What is the main conflict in The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly, is a novel set at the turn of the 20th century. The story follows six months in the life of young Calpurnia Tate, a smart, funny 11-year-old girl who is evolving along with the century as she tries to focus on exploring science and the natural world with her grandfather rather than learning the domestic arts her mother thinks she will need in her inevitable role as a wife and mother.