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Description edit see section history

Genre: Historical Multi-Cultural Fiction

Curtis, C.P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham- 1963. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

Summary edit see section history

Synopsis/Annotation

Enter the world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons head South to Birmingham, Alabama...toward one of... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Synopsis/Annotation

Enter the world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons head South to Birmingham, Alabama...toward one of the darkest moments in America's history. A hilarious, touching, and tragic novel about civil rights and the impact of violence on one African American family.


http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/watsons-go-birmingham-1963

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.
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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

It was one of those super-duper-cold Saturdays.

Glossary edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Newbery Honor Roll. (community list)
This book is in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Christopher Paul Curtis (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1995
ISBN: 0385321759
Page Count: 224

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

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

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
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  • Sounder
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • The Giver
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  • Out of the Dust
  • Maniac Magee
  • Meet Felicity

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