Just finished The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Very good book. Another literary best friend for her would be Molly, from Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon. Molly’s also interested in botany.
I’ve started Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us from Missiles to the Moon to Mars, by Nathalia Holt. It’s excellent. People who enjoyed Hidden Figures are likely to want to read this as well.