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“Six years after debuting in Kelly’s Newbery Honor–winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, the budding Texas scientist returns, as curious and charming as ever, and now preoccupied with fauna instead of flora…Happily, the episodic narrative leaves the door wide open for further adventures—if we’re lucky.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Humor and little heartbreaks abound as Callie learns animal care under the tutelage of Dr. Pritzker, the town’s veterinarian…Recommended for fans of the original novel and strong readers who enjoy character-driven narratives.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)
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“Well worth waiting for…Readers will flock to this sequel for the pleasure of revisiting this beloved character and her world.”
— Booklist (starred review)
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“Animal lovers will revel in the abundant anecdotes about the benevolent country vet and Travis’ mangy strays-some heart-wrenching, some hilarious-while learning plenty about nature (“from pond water up to the stars”), the deadly 1900 Galveston hurricane, and early Texas history as recounted by Callie’s scholarly and beloved Granddaddy. A warm, welcome stand-alone companion to Kelly’s lauded debut.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.
— The New Yorker, "Book Bench" section
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In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of a new century. And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie . . . Readers will want to crank up the A.C. before cracking the cover, though. That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat.
— The Washington Post on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
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Each chapter of this winning . . . novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species'--a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwin's masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie's ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.
— New York Times Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
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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.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
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Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.
— Kirkus, Starred Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
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Narrator Calpurnia's voice is fresh and convincing, and Granddaddy is that favorite relative most readers would love to claim as their own. Historical fiction fans are in for a treat.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
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Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who's refreshingly ahead of her time.
— The Horn Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate