Evolution

As its title suggests, the primary theme of this novel is evolution. Charles Darwin's The Origin of the Species, an important book of the time on evolution, is a significant influence on Calpurnia as she begins her foray into science and nature, and quotations from the book begin each chapter.

The theme is carried out in a number of ways throughout the book. Callie herself evolves significantly during the six months in which the book takes place. She begins as a child and emerges as a maturing young woman who is searching for her place in the world and beginning to succeed at finding it. Through her growing interest in science and nature, Callie learns from her grandfather and her own experimentation about evolution in the natural world, and at the same time she begins to evolve from a girl who is expected to marry young and focus...