When Curiosity Becomes a Superpower

• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly takes us to Texas in 1899, where an eleven-year-old girl discovers the joy of science and the freedom of asking questions.
  As Calpurnia studies plants and animals with her unusual grandfather, she begins to see that the world is far more fascinating than the rules laid down for girls. It is a warm, funny and thoughtful coming-of-age story about curiosity, independence and finding your own path.

The Evolution of
Calpurnia Tate,
published in 2009, is set in 1899 in Caldwell, Texas. Its heroine, Calpurnia Virginia Tate, or “Callie Vee”, is eleven years old and lives with her parents and six brothers.
Callie is expected to behave like a proper young lady. Her mother wants her to learn cooking, sewing, piano and other domestic skills. But Callie is much more interested in the natural world. She wonders why some animals behave differently from others, watches insects and plants, and keeps notes about what she observes.
Her biggest discovery is her grandfather, Captain Walter Tate, an eccentric, serious and rather intimidating old man who lives at the family's pecan plantation. He turns out to be a passionate amateur naturalist.
The two develop a special relationship. He gives Callie a notebook and a copy of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Together they observe wildlife, conduct experiments and investigate a strange species of giant yellow grasshopper.
The scientific discoveries are important, but the real story is about Callie's discovery of herself. She gradually understands that she does not have to become the kind of woman society expects her to be.
Why is this book important?
The book is important because it shows children - especially girls - that being curious is valuable.
Callie does not become brave by fighting somebody or performing a dramatic act of heroism. She becomes brave by asking questions: Why? How? What if?
That makes the book particularly relevant even today. Science begins with curiosity, observation and the willingness to challenge assumptions.
It also presents a fascinating picture of America at the beginning of the twentieth century, when new scientific ideas were changing people's understanding of the world while traditional expectations about women remained very strong.
What should kids learn from the book?
Don't be afraid to be different. Callie doesn't fit comfortably into the role society has prepared for her - and that is perfectly all right.
Ask questions. Instead of simply accepting what adults tell her, she wants to understand things for herself.
Observe before judging. Callie's scientific approach teaches children to look carefully at the world around them.
Find people who encourage you. Her grandfather recognises her curiosity instead of trying to suppress it. And perhaps the biggest lesson: growing up doesn't mean giving up the things that make you curious and happy.
Final words
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is not simply a book about a girl who likes science. It is about the courage to discover who you really are.
Callie's grandfather gives her something more valuable than scientific knowledge: he gives her permission to be curious.
There has been no major feature film or television adaptation of the book so far. However, its cinematic setting, memorable characters and coming-of-age story have long made it a natural candidate for adaptation.
For young readers, the message is wonderfully simple: Look closely. Ask questions. Stay curious - and don't let the world decide who you should become.

Best Quotes from the Book

• A few memorable lines capture Callie's spirit:
• “I wondered what it would be like to be a boy.”
• “The world is full of things that are much more interesting than people.”
• “I was a girl who liked science.”
• “Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe.”
• These lines reflect the central conflict of the book: the desire to explore versus the pressure to conform.

About the Author
Jacqueline Kelly
Jacqueline Kelly was born in New Zealand and grew up in Canada. She later moved to the United States and trained in both medicine and law before becoming a writer.
Her scientific back ground clearly influenced The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. The book combines accurate observations about nature with humour, family drama and historical detail.
Kelly published a sequel, The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate, in 2015, continuing Callie's adventures as her scientific interests develop.