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. ( )

This was book was absolutely hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing as I was reading it. Kenny is a bright, intelligent character with the sense of humor of every ten year old boy. His strong and clever wit is dampened by the tragedy that occurs at the end of the book until he is able to work through his view of the situation. The book is well written and very moving. Readers are bound to fall in love with Kenny Watson! ( )

Good story but it didn't have as much historical information as Bud, Not Buddy or Elijaih of Buxton.
The author's notes at the end of the CD version would be well worth using for Black History month in a classroom. ( )

1000L,GRL U,8 copies

1000L,GRL U,8 copies

The Watson family is hilarious. Christopher Paul Curtis takes you on a journey with the Watson family and there is never a boring moment. Kenny and his two sibling have adventure at home, on the road, and at school. The story takes place during the time of the Civil Rights Movement however friendship and love is emphasized. This is a classic and a must read for middle grade students.

My favorite book of all time! I read this story aloud to my students every year and most of them cite it as their favorite book. We laugh and cry together throughout this wonderful story. This is a read aloud that students beg me to keep reading when I say time is up. I don't read the curse words, but give a little wink when I change a word. Students love this. (My way of not taking away from the integrity of the author's work, but not upsetting parents, either!) This is a must read for everyone!!!! ( )

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, a story about an African American family during the early '60s, is filled with humor, honesty, sadness, and hope. The book is written with such specificity, playfulness, earnestness, and warmth that it's easy to feel a strong connection with different settings, the realistic characters of Kenny and his parents, and the ever-changing circumstances faced by the Watsons.

This is a funny book that is mostly about growing up in Flint, Michigan. The family's roots are in Birmingham, Alabama. While most of the story is fun and silly and about relationships, the family experiences some frightening, difficult racial hatred along the way. Still, the story is not a story about hatred or merely coping, this is a story about the love that binds families, and growing up in America. It is very realistic "realistic fiction." ( )

A bit like a tv series, this book is hilarious at first, and then, in the same voice very grim. Most books about birmingham are all very serious. The more lighthearted beginning, followed by the historic event makes it very real, gives it great depth. ( )

i lilked this book ( )

Quality:
This award-winning novel’s humor and kind spirit allow it to deal with one of the most tragic incidents of the civil rights era with hope and love.

Potential Use:
This book would be an ideal complement to any teacher’s curriculum on the civil rights movement, but it is also entertaining, engrossing and interesting enough to work well as a read-alone book.
Child Appeal:
The many humorous incidents in this book will quickly draw the child reader, and the episodic structure makes it friendly for children who can only read a little bit a day. ( )

Characters:
· Kenny- (10) Fourth grader with a lazy eye, and what he believes is a ‘weird’ family
· Joetta- (5) sister
· Byron- (13) older brother
· Momma- Wilona- originally from the Alabama
· Dad- Daniel
· Grandma Sands-
·
Notes:
o The Watson’s are freezing, but a very close family in Flint, Michigan p. 1
o Byron freezes to the mirror – funny p. 12
o Byron is teased at school by his brother p. 24
o Byron worries about getting ‘saved’ by God p. 28
o The Great Dinosaur War p. 38
o “nekkid ladies” p. 40
o Momma bundles everyone up p. 48
o Maytag washes and stolen gloves p. 57
o Byron is a terrible bully p. 60
o Momma plans on teaching Byron not to play with fire p. 68
o Byron feels bad about his actions p. 83
o Byron straightens his hair p. 88
o The Watsons prepare to go to Birmingham p. 119
o The Watsons arrive in Birmingham p. 155
o Byron saves Kenny p. 175
o The bombing p. 182
o The Watson return to Flint p. 191
o Byron tries to pull Kenny out of his depression p. 197
o The brothers discuss racism p. 198
o Epilogue p. 207

Subjects/topics/themes: African- American, Racism, Family, Siblings

Related titles: Through My Eyes; Bud, Not Buddy

Annotation: The real-life events that took place in 1963 play a small, but important role, in this book. The importance of family is the main theme, where humor and serious issues are used to show the strength of family ties.

In a sometimes episodic depiction of a Northern black family in the 60s, Christopher Paul Curtis has managed to create probably one of the funniest and saddest young adult books of the 20th century. First published in 1998 (and republished by Laurel Leaf in 2000), The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 is more than a recounting of a family trip, despite the title. The book starts out with the various dealings of its protagonist and precocious 10-year old narrator, Kenny Watson, with his older brother (the troubled Byron), his younger sister (the sweet and sometimes annoying Joetta), and his parents. Kenny's is a voice not easily forgotten. Charming and hilarious, he is probably one of my favorite fictional narrators. All that's needed to get an idea of the type of voice he possesses is to list some of his chapter titles: 1. And You Wonder Why We Get Called the Weird Watsons 4. Froze-Up Southern Folks 7. Every Chihuahua in America Lines Up to Take a Bite out of Byron 13. I Meet Winnie's Evil Twin Brother, the Wool Pooh When Kenny's older brother plays one too many pranks and gets in trouble one too many times, the parents discuss in hushed whispers, and finally in boisterous somewhat staged voices, their intentions to take Byron to Birmingham to get disciplined and a good hard dose of reality living under the belligerent strictness of their Grandma Sands. Their mom relating that Grandma Sands "says that that stuff on TV isn't happening around her" (119) is the first hint that all isn't as it is cracked up to be in Birmingham, something that Kenny does not quite understand or realize until it is too late to get the searing images of reality out of his head, or the readers. As Kenny says, their home of Flint is "about two million miles" from Alabama. Kenny's experience as they make an unscheduled stop in the middle of nowhere, more a frightened reaction to the nervousness experienced by her mom and Byron about the realities of racism (Byron says to Kenny, "they'd hang you now, then eat you later"), is later magnified when he comes across the wreckage of a church bombing (based on Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that was bombed on September 15, 1963) that changes the family's lives forever. While a bit jarring (such is life, I suppose), the switch from comedy to drama is one that is best rectified through the consistent voice of the narrator, whose voice and experience of the world is utterly convincing, and a great way to deal with very delicate subject matter of racism and children's death. The delicate subject matter makes me think that parents should read this first before broaching the subject with children, but that this is a good way to bring it into focus (the epilogue gives a historical foundation for looking more into the history of segregation and civil rights. That being said, the Watsons are a loving and lovable family. Moments of sibling rivalry and Kenny's unique perspective can make you laugh out loud, while the chilling realities seep in and transform the narrative into something that important enough to be shared across classrooms in this country. The back cover recommends this for ages 10 and up - I would still read it first before handing it over to a 10-year old. ( )

With an over protective mom, a dangerous brother, and a whiny little sister, the Watsons are in for an adventure. In Flint, Michigan it is extremely cold unfortunatley for the Watsons. Joey and Kenny are always being bundled up by their mom, which gives the kids at school an extra reason to tease them even their brother the biggest bully of the school. But that all changes when they go to Alabama for a vacation with there strict Grandma. I liked this book is good because it showed how the'weird Watsons got through being bullied at school. ( )

This book is about a family going through prejudice, in the 1960's ( )

Christopher Paul Curtis tells of six year old Kenny's African American Family from Flint Michigan. Kenny's older brother keeps getting into trouble and the family decides to have him spend the summer with Grandma in Alabama. We follow the familiy as they drive to Alabama and become aware of the racism that is prevalent in the South. Soon after they arrive the African American church gets bombed and kills four little girls.
This story is based on a true story.

This book is great for extending the curriculum if you are studying history, African American experience in America, etc. There are teacher guides available to promote quality discussions in the classroom while reading this book. ( )

I read 104/224
From what I have read so far this book is very funny and I highly recommend this book to anyone who like family comedies. For example, in the one part in the book to of the brothers dare each other to lick the mirror on their car, the big brown, and one of the brothers gets his tongue stuck to the mirror. This book takes place in Flint, Michigan just like most of Christopher Paul Curtis' books and it also takes place down south in Birmingham, Alabama. Also the oldest brother, Byron, is a bad boy and bullies his little brother, Kenny. This is the kind of book that will have you laughing in public as if you were watching it in a movie. Also this book is very sad and serious and involves the church bombing in Birmingham. Well thats all I have read so far and I am still reading this book and will soon finish it. ( )

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 is a realistic historical fiction account of the Watson family -- Momma, Dad, Kenny, Joetta, and Bryon. The first person account is through the eyes of 10-year-old Kenny. Joetta is his younger sister, and Byron, his 13-year-old "juvenile delinquent" brother. The story recounts the day-to-day happenings of this tough, but loving family in their equally tough Flint, Michigan neighborhood. Byron's constant trouble-making activities prompt a trip south so that he may spend the summer under the reforming hand of his strict grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. While in Birmingham, the Watsons witness the bombing of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church and must come to terms with its impact upon their family.

Review:
The Watsons Go To Birmingham is a Newbery and Coretta Scott King award winner with a 10-year old protagonist that children will relate to. Kenny has a loving family and problems that are still familiar today - a lazy eye, the unwanted attention of the school bully, poverty typical to his neighborhood, and a roller coaster relationship with his older brother, Byron. Although the Watsons witness the 1963 bombing of the Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, and the facts concerning the bombing are accurate, the historical aspect of the tale takes a back seat to the fictional story of the Watson family.

The harsh life of the Watsons is evident in the details of their daily lives. Although poor, Momma makes sure that each of the children have two new pairs of gloves each winter for the frigid Michigan weather. Kenny shares his lunch and his extra pair of gloves with a new friend who can afford neither, but then his gloves are stolen. Byron, 13, forcefully retrieves the gloves from a school bully and offers Kenny the chance to get even. When Kenny declines Byron's invitation, Byron punches Kenny instead of the bully. Kenny's relationship with his older brother is a major focus of the story. Bryon is at times tender; at times cruel. Kenny's younger sister, Joetta is obedient and protective of her brothers. Momma and Dad are loving, but firm.

Most of the story is set in Flint. The family travels to Birmingham to take Byron to stay with his Southern grandmother, where Momma and Dad hope he will break away from his "juvenile delinquent" friends and learn respect. The Watsons journey to Birmingham in the "Brown Bomber," accompanied by the sounds of the "True-Tone AB-700 Ultra Glide", the latest technology - a dashboard mounted record player! The Ultra Glide, the frequent use of the word Negro, references to "The Untouchables" and "Felix the Cat, and the $1.23 price for groceries at the local market, help to firmly set the story in 1963.

Although the Birmingham events occupy just the last sixty pages of the book, the contrast between the North and the South is a focal point of the story. In Flint, the only inkling of racism is a teacher's reminder that "..as Negroes the world is many times a hostile place for us." As the Watsons travel south, the reader feels the danger growing. Mrs. Watson carefully plots the three-day trip, making sure that they stop in locations known as friendly to Negroes. Mr. Watson is not as confident of a friendly welcome, and instead chooses to drive straight through. When they make a rest stop in Appalachia, Kenny is at first afraid of encountering a snake in the dark, but Byron tells him that snakes are the least of his worries. "Man, they got crackers and rednecks up here that ain't never seen no Negroes before. .....they'd hang you now, then eat you later." The reader can feel the fear of being a Negro in the South of 1963.

Once in Birmingham, fiction, fact, and fantasy are combined as Joette goes off to Sunday school at the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with her relatives. Kenny remains at the house, exhausted from his near-drowning in a "whirlpool" a day earlier. The family hears the blast and races to the church. Kenny follows and discovers a shiny, little shoe in the church and believes that his sister has perished, killed by the devilish "Wool Pooh" of his imagination. Miraculously, his sister is found alive and insists that Kenny saved her, waving to her and luring her away from the church before the bomb blast.

The family travels together back to Flint and struggles to regain normalcy. Byron and Kenny undergo changes as Kenny suffers post-traumatic stress, and Byron helps him overcome it. Eventually, the Watson family rises above the experience of racism and violence in the same way that they overcome all difficulties - with love, pride and determination.

An Epilogue offers the reader a short, factual account of the Civil Rights struggle, and a challenge to continue the quest for freedom.

Christopher Paul Curtis grew up in Flint, Michigan in the same era as the fictional Watsons, making his setting authentic and believable. The addition of the Birmingham church bombing makes this a historical fiction story, but the true purpose of this factual event to the story is to underscore the far-reaching effects of racism and injustice. The fundamental theme of the book is the strength and power of family to overcome adversity. ( )

A great story of a family's decision to try to do something drastic to set their delinquent son straight. Lots of humor, told from a child's point of view. Family bonds, historical tragedy, sweltering heat, bitter cold, funny anecdotes, life lessons. This book has something for everyone. It still remains a very pertinent read today. ( )

Fun at first but then,

the horror of the church bomb.

Touching, moving, real. ( )