▶▶▶ Check Out The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Review

A vividly drawn, probably autobiographical, portrayal of a northern black family that takes a fateful trip to Alabama. The Watsons of Flint, Michigan are a stable working class family. The central character, nerdy, sweet Kenny, is the middle child of three. He's ten, likes to read, and has a "lazy eye." His older brother Byron has delinquent tendencies, and his younger sister Joetta loves everybody. The pace is leisurely, with Kenny as narrator. His daily trials are gently enumerated: Byron torments him; other kids steal his toys and tease him about his eye. But Kenny learns from his loving parents to cope with these and other problems.

The book picks up pace when the family plans a summer trip to Birmingham in their beloved 15-year-old "Brown Bomber." Kenny's father has tricked out the car with the latest gadgets, including an "Ultra Glide" record player mounted on the dash. The scene in which the family first tries the Ultra Glide is among the book's highlights: though they have a record player inside the house, all five sit for two hours in the stationary vehicle, taking turns playing their favorites (Kenny requests the Coasters' "Yakety Yak" every single time).

Their stay in Birmingham, Mrs. Watson's hometown, goes from interesting to traumatic when little Joetta appears to have been killed in a church bombing. Here the author takes the story to a higher plane as he connects the Watson's experiences with a terrible piece of US history. The book is, in fact, dedicated to four black girls who perished in one of the many racially linked bombings of the 1960s. The story would make a terrific film. The dialogue is pitch-perfect, apart from the author's careless overuse of the word "slob," by which he means the noun "slobber" or "drool." The word appears about a dozen times; it draws attention to itself and away from the story.

Appropriate for middle school and up, especially those studying the Civil Rights era. Kenny's episode of post-traumatic reaction after he touches a body at the bomb site will offer an opportunity to discuss how people deal with tragedy and shock.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Overview

Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, Kenny, and Byron, Kenny's older brother, who, at thirteen, is an "official juvenile delinquent."

When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. Heading South, they're going to Birmingham, Alabama, and toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.

By turns comic, tragic, and touching, this remarkable Newbery Honor work, delightfully performed by LeVar Burton in this unabridged production, will delight listeners young and old as they meet Christopher Paul Curtis, a storyteller of bold ambition and a true and original voice and his inimitable Watsons.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Specifications

The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or steal change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother. Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint, Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in America's history: the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside.

Christopher Paul Curtis's alternately hilarious and deeply moving novel, winner of the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Honor, blends the fictional account of an African American family with the factual events of the violent summer of 1963. Fourth grader Kenny is an innocent and sincere narrator; his ingenuousness lends authenticity to the story and invites readers of all ages into his world, even as it changes before his eyes. Curtis is also the acclaimed author of Bud, Not Buddy, winner of the Newbery Medal. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Customer Reviews

Civil War.... - Melissa Hernandez - El Paso, Texas
A great book to read about a sweet family with a little introduction to what was going on during the war.

The Watson's are a likeable family - L. Matheny - Cuy Falls, OH
This book had humor, likeable characters, a story line that everyone can find a connection to. It touched on brotherhood, bullies, teasing, friendship, and an old southern strict granny living in Birmingham. The book includes in story line, the racial church bombing and how it affected the Watson family who was visiting in Birminham at the time it happend.

CGE student review - Sharon Windsor - Palm City, Florida
Christopher Paul Curtis is the master-mind behind the book The Watsons Go To Burmingham 1963. His writing styles in this book are most interesting,not the least bit boring! Each chapter leaves you wondering about the next. He adds in amazing details you think you would have never thought of yourself. Every reader immediately can tell that Mr.Curtis puts an amazing amount of thought into his characters. The Weird Watsons wacky ways will leave you laughing. Mr.Curtis also includes some hilarious titles such as "Every Chihuahua in America wants to Take a Bite Out of Byron." Even if the book didn't tell you which character was using dialogue you would know who right away. I'm not a critic but I give this author five stars! His writing style is 100% perfect!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 06, 2010 13:01:05

Children's Books

Monday, September 6, 2010