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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 04 2013 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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Just researching this title... it gets many rave reviews on Amazon.
At the same time, some of the reviewers think it gives homemaking/women's arts a very negative spin.
I know several here have read it... what do you think?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Feb 04 2013 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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It's very pro-evolution pro-science in a rather un-Christian way... I can't remember the anti-homemaking stuff.
Over all the story was incredibly well done in the living science department, and might be appropriate to read with an older child with discussion, or as a read aloud with editing and/or discussion
(For what it's worth, I haven't read it to my kids, just myself because it looked good  I may at some point, with the above stipulations on discussion)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 04 2013 at 5:24pm | IP Logged
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Great book!
It was very much enjoyed here. You do need to be aware that the book does approach the evolution topic - if you avoid evolution as a topic then this book will probably cause some discomfort -- if evolution is part of your scientific vocabulary (and it can be in light of Church teaching on the matter), then the discussions it prompts will be very engaging and provoking.
The setting of the book takes place right after Darwin's Origin of the Species has been published and is causing all sorts of discussion, including around the Tate dinner table between the very scientifically minded and gruff-around-the-edges grandfather and the family minister. Quite controversial at the time, and to some extent even still, Darwin's ideas open up new ways of wondering, observing, and asking questions about different species, and Callie's grandfather, a naturalist, is quite open to the ideas presented.
The story takes place the summer of Callie's 11th year (1899) and Callie herself is inspired to be a naturalist for the summer. Her grandfather, a naturalist and a rather mysterious man himself isn't very close to Callie at the beginning of the book, but as the book continues, their relationship grows. Callie begins to make observations in the natural world and these are conveyed in a way that is real and very inspiring for budding young naturalists! She comes to the realization that Mr. Darwin's controversial observations may have been correct with regard to something she's noticed with grasshoppers and very timidly approaches her grandfather with her observations. Their relationship begins on this footing and deepens from there. The climax of the book is when Callie and her grandfather think they have discovered a new species of hairy vetch. Hairy vetch is a legume, and my guess is many of you have it growing wildly and profusely along fence lines and at the sunny edge of woodlands. We have it all over here, and I suppose that this part touched me because my late brother positively loved hairy vetch!  So, that part was very personal for me.
It's written beautifully, in wonderfully descriptive and engaging language. It's a coming of age book for Callie, as she resists some of the expectations for young women of her time. I didn't find it particularly anti-homemaking. Callie is simply seeking to be true to her own spirit which enjoys the out-of-doors, hands dirty, asking questions about the natural world, and doesn't naturally gravitate to the expectations of young ladies at the time of the turn of the century, which was to be indoors and sewing or enjoying some of the more feminine arts. I have a daughter like this, so I guess I didn't find it particularly off-putting.
It's a very well written historical fiction that naturally and with great ease weaves living science into the pages. You can expect children to be inspired by Callie's observational methods and for your nature walks to take on new meaning and natural history conversations to take off. I'd highly recommend this book followed by a good reading of Lee and Gerald Durell's Amateur Naturalist and expect the rest of your natural history for the year to be self-propelled.
In terms of age appropriateness, it could depend on the child. For a scientifically passionate child, 4th grade +. For most children 5th or 6th grade would probably be a good age. But it could be enjoyed up through high school - my daughter read it at age 15 and found it wonderful! It would make a wonderful backbone to a science year devoted to natural history. So, don't think it's just for the younger ages. Do plan on enjoying narrations so you can keep up with some of the natural history going on in the book. AND...do look around this spring to see if you have any hairy vetch growing!
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Jen Mackintosh
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SuzanneG
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I read this book last year and LOVED IT! The evolution issues were definitely there and wouldn't give it to my girls yet, b/c we haven't really entered into that discussion yet enough for me to feel comfortable with it and them reading this. But, I'm imagining in a year or so with my older girls.....that would be about 6th-8th grade for them. I'm thinking it would be a good book for my younger kids at a younger age, since "evolution" would be part of our vocabulary at a younger age for the younger kids.
And, actually thought at the time that I read it, that it would be AMAZING conversation-starters in terms of discussing evolution, etc.
I enjoyed the writing very much and the story....thought it was beautiful! I would've read it twice but got distracted with various things and couldn't justify it....but I SO wanted to. So, instead, i just recommended it to a few teenage girls I knew.
I did not even THINK of the book as being "anti-homemaking." I loved her curiosity and her adventurous spirit....which is DEF. a part of homemaking if you ask me and I wouldn't hesitate AT ALL to have my girls read this book b/c of that.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 05 2013 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for sharing these thoughts with me.
I might wait another year or two on this so we can all work together on it- seems like there is a lot to be gleaned from this one!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Feb 06 2013 at 6:33pm | IP Logged
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Can't add much more just a  . My oldest read it and really her excitement for the scientific field (and nature journals) peaked after reading. She read it over a year ago and started requesting more science related living books. (including this year's focus on microorganisms).
She and I enjoyed the notion that the book encourages girls to pursue science fields; it's within their abilities.
Her other enjoyment was of course that Calpurnia had so many brothers. Some shared similar personalities to the four running around our house and that made her laugh 
I'm looking forward to having my other dd read it in a year or so.
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Jenny
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Aagot
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| Posted: Feb 06 2013 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
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Do you think a boy would enjoy this book?
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 07 2013 at 6:32am | IP Logged
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Aagot wrote:
| Do you think a boy would enjoy this book? |
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Absolutely! My son is reading it now. He is 12 yo/7th grade.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
