal, Callie and brother Travis attempt to make pets of an armadillo, a blue jay, and a coyote mix, to mostly disastrous results. Humor and little heartbreaks abound as Callie learns animal care under the tutelage of Dr. Pritzker, the town's veterinarian, but her accomplishments are ignored and even ridiculed in favor of Travis's smaller contributions. The devastating 1900 Galveston hurricane drops 17-year-old cousin Aggie, traumatized by the storm, into their household. Relationships with secondary characters, such as the family's cook, Viola, and Dr. Pritzker, are charming and well developed. Mother remains cold and lacking in fondness for Callie. A brief overview of Callie's relationship with her grandfather and their scientific inquiries provide a basic background for readers unfamiliar with the story. Aggie is not a particularly sympathetic character, but her business and financial sense are great influences on Callie. Chapters are introduced by quotes from Charles Darwin's The Voyage of the Beagle. Callie and Travis's relationship is tender and believable yet still reflects the imbalance and unfairness of the gender divide. The conclusion leaves open the possibility for further adventures. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the original novel and strong readers who enjoy character-driven narratives.—Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA
OCTOBER 2015 - AudioFile
Natalie Ross narrates this story, set in 1900, with a light Texas accent appropriate to the setting and to the gentle, observant nature of the 13-year-old main character. Calpurnia studies science with her formidable grandfather, contends with her many brothers, and engages in life on her well-to-do family’s ranch. Ross ratchets up the emotion in the tense scenes, as when Calpurnia and her grandfather attempt to warn Galveston of an impending hurricane and when Calpurnia realizes someone has stolen her precious five-dollar gold coin. Ross also conveys every bit of Calpurnia’s frustration and disappointment when her parents discourage her college aspirations and scientific dreams. Ross’s melodious voice and the vividness of her portrayals will keep listeners delighting in this audio performance. A.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2015-04-01
Thirteen-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate of turn-of-the-20th-century Texas—introduced in the 2010 Newbery Honor-winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate—is more focused than ever on unlocking the secrets of the natural world. But Callie Vee has her hands full with her tender brother Travis, who never met a wild animal he didn't want to adopt (including a possibly diseased armadillo), and her ever exasperated mother, who wishes her one daughter among six sons would master the domestic arts instead of fixating on her Scientific Notebook and Charles Darwin (the source of the chapter-opening excerpts). In fact, of all Callie's daily trials, the hardest to stomach is the injustice of being treated as a "half citizen" just because she's a girl. But not to worry….Callie, the witty and sincere narrator, is "smart as a tree full of owls" and won't be denied her dreams of being a veterinarian or anything else she puts her mind to. Animal lovers will revel in the abundant anecdotes about the benevolent country vet and Travis' mangy strays—some heart-wrenching, some hilarious—while learning plenty about nature ("from pond water up to the stars"), the deadly 1900 Galveston hurricane, and early Texas history as recounted by Callie's scholarly and beloved Granddaddy. A warm, welcome stand-alone companion to Kelly's lauded debut. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
