By Jacqueline Kelly
1899. Fentress Texas. Imagine yourself on a cotton plantation farm in Fentress, Texas. It’s summer. And it’s hot.Calpurnia Virginia Tate, also going by the nickname Callie and Callie Vee, is the only girl of 7 kids. She is expected to cook, bake, clean, knit, sew and other domestic housework with her mother and their cook, Viola.
Harry, the oldest of the Tate siblings, aged 17, claims Callie Vee his “pet”. Calpurnia agrees with this, and claims Harry to be “hers”. Despite this fondness for each other, Harry still believes that women belong in the home, which Callie does not. She is a tomboy, at heart, that wants nothing to do with housework.
The other large relationship Calpurnia has is with her Grandfather. He has inspired Calpurnia to be interested in Science, “curiosity is necessary” is a line he says to her. Later, as the relationship grows closer, Grandfather starts to tell Callie Vee of the war stories and his pet bat and how it changed his life and turned him onto science.
With her interest up, Calpurnia goes to the Library and ask for Charles Darwin’s book, “The Origin of Species”, but the librarian said no, because she was not with an adult. She later goes to her Grandfather to ask a question about animal behaviour. He gladly offers her “The Origin of Species” from his library, a copy he received from his friend, Charles Darwin.
Later on, Calpurnia and her Grandfather discover what may be an unknown type of Hairy Vetch. Have Calpurnia and her Grandfather found a new type of Hairy Vetch? Will they be able to name it? Or is this type of Vetch already discovered?
Her mother disapproves very much at the subject Calpurnia is studying but allows her to go as long as it doesn’t interfere with her learning to sew, play piano, cook.
That Christmas, her parents give her a book, and as she rips open the wrapping paper, she sees the word ‘Science’ in curly letters. As she finishes, her heart sinks. The whole sentence on the book was ‘The Science of Housewifery’ all in curly letters.
Will Calpurnia be able to still do what she loves? Or will she have to give in to her mother and Viola and do housework?
Harry, the oldest of the Tate siblings, aged 17, claims Callie Vee his “pet”. Calpurnia agrees with this, and claims Harry to be “hers”. Despite this fondness for each other, Harry still believes that women belong in the home, which Callie does not. She is a tomboy, at heart, that wants nothing to do with housework.
The other large relationship Calpurnia has is with her Grandfather. He has inspired Calpurnia to be interested in Science, “curiosity is necessary” is a line he says to her. Later, as the relationship grows closer, Grandfather starts to tell Callie Vee of the war stories and his pet bat and how it changed his life and turned him onto science.
With her interest up, Calpurnia goes to the Library and ask for Charles Darwin’s book, “The Origin of Species”, but the librarian said no, because she was not with an adult. She later goes to her Grandfather to ask a question about animal behaviour. He gladly offers her “The Origin of Species” from his library, a copy he received from his friend, Charles Darwin.
Later on, Calpurnia and her Grandfather discover what may be an unknown type of Hairy Vetch. Have Calpurnia and her Grandfather found a new type of Hairy Vetch? Will they be able to name it? Or is this type of Vetch already discovered?
Her mother disapproves very much at the subject Calpurnia is studying but allows her to go as long as it doesn’t interfere with her learning to sew, play piano, cook.
That Christmas, her parents give her a book, and as she rips open the wrapping paper, she sees the word ‘Science’ in curly letters. As she finishes, her heart sinks. The whole sentence on the book was ‘The Science of Housewifery’ all in curly letters.
Will Calpurnia be able to still do what she loves? Or will she have to give in to her mother and Viola and do housework?
I found this book amazing! The book was very descriptive, and I could imagine myself as Calpurnia every where she went, all throughout the book.
I recommend it for age 9 and up.
I think the book is targeted for girls, but if you are interested in Science and you are a boy, you will also enjoy this book.
R.B.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.