The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

By Christopher Paul Curtis

Bantam Doubleday Dell

Copyright1995

pp.210

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

Required

    This is a wonderful historical fiction novel about a family’s trials and their trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham in 1963. The book’s narrator is ten year old, Kenny. Kenny’s older brother, Bryon, an “official juvenile delinquent”, has just turned thirteen and is having many typical teenage rebellion issues. Kenny is somewhat of a misfit with his lazy eye and love of reading. His mother, father, and younger sister, Joetta, make up the rest of the weird Watsons, as Kenny called his family.

     The book deals with many themes such as bullying, friendship, family, respect, and prejudice. I feel upper elementary and middle school students can relate to many of these universal themes. At the start of the book Kenny has to deal with bullying because he is different. When he meets a new kid, who is an outsider being bullied, he must deal with his own emotions of what is “cool” or “uncool”. Should he follow the crowd or stand up for what he believes is right?

     After Bryon pushes his parents last button, they decide he needs to learn some life lessons and spend the summer with his grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Watson want their children to respect their heritage and realize the responsibility that goes along with that heritage.

      I thought this was a truly engaging book and I loved the author’s sense of humor throughout the book. It reminded me of the television show Everybody Hates Chris, which my children often watch. As an adult I could connect with the mother as she carefully planned the family trip to Birmingham, then her husband would not follow her directions. A typical occurrence within my household. I would definitely included this book in my classroom library.