By Jacqueline Kelly
Published by Holt in 2009
In this book, Calpurnia takes on the role of a naturalist with her grandfather. He pushes her to learn and explore the world she lives in, while her mother wants her to learn what all good housekeepers and wives to be should learn. She is torn between the two worlds. She knows she has to do what her mother says, but she finds it repetitive and boring. She would much rather be outside collecting specimens and working on her experiments.I really enjoyed this book. When I first started reading it, it reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series. I am not the hugest fan of these books. They were just not something I could get into when I was younger. However, reading this and seeing her love of science and the natural world, really threw me into the story. I was rutting for her the whole time! The book showed the male and female stereotypes back in the early 20th century in full view. It really allowed the reader to see that cooking and cleaning are only jobs that women were able to do, and boys had to do jobs like fatten up the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and work on the cotton gin with their father. Although it does not tell you what she grew up to be, it leaves you with a feeling of wanting to know more! Does she just become a housewife or does she strive for her dream and do what she loves? I am hoping for the latter!
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