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Description
Enter the hilarious world of 10-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who's 13 and an "official juvenile delinquent." When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the... read more
Summary
"The Watsons Go to Birmingham" follows the Watson family: The mother, father, little sister 'Joetta', the big brother 'Byron', and 'Kenny', who is the narrator. The family lives in Flint, Michigan which causes some problems, mainly concerning the cold winters. Because Mrs. Watson is from the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Kenny Watson: the protagonist of the story. He is ten years old, and he has a lazy eye that refuses to respond to treatment. He is highly intelligent and suffers a lot of harassment from classmates because of it. He feels uncomfortable at home too, because he is the middle child.
- Byron (nickname is By): The brother of Kenny and Joetta. He is a vain, rude boy, but has a soft side.
- Wilona: is Byron, Kenny, and Joey's mother and Daniel's wife. Her home city is Birmingham, Alabama, so she has a southern accent (her accent gets thicker whenever she's mad). She speaks in a snake voice and goes nearly insane if she has reached to that anger point. Whenever she is going to laugh she always covers her mouth with her hand, because she has a large gap in her front teeth. She is a strict mother and only wants the best for her kids, though when Byron gets into trouble, she does whatever it takes to make him understand that he must become mature. She hates the word "ain't."
- Kenny Watson: the protagonist of the story. He is ten years old, and he has a lazy eye that refuses to respond to treatment. He is highly intelligent and suffers a lot of harassment from classmates because of it. He feels uncomfortable at home too, because he is the middle child.
- Joetta (Joey): She is the sister of Byron and Kenny. She is a well-mannered young girl. Joetta is known to cry whenever her brother, Byron, gets in to trouble, which unfortunately is most of the time.Joey, is very attached to her brother Byron although the book does not make it clear why. She is extremely gullible when Byron tricks her, and because Byron is a prankster this is quite often. Although her bond is strong with Byron she is very loyal to all her family. She makes sure to pray everyday. She enjoys to get her hair done by her mother.
- Daniel: The father of Joetta, Byron, and Kenny and the husband of Wilona. Daniel is "the fun parent," but he can be strict when he wants to. He hates the fact that his wife Wilona always blames him for the fact Michigan is so cold. His hometown is Flint, Michigan. The father is upset with Byron's behavior, just like Wilona. He doesn't like Grandma Sands very much. He also makes fun of Moses Henderson because of his face and that he almost married Wilona.
- Grandma Sands: The grandmother of Kenny, Byron, and Joey. Byron described her as a troll. She is very strict, but loving. Her Southern accent is much worse than Wilona's.
- Mr. Roberts: Grandma Sands' dearest friend who is strongly disliked by Wilona.
- Buphead: Just like Byron. Buphead and Byron have done mean things to Kenny. Like when Buphead and Byron taught Kenny how to survive a blizzard, they spat snow in Kenny's face. Buphead has a library full of bad magazines. Buphead always did bad things with Byron, such as beating up kids or making fun of how they talk or dress. He also gave Byron a perm.
- Rufus Fry: a new kid at Clark Elementary who has a little brother, Cody. Rufus has a farm-boy type accent. In the beginning of this book you can't tell they are poor, and the book doesn't directly say it, but you can infer they are poor, like the way they share the same shirt. Throughout the book, Kenny tries not to be their friends because it will make him "uncool," and also be made fun of. Even though deep down inside Kenny actually likes them. Kenny felt so bad for them, so he shared his lunch with him. Rufus eventually becomes Kenny's best friend.
- Cody Fry: Rufus's little brother, and looks like a shrunken version of Rufus.
First Sentence
It was one of those super-duper-cold Saturdays.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
- Christopher Paul Curtis (Author)
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