
The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. “Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family-the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings-all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. 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 “Callie's transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read.

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 novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species'-a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat.” ― The Washington Post on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie. “In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of a new century. “ 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 Happily, the episodic narrative leaves the door wide open for further adventures-if we're lucky.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

“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.

Recommended for fans of the original novel and strong readers who enjoy character-driven narratives.” ― School Library Journal, starred review “Humor and little heartbreaks abound as Callie learns animal care under the tutelage of Dr. Readers will flock to this sequel for the pleasure of revisiting this beloved character and her world.” ― Booklist, starred review

A warm, welcome stand-alone companion to Kelly's lauded debut.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review “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.
