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The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 | 
 enlarge | Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Category: Book
Buy New: $6.99
New (38) Used (26) Collectible (2) from $2.55
Rating:  637 reviews
Sales Rank: 2879
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 044022800X
EAN: 9780440228004
ASIN: 044022800X
Publication Date: December 12, 2000
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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Amazon.com Review
The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or steal change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother. Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint, Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in America's history: the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside. Christopher Paul Curtis's alternately hilarious and deeply moving novel, winner of the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Honor, blends the fictional account of an African American family with the factual events of the violent summer of 1963. Fourth grader Kenny is an innocent and sincere narrator; his ingenuousness lends authenticity to the story and invites readers of all ages into his world, even as it changes before his eyes. Curtis is also the acclaimed author of Bud, Not Buddy, winner of the Newbery Medal. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter
Product Description
A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the WeirdWatsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble,they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, theone person who can shape him up. And they happen tobe in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blownup.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 632 more reviews...
 Can't see what everyone is talking about January 3, 2009
I have had a difficult time finding very many of the episodes funny unless you had grown up in the 1960s. If you were born in the 80s-90s I think most of the humor would be lost, because it needs the cultural/historical background to be understood. I found the book zenophobic (negative remarks about Chinese and people from the south) and it also seemed to glorify bullying. I think there are far better books out there that deal with the issue of racism than ones that include such negative subtexts.
I have read a lot of juvenile fiction and this is one of the slowest paced books I have ever read. I think the only things that young readers might be interested in would be the bullying scenes. It takes a long time for the novel to move into the interesting plot line and there are several unexplained gaps in the end that leave the reader confused. I had to read this book as part of my job, but I really wanted it to end. Sorry, just being honest.
 The Watsons Go to Birmingham December 14, 2008
My daughter needed this book to do book report.
And the last time I need a book for her. I got it form Hasting. And it took 2 weeks. So I tired Amazon. Founf this book her. Went had it in 4 days. It looks like new book. Thank you.
Read at your own risk.... December 8, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I can tell you straight off that I would NEVER waste my money on this book! I am an 8th grader at a public middle school, and my class has just (finally) finished this book after reading it and breaking it down for two months. I have always enjoyed reading and literature, but found reading this entirely tedious! I can also guarantee that every single other in my class would agree with me 100%.
The book is basically about an African American family in Michigan. They end up traveling to Birmingham, Alabama (for a very short period of time), where a family disaster of sorts occurs. They then return home, ending the book. My concern is not necessarily with this part of the book, as it is with the first 150 (out of 210) filled with completely meaningless and irrelative stories. They include chapters about Dinosaur Wars (plastic dinos), Movie-making in the toilet, and lazy eyes and brainiacs. While these supposedly "witty" tales may be enjoyable to a second grader, but anyone above that level has better things to do. Trust me. I'd also like to add that the characters only make the story worse. If you are interested in a book of Country-talking southerners, bad comedians, whiners, dumb 10 year olds, and a barely bully, pick this book up today! In summary, this book drags on for what seems like years, and I would NOT recommend it to anyone with any taste.
The book has few "good" parts, and I found it hard to laugh at what is supposedly a comedy! The jokes (the few that were included) were either: a) so ridiculously simple, they weren't worth printing, or b) not funny enough to even realize they were supposed to be funny in the first place. The plot was very dull and barely recognizable. A torturous read.
 Surprise! November 16, 2008
SO much better than I expected! The dialogue flowed very well and the characters were all highly realistic. There were some nitpicky things I disliked, though. I think the title was misleading, since they didn't actually go to Birmingham until very late in the story, and to me, it's not the biggest part of the story. (Maybe it should have just been titled 'The Watsons'? Their familial bonds are what the story is about to me.) Another thing that bothered me was the first page, too many similes and metaphors. This is not continued in the rest of the book, and is also doesn't sound like a ten year old child speaking at all. I did love the chapter titles, though. They were very conversational and informal, exactly what you'd expect from a ten year old like Kenny. The plot was great, until the ending. That was the most abrupt ending I've ever had to read. The story was flowing so well, and then, poof, you never actually find out what happens to Byron and the rest of the Watsons. Kind of a disappointment, which is why I'm only rating the story 4/5.
The Watsons Go Birmingham November 4, 2008
The Watsons go to Birmingham
The Watsons go to Birmingham is about a family that moves to Michigan from Alabama. Its 7 below zero there and they are mad at the dad for making them move there because its 70 where they used to live.
I would suggest this book for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders for racial comments, cursing, and the reading level. This author really lived through this story and it was pretty much true. This is when people judged people by there color.
You should read this book for more info. It's worth your time to read about your history.
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