The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

I recently read and reviewed The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg.  The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is set in the same time period and also deals with the lack of opportunities for women at the time. 
 This book, set at the end of 1899, could just as easily been titled The Education of Calpurnia Tate. Calpurnia lives on a farm with her family. She wants to check out a copy of Darwin's Origin of Species at the public library, but is denied. She tells her grandfather and this begins a connection between the two of them and a study of nature.


I found the questions about gender roles in the era insightful. The conflict between religion and science was respectfully presented in my opinion.

Click here for a free printable graphic organizer for students to evaluate how a character trait can create problems and solutions.

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