I haven't stopped thinking about Calpurnia since finishing the last page of this book.
It is the turn of the century in rural Texas and so much of Calpurnia's life is changing. At home Harry, the oldest of her six brothers is starting to court a young lady while three others vie for the attention of her best friend. While her brothers get to roam free during the summer, she is expected to start seriously training to have a house of her own. Cooking and stitchery are not her strong suits.
Out in the world there is plenty new too. At the State Fair she got to sit in the first automobile the town has ever seen...and got her nose filled with fizz while drinking her first Coco Cola! A new book by Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species is causing a fuss. Wanting to know more, Calpurnia, or "Callie Vee" as she is known to her family, travels to her closest public library (all the way in Austin) to borrow it. She was told my the librarian that she DID NOT have that book on her shelves and even if she did, she would not let her borrow it.
Callie Vee does learn that her grandfather has different ideas and different views on the world. Through their explorations of the world around them, Callie Vee learns about the scientific method and develops her own thoughts and insights into the strange and wonderful world all around her.
This story is beautifully told with wonderfully descriptive language. I love the way the author describes her pack of brothers. Sometimes they are a pile of sweaty puppies, while other times they are forces of nature, with an energy that erupts into the day.
While I loved this story and these characters, readers should be aware that there isn't a whole lot of action here. This is a "slice of life" story about a young girl whose life is rapidly evolving, as she struggles to find her place.
This is a beautiful and gentle read that I would recommend highly.
(reviewed by Marianne Follis)
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