The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
By: Jacqueline Kelly

Summary:

     Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones.With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century. Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit.

 

Review: 

    The cover is really shows what Callie wants to do.  Callie wants to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and enjoys learning about the plants and animals around her.  The only problem is that girls aren't supposed to be scientists and she has to put up with learning how to be the perfect housewife.   

    This book is more for the people who enjoy history and science with mentions of the very first car, Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone, the invention of Coke, and the classification of plants and animals.  It has a great mix of Texan history, Darwin's theory of evolution, and a girl's dream to become a naturalist.       

 

My First Attempt

Raven
By: Allison Van Diepen

Summary of the book:
    Zin dances with fire in every step, speaks in a honey-sweet voice, and sees with eyes that can peer into your soul. Nicole's friendship with him is the only thing that saves her from the boredom of school and the turmoil of her family life. It's no wonder she is madly in love with him. But she can't understand why he keeps her at a distance, even though she can feel his soul reaching out for hers.
    Zin is like no man Nicole has ever met, and he carries with him a very old secret. When Nicole uncovers the truth, her love may be the only thing that can save him from it.

Hunches about it: The raven on Nicole's back is going to be a big symbol in this story.  For some reason, I also get the feeling that Zin is most likely not alive but living at the same time, if you know what I mean.

Review: This is a really great book for those of you that enjoy supernatural books.  It also has something about drug use/alcohol so this book is best for the teens.  Nicole's life isn't easy and it shows throughout the book from having to be able to survive on the streets to having a drug addict as a brother.  The one thing she can turn to is break dancing which is how she met Zin and the rest of the gang.  The ending wasn't really what I expected, but still a version of happily ever after.