The Unselfish Gene of the novel is a nod to Richard Dawkins' 1976 book, "The Selfish Gene". Among the concepts developed in Dawkins' book is a theory of how natural selection may favor self-sacrifice and other forms of altruism. The themes of altruism and small gene sets play an important role in plot and character development in The Unselfish Gene. The Unselfish Gene is what might be termed "semi-hard" science fiction. The technology described in the book is well within the limits of early 21st century technology. Some of it, such as "The Anita", an atomic-bomb powered heavy lifter space ship, was actually
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate natural world ..." It was the recipient of numerous awards including a 2010 Newbery Honor Award, and also honored with the IRA Children's Book Award, the North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, the TN YA Volunteer State Book Award ML, the Virginia M. Law Award., the Josette Frank Award and the Judy Lopez Book Award. It was included in Chicago Public Library Best of the Best list, the Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List, the Texas Lone Star Reading List and was a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate The Evolution of Calpurnia