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pkadams 's review for:
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
The winner of the 2010 Newbery award - I'm convinced and really I'd be happy for it to win the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner as well. THE BEST BOOK of the year without a doubt. The language would make Henry James weep for its effortless flow, and bring grudging admiration from Hemingway for its simplicity and elegance. This book is fine writing that is timeless and speaks to both a child and adult. I LOVED it. Even if Jacqueline Kelly never writes another book, she will join EB White in the pantheon of timeless children's authors.
On top of it, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a perfect book club read as it has so much going for it:
1. a terrific inter-generational relationship
2. setting - captures Texas and the turn of the twentienth century perfectly.
3. quotes - see my quotes for this book. Wow!!!!! Could generate an entire discussion just looking at these.
4. characters are sketched perfectly - like the book cover the characters are clear and edges defined crisply.
5. a plot that invites so much discussion because the character becomes aware of the constraints of society.
6. character awakening to the world and developing of interests - her new year's resolutions are so wonderful.
7. tension between the desires of children and parents as seen through the eyes of the child.
8. relationships with her brothers, best friend, parents, grandparents, teachers.
Did I mention it's the author's first book? Exquisite.
On top of it, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a perfect book club read as it has so much going for it:
1. a terrific inter-generational relationship
2. setting - captures Texas and the turn of the twentienth century perfectly.
3. quotes - see my quotes for this book. Wow!!!!! Could generate an entire discussion just looking at these.
4. characters are sketched perfectly - like the book cover the characters are clear and edges defined crisply.
5. a plot that invites so much discussion because the character becomes aware of the constraints of society.
6. character awakening to the world and developing of interests - her new year's resolutions are so wonderful.
7. tension between the desires of children and parents as seen through the eyes of the child.
8. relationships with her brothers, best friend, parents, grandparents, teachers.
Did I mention it's the author's first book? Exquisite.