Kenny's older brother Byron is always getting in trouble. His parents decide the only thing to do is get him out of Flint, Michigan and bring them to his grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. The relationship between the two boys and their younger sister is often very funny. But while they are in Birmingham disaster strikes. The scenes about the historic bombing of a nearby church are often confusing, perhaps representing Kenny's own confusion. ( )

Life Nature Library.

This book is about a family from Flint,Michigan visiting their Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama.Some crazy things happen when they are visiting.This book is an adventure inside a historical fiction book. ( )

Book Review – The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963. 1995. Delacorte Press: New York

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: Racial prejudice, segregation, integration of schools, Civil Rights Movement

Age / Grade Appropriateness: Middle School or High School age students

Awards: Newbety Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Award

Censorship Issues:
There are a few curse words in this book, but well integrated in the story, and not just for effect. Those parts of the book showed typical teen issues and teen rebellion and the parts would not have made as much sense without those curse words. The words did not make the book inappropriate for middle school or highschool level students. The book would probably not be appropriate for elementary students.

Plot Summary:
A black family living in Michigan is comprised of a 9 year old boy who narrates the story, his younger sister who is absolutely perfect and his older brother who is a rebellious teenage boy. Their parents are strict, the dad from the north and the mom from the south. The family is the Watsons, also referred to as the Weird Watsons. The nine year old son, Kenny, has crossed eyes and often gets picked on at school. The teenage brother, Byron or By as he’s often called, gets into trouble constantly. He has finally pushed his parents too far and they decide to take him to his Grandma’s house in Birmingham, Alabama. The dad fixed up their old car the best that they could afford and even had a record player installed in the car for the trip. The family jokingly calls their car the Brown Bomber and sometimes even the Brown Turd. They make the long trip together, starting out rough but spending some good quality time together. Once in Birmingham, the strict grandma makes an impression on Byron and he starts acting better almost instantly. Only days after they arrived there, the young daughter Joey went to church with their neighbors. During church time the family heard a loud and unusual noise. They rushed into town after learning that a bomb had gone off at the church. Kenny entered the church and believed that his sister was killed. He was so upset he rushed back home and then was later confronted by his sister, who did in fact live. Come to find out, she had left the church chasing after someone she believed was Kenny. Kenny was confused and unsure of the real truth and even unsure if he was awake or dreaming or dead or alive. After returning home to Michigan he had a hard month or so emotionally. He spent most of his time hiding behind their couch, in a place that he believed had magical powers. The end of the book consisted of a very emotional situation between the two brothers, in which they bonded in a way that was heart-wrenching.

Critique:
The story is written from the viewpoint of a fourth grade student, meeting one of the criteria of a young adult book. Since the narrator is young, the story is easy to read and easy to follow while providing humor and seriousness both at appropriate times.

Curriculum Uses:
This book could used when teaching about segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, or discrimination. The book provides examples of situations that actually happened, mixed with fictional characters and their emotions, which are like the emotions of the people who experienced those actual situations. This book would really make a pre-teen or teenage student connect with those things they are learning in history class and make them have empathy.

Wonderful book for grades 5 and up. Very interesting family featured in the book. Family is traveling south on I-75 to Alabama from Flint, MI. The dad is a hoot, and the whole family is a riot. There is a lot of 1960s slang in the book which is fun to discuss with students. The bombing at the Baptist church which occurred in Birmingham in 1963 was close to the end of the story. ( )