The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 (1995) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Kenneth (Kenny) Watson: He is 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 (By): He is the brother of Kenny and Joetta and an "official juvenile delinquent". He tries to act cool during his teen years, but we see his soft side a few times in the story.
• 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.
• Wilona: She 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 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.
• Daniel: He is 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. He is upset with Byron's behavior, just like 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.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Flint, MI: The family's city of residence where Daniel grew up and Wilona calls "a giant ice box"
• Birmingham, AL: Home of Grandma Sands, where Wilona grew up

First Sentence edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Hostile: unfriendly, tense, and angry
• swoon: faint
• enhance: to make better
• emulate: imitate
• radioactive: lots of energy; particels from atomic nuclei
• dispersal: breakup and scatter around

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Racism and Prejudice: Describe this theme.
• Family Life
• Civil Rights Movement
• Acceptance
• Overcoming Obstacles

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Christopher Paul Curtis (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Newbery Honor Book (1996)
• Coretta Scott King Book Award (1996: Author, Honor)
• An ALA Notable Book
• An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• The New York Times Book Review Best Book
• Jane Addams Children's Book Award (Finalist, 1996)
• Golden Kite Award (1996: Fiction)
• A Horn Book Fanfare

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Grade/Reading Level: 5.5 Interest Level: Grades 6-8

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Social Issues › Prejudice & Racism › Fiction
• Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Family Life › Multigenerational › Fiction
• Books › Children's Books › Authors & Illustrators, A-Z › ( C ) › Curtis, Christopher Paul
• Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Multicultural Stories › African-American
• Books › Children's Books › Literature
• Books › Teens › Social Issues

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Use with students - The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963: Literature Focus Unit: This comprehensive unit includes a list of themes, goals, objectives, background knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension strategies, graphic organizers, discussion questions, reading and writing activities, poetry, differentiated instruction, assessments, and references.

More Books Like This edit see section history