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.
Publishers Weekly
Life at the turn of the century is not easy for a girl who loves books and science. Kelly's first novel presents spirited heroine Calpurnia (Callie) Virginia Tate, a middle child with six brothers, growing up in the isolation of Fentress, Tex., in 1899. To her family's dismay, Callie is stubborn, independent and not interested in darning socks or perfecting her baking skills like a lady. I would live my life in a tower of books, she thinks to herself. She spends most of her time with Harry, the one brother who could deny me nothing, slowly befriending her Granddaddy, a mysterious naturalist who studies everything from pecan distillation to microscopic river bugs. Together they dream up experiments and seek answers to backyard phenomena, discovering something new about the invisible world each day. Callie follows her passion for knowledge, coming to realize her family had their own lives. And now I have mine. 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. Ages 10-up. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Categories:
- Science & Math
- Evolution
Publisher : Square Fish
Author : Kelly, Jacqueline
Language : English
Edition : Reprint
Published :2011-01-04
Number Of Pages : 368
Binding : paperback
ISBN-10 : 031265930X
ISBN-13 : 9780312659301
Item weight : 0.62 lb
Dimensions : 1.1 in x 4.96 in x 7.48 in
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