Countdown

Countdown by Deborah Wiles (NY: Scholastic, 2010).

The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights Movement directly impact the life of this story's protagonist, 11-year-old Franny Chapman. At school there are regular air-raid drills even before the crisis and the fearful, nearly paranoid, atmosphere of the era permeates the novel. Wiles enlivens her narrative with documentary-like footage from primary sources that show the reader Franny's world as she is living it. Not just the duck-and-cover drills, but pivotal moments such as Kennedy's televised speech and Walter Cronkite's reporting are well integrated as well as cultural trends such as rock and folk music (Pete Seger, Bob Dylan, the Beatles). Franny's sister is directly involved in campus activities and the Civil Rights movement, so she's not home much, and Franny worries for her well being. Her dad is on high alert at the Air Force, and Franny frets that he'll be killed. Her uncle Otts, a WW II veteran, has a breakdown of some sort, triggered by current events dredging up memories of heavy losses during that war.

Franny is dealing with more mundane problems as well--her crush on the new boy, a squabble with her best friend, embarrassment and misunderstandings at school, and her middle child feelings of neglect as she's overlooked between her college-aged older sister and perfect angel younger brother.

Overall, this is an excellent historical novel that will find a large audience well beyond its juvenile target. Highly recommended for ages 10 & up.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (NY: Henry Holt, 2009).

Don't let the dated looking cover art put you off this novel--it boasts extremely timely themes and a thoroughly engaging character in the eponymous Calpurnia Tate. Set in turn-of-the-century Texas, the novel stunningly captures the gritty, soporific heat that Calpurnia blithely ignores to tramp along side her grandfather to engage in scientific exploration. Learning about the natural world attracts her so much that she overcomes her fear of her grandfather to become his companion, and their relationship becomes just one of the "evolutions" in this novel. She is thrilled when he hands her his own copy of Darwin's The Origin of Species when the local library doesn't have it. Calpurnia records her observations and discoveries in a special notebook given to her by the eldest of her six brothers. At nearly twelve, Calpurnia is also starting to deal with the constraints of being a girl at this time period--why should she learn to cook and sew, for instance, when she could be out discovering how the world works with Grandaddy? Her failures in the domestic arts provide much of the humor in this novel, as well as her daily dealings with her brothers and mother.

Kelly vividly evokes Calpurnia's frustrations but without smothering all hope that Calpurnia can veer from the expected course of her life. I can imagine Calpurnia riding the progressive currents of her time into the university career she so desperately wishes for herself. Contemporary readers will come away with a renewed sense of possibility for their own futures--in science and all areas.

This is a wonderful novel--great for girls and boys, grades 5& up.