The summer of 1899 is hot in Calpurnia's sleepy Texas town, and there
aren't a lot of good ways to stay cool. Her mother has a new wind
machine from town, but Callie might just have to resort to stealthily
cutting off her hair, one sneaky inch at a time. She also spends a lot
of time at the river with her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an
avid naturalist. It turns out that every drop of river water is teeming
with life -- all you have to do is look through a microscope! As Callie
explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship
with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers,
and learns just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.
Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to
life, capturing an unusual year with unique sensitivity and wit.