The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate
By Jacqueline Kelly
Henry Holt and Co, 2015. Fiction. 312 p

Calpurnia Tate is back in her second adventure as a early 20th century girl with a scientific mind. A hurricane has devastated distant Galveston and has brought two refugee's to Calpurnia's town, an older female cousin, and a veterinarian. Calpurnia's relationships with both new residents are complicated, and made even more so as Calpurnia gets sucked into the clandestine care of her favorite brother's unusual, and forbidden, pets. As Calpurnia begins to develop a grudging respect for her prickly cousin's independence and initiative, and the veterinarian develops a grudging respect for her, Calpurnia starts to see a possible path toward her own aspirations. As in the award winning first book (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, 2009) there is plenty here to laugh about and to think about. Fans will be pleased that this is probably not the last we will see of the plucky Calpurnia.

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