The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 (edit title)

Shelfari edited the summary of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 4 weeks ago.

• "The"The Watsons Go to Birmingham"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 south, she insists on her children being warm and bundles them up. When Joetta complains, Byron secretly convinces her that if she goes out without all of her coats and things on, she will be eaten by the garbage trucks that come in the morning and pick up the bodies of the frozen southern folks.

  The main problem that the family faces is Byron, who is a juvenile delinquent. He has failed a few grades, and throughout the course of the book, Byron bullies his younger brother Kenny. Byron gets styled hair causing his dad to shave it off, kills a bird, and beats up the younger kids of his school. Unable to figure out a way to control him the parents decide to take the family on a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit their Grandma Sands and put him in her care for at least a summer.

  Once the family arrive at Birmingham, Byron takes a noticeable turn for the better. Kenny, however, assumes his role, swimming in a dangerous pond after being warned not to. Suddenly, Kenny is caught by the whirlpool, but sees it as a monster named Wool Pooh (Byron's made up man-eating fish). Byron saves Kenny, and several days later, a bomb is dropped on the church in Birmingham where Joetta was attending Sunday school. Kenny sees the Wool Pooh in the smoldering remains of the church and, even when he sees Joey, believes she is a ghost.

  The experience changes Kenny, and he stumbles into depression, living behind the couch for two months. Eventually, Byron shakes him out of it, telling Kenny that there is no Wool Pooh, and that a part of Kenny must have lead Joey away from the church before the bomb exploded. The novel ends with Byron sticking up for his little brother, and Kenny resolving to live life once again.

Timothy Gray approved Andrew Powell’s request to combine 16 books, including The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, 4 weeks ago.

Andrew Powell submitted a request to combine 16 books, including The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, 4 weeks ago.

Andrew Powell edited the language of an edition set of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, November 27 2009.

• The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 (Newbery Honor Book)
• and 27 more...

Andrew Powell edited the awards of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Wednesday, November 25 2009.

• Added an award: Newbery Medal
• Added an award: Coretta Scott King Award

Peace S edited the characters of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, September 18 2009.

• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Joetta (Joey) as not a spoiler
• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Daniel as not a spoiler
• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Grandma Sands as not a spoiler
• Added the description of Mr. Roberts: Grandma Sands' dearest friend who is strongly disliked by Wilona.
• marked the description of Mr. Roberts as not a spoiler
• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Buphead as not a spoiler
• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Rufus Fry as not a spoiler
• Added the description of Cody Fry: Rufus's little brother, and looks like a shrunken version of Rufus.
• marked the description of Cody Fry as not a spoiler

Peace S edited the characters of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, September 18 2009.

• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Kenny Watson as not a spoiler
• Added the description of Byron (nickname is By): The brother of Kenny and Joetta. He is a vain, rude boy, but has a soft side.
• marked the description of Byron (nickname is By) as not a spoiler
• Added the description of 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."
• marked the description of Wilona as not a spoiler

Peace S edited the characters of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, September 18 2009.

• Changed the section title: Cast of Characters/Important People
• Added the description of 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.
• marked the description of Kenny Watson as not a spoiler

Jamie L edited the summary of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, August 28 2009.

• "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 south, she insists on her children being warm and bundles them up. When Joetta complains, Byron secretly convinces her that if she goes out without all of her coats and things on, she will be eaten by the garbage trucks that come in the morning and pick up the bodies of the frozen southern folks.

  The main problem that the family faces is Byron, who is a juvenile delinquent. He has failed a few grades, and throughout the course of the book, Byron bullies his younger brother Kenny. Byron gets styled hair causing his dad to shave it off, kills a bird, and beats up the younger kids of his school. Unable to figure out a way to control him the parents decide to take the family on a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit their Grandma Sands and put him in her care for at least a summer.

  Once the family arrive at Birmingham, Byron takes a noticeable turn for the better. Kenny, however, assumes his role, swimming in a dangerous pond after being warned not to. Suddenly, Kenny is caught by the whirlpool, but sees it as a monster named Wool Pooh (Byron's made up man-eating fish). Byron saves Kenny, and several days later, a bomb is dropped on the church in Birmingham where Joetta was attending Sunday school. Kenny sees the Wool Pooh in the smoldering remains of the church and, even when he sees Joey, believes she is a ghost.

  The experience changes Kenny, and he stumbles into depression, living behind the couch for two months. Eventually, Byron shakes him out of it, telling Kenny that there is no Wool Pooh, and that a part of Kenny must have lead Joey away from the church before the bomb exploded. The novel ends with Byron sticking up for his little brother, and Kenny resolving to live life once again.

Shelfari edited the description of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Friday, July 31 2009.

• 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 amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They're heading South. They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.