Grasshoppers, Pecan Liquor, and Charles Darwin - Book Signing with Jacqueline Kelly

Event Description

Jacqueline Kelly, author of the Newbery Honor Book, "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate," returns to Los Alamos to sign her book on Sunday, August 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Otowi Station Bookstore.

“We’re delighted that Jackie will be here again to introduce a new generation of readers to Calpurnia,” said Ellen Ben-Naim of Otowi Station Bookstore. “Young adults and adults are really captivated by this spunky, ambitious heroine.”

Calpurnia Virginia Tate, Callie Vee, is the only girl of seven children growing up in rural Fentress, Texas, at the turn of the last century. Her brothers (all named after heroes of the Texas fight for Independence) run wild, her mother takes frequent doses of her “tonic” to cope with the chaos, and her grandfather remains aloof sequestered away in his laboratory or library. And while her mother is trying to train her into a proper lady, Callie Vee would rather spend her days observing insects, collecting strange plants, and making scientific observations in her notebook. With her grandfather’s encouragement she soaks up his attention and intelligent conversation and blossoms (after all, she isn’t any good at normal feminine pursuits of the time period anyway).