The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 (Newbery Honor Book)

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The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 (Newbery Honor Book)

by Christopher Paul Curtis

3.93 · rating details · 9,569 ratings · 1,183 reviews

A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up.

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published September 1st 1995 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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Jan 26, 2009

Andrea rated it

· review of another edition

I stayed up super late finishing The Watsons Go to Brimingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t tell you how artful I thought it was… well, let me try.

First, I have a big problem with history (so much so that it is truly embarrassing) and I always have had this problem —I need to know the people and stories behind the events to remember anything. I also have a big problem with reading historical fiction. It often seems so “fixed”—--"...moreI stayed up super late finishing The Watsons Go to Brimingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t tell you how artful I thought it was… well, let me try.

First, I have a big problem with history (so much so that it is truly embarrassing) and I always have had this problem —I need to know the people and stories behind the events to remember anything. I also have a big problem with reading historical fiction. It often seems so “fixed”—--"Tell some story around the facts you want to present!" I want to read a story that is a story before it is about any time period or historical events. I have to get to know history from the inside out, and that is just what this great book allows me to do—through all my own strengths: feelings, nuances, humor, imagination….through story. I will never forget these characters. They are people I know. Character development is paramount in this book. It is their growth that pulls the story along, not events. Best of all, it is an enjoyable ride.

I am not quite sure how Curtis crafted such a lovely book. It is in his storytelling. I don’t doubt for a moment any word on any page. I was especially touched by the ideas that could have only come from some childhood somewhere because they were, so oddly, kid. So many of his ideas must have come from some childhood he did know intimately. They seem impossible to make up because they are so perfectly how children’s minds work, like the Watson’s pet hospital behind the couch. Some kids must have invented that idea! Did Curtis really create these ideas?! Also, the idea of the Wool Pooh. That is just how a kid interprets (or misinterprets) things…and how it becomes a real entity in his mind. The way Kenny plays with his friends with the dinosaurs and they talk about the “radioactiveness” and the looking sideways at things so his lazy eye looked straight. All these little things that TELL the story, and tell the characters, and make it so real.

The big question is: How can what he writes ring so true to me, someone who has known no life such as this. That is his everyman secret. Curtis just tells his story; he disappears and the characters lead you through by the hand. It is seamless. You never doubt for a moment, or “come out of it” and become self-aware that you are just reading a book… or wonder “why?” or ask if that sounds realistic. Curtis never “narrates.” His voice is one with the story. You never hear him. We experience for ourselves each character’s emotional struggles by being in the story ourselves. I was so involved with every thought Kenny had, they were my own thoughts. He doesn’t tell us Kenny was depressed…Kenny doesn’t know what he, himself, is feeling! We just feel it sink into us. You just absorb this book. In this way, this book is almost like a poem, or a ballad, or a song. You have to just experience it. You have to experience their family life. And if you never had a family before, this book would show you what family is (—that abstract part you can’t put your finger on)…just by how it feels. Sure it is rough, sure it is messy, but each character is imperfectly perfect, and… it is what it is.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 is immediately one of my all-time favorite books now. And for all those reasons that are hard to define in words. I like that it has no feeling of tidiness, of preconceieved ideas of how to tell a story, with no real beginning or end of a story. You just enter into it as the Watsons are living their lives. It has no clean little moral or happy ever after or lesson learned, or plotted-out literary devices and tie-up-the-loose-ends conclusion. That is how a real story is. That is how life is. We just enter it, and it unfolds. That is part of the fluidity of this book. The seamless, unselfconscious telling of a story that just tells itself. Simply, it is artful.

The book fits the (vague) Newberry criteria just fine; it fits the Coretta Scottt King criteria exceptionally well. The book does indeed help the reader to question and understand his own attitudes as a citizen of a pluralistic society, and includes well drawn characters that portray growth.

Thank you, Christopher Paul Curtis.
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Apr 02, 2010

CLM rated it

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Recommended to CLM by: Elizabeth Bird

Shelves: childrensbooks, historicalfiction, 20th-century

Although not a book I would have picked up as a child except as a school assignment, I enjoyed this story of a black family in 60s Michigan, driving to visit relatives in Birmingham, Alabama just before the infamous bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The parents were as well drawn as narrator Kenny and his siblings, and I cared about what would happen to them when they reached the deep South (I feared the worst, knowing as an adult what the year was, which I might not have known as...more

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Jul 13, 2007

Stephanie Brown rated it

· review of another edition

The plot is simple: 10-year-old Kenny (the narrator) has a loving family: a mom and dad, a little sister (Joetta), and a big, tough brother (Byron). Byron starts getting into typical teenage trouble. Kenny's parents decide to take the family on a road trip to visit grandmom in Alabama. They figure she can straighten Byron out with some old-school discipline.

During the family's visit, a church is bombed and 4 little girls are killed (taken from the historical Sixteenth Street Baptist...more

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Mar 14, 2009

Karrie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: award-winning-books, newbery-winner, reluctant-readers, middle-school-books, humorous

I'm going to date myself here -- I was 3 when the The Watsons went to Birmingham in 1963. Our country was in a state of transition and chaos between the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. I learned quite a bit from this wonderful book about this time, and it was from a different perspective than my own circumstances. Blacks were subject to prejudice, President Kennedy was assassinated in November, and people were protesting the war. Hippies were finding peace and love on communes and...moreI'm going to date myself here -- I was 3 when the The Watsons went to Birmingham in 1963. Our country was in a state of transition and chaos between the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. I learned quite a bit from this wonderful book about this time, and it was from a different perspective than my own circumstances. Blacks were subject to prejudice, President Kennedy was assassinated in November, and people were protesting the war. Hippies were finding peace and love on communes and at concerts, but there was unrest all over the rest of the country.

The Watson Family, a Black family living a normal life in Flint, MI, were beginning to feel the affects of the Civil Rights movement. The narrator of the story, Kenny had an older brother, Bryon, who was in trouble all the time, and his sister, Jo, was trying desperately to protect Byron from the wrath of her parents. This is a wonderful story about a loving family, living in a world of chaos. They are good people and they want what's best for their children. The story is told from the perspective of Kenny, the middle child.

Despite the drama surrounding the Watson family and the country at large, the story of this family is heart-warming and funny. The two brothers spar with one another, get into trouble together and find moments when they get along. Without revealing too much of this delightful book, I will say that I highly recommend it. I laughed out loud and felt tears sting my eyes at different places in the book. This book tells the story of a family trying to live a peaceful and happy life, all the while surrounded by changing times and intolerance towards Black people.

The family travels from Flint to Birmingham in the hope of depositing Bryon with his maternal grandmother so she can straighten out his bad-boy behavior. They believe that life is less dangerous there, only to find out that danger is all around them and family is precious.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham -- 1965 has won as many at least 13 literary awards (http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/displ...), all with varying criteria. I am not surprised -- this was a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and captivating book.

I highly recommend this book as a historical fiction book. Even if kids don't need to read it for a book report, this story will survive the test of time and will be around for generations. Don't miss this book!

Original Musings about this book:
Actually, I'm listening to this on my to and from work, and am thoroughly entertained by it. Perhaps it's the reader (Lavar Burton) who is so amusing because the story isn't silly or even light-hearted so far. It's a very realistic portrayal of a young boy and his family, living in Flint, MI. I look forward to the drive each day just so I can listen to Kenny's story.(less)

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Jul 12, 2007

Monica rated it

· review of another edition

I would highly recommend this book to students and adults alike. This book was above all, a very funny read. The summary of the novel does not prepare you for the fact that about 60% of the book takes place before the family even leaves to go on the road trip to Birmingham. While there is no shortage of funny situations, the majority of the book is just that—recounting the funny things that go on between siblings and parents within a family—situations that do not always fit clearly into the p...more

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Jan 26, 2009

sMarty rated it

· review of another edition

I am reading this book for my English class, and I have found the book to be amusing at points, but annoying at others. This book is supposed to be humorous, but most of the time just doesn't do its job with that. The book loves to use the phrase "You might as well tie him/her up to a tree and say ready aim fire" way too much besides these parts the book does have a pretty good story line, and gets interesting when they head to Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 where there are a lot of rac...more

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May 29, 2011

Adam Wilson rated it

· review of another edition

This is the only other novel I have read by Curtis and I enjoyed it even more than Bud, Not Buddy. I did not have to read this one in school so I had to track it down myself. I remember listening to the audio version at age eleven or twelve and loving the Watsons and all of their random adventures. The first incident, the one where the elder brother gets his lips stuck to a car mirror in winter because he was kissing his reflection, is one of my favorite moments in fiction so far. The brothers t...more

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Sep 17, 2008

Stephanie Jeanneret rated it

· review of another edition

Genre: historical fiction
Grades: 3-6

This is a book about a family that lives in Michigan; their mother is use to being in Alabama where it is warm. There are two boys and a girl. The oldest boy, Byron is a troublemaker, he is always doing something to get in trouble, not only at home but also at school. The little sister Joetta always stands up for Byron not wanting him to get in trouble. Kenneth the middle child also gets picked on Byron, at home and at school. Kenneth is the...more

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Feb 17, 2011

Jalison lambarria rated it

· review of another edition

This book is a very funny book because in the part were I am reading right now the big brother got his lips stuck on to a mirror. I can make a text-to-self connection that I have got stuck on to a mirror before but i didn't get my lips stuck I got my tongue to it. I can predict that in the title it say "The Watsons go to Birmingham" that they might go to Birmingham because it warmer there.

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Nov 29, 2008

Anna rated it

· review of another edition

This is probably my favorite book of all time. It had every element that I love in a book. It was hilarious with great descriptions, and at the same time it was powerful and thoughtful.

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Jan 22, 2009

Alek rated it

· review of another edition

We read this book in our eighth grade ELA class with Mrs. Castillo. At first I was kind of 'eh' about the book but as we read it, I found that I was wrong and that the book was really good! The way the humor ties into the book is so real as well as the racism and struggles of an African American family. This book is really great and I recommend it to everyone who likes to know a bit about history with a touch of fiction tied into it. I really like the book and it's just a really great read and I...more

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Jan 22, 2009

Patty.soto57 rated it

· review of another edition

Name: Patty Soto School: Tywls

Title of Book: The Watson Go to Birmingham-1968
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Independent Reading Book
Who was the author of this book? Tell me about her/him? Christopher Paul Curtis was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. After completing high school, he spent the next thirteen years working at Flint's historic Fisher Body Plant on the assembly line. Curtis began keeping a journal while at work t...moreName: Patty Soto School: Tywls

Title of Book: The Watson Go to Birmingham-1968
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Independent Reading Book
Who was the author of this book? Tell me about her/him? Christopher Paul Curtis was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. After completing high school, he spent the next thirteen years working at Flint's historic Fisher Body Plant on the assembly line. Curtis began keeping a journal while at work to record specific events during the day. While working, he began drafting The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. A lot of the story parts and situations came from direct experience with his job.

What is the book about? Give a Summary?
They're called Weird Watsons, and sometimes Kenny, Joetta, and delinquent big brother Byron, deserve the name, like when Byron gets his lips frozen to a car mirror while he's practicing kissing. But when they visit Grandma Sands in Birmingham, they head into a nightmare. At first hilarious, but by the end devastatingly powerful, Curtis's first novel packs a terrific punch. Ten-year-old Kenny introduces readers to his family; his parents, little sister Joetta, and tough, cool, delinquent-wannabe Byron. When Byron's antics escalate, though they are mild by today's standards, his parents decide he needs a dose of the iron hand of Grandma Sands. So they load up the car and head off to Birmingham for the summer. Humorous incidents abound, but when the Watsons arrive in Alabama, they find themselves caught up in something far more serious than dealing with a mildly delinquent adolescent. Racists bomb Grandma Sand's church, and Kenny's little sister is feared dead. Kenny, who witnessed what happened, sinks into depression and believes that only magic, can heal him. But when his parents don't know how to help him, he finds comfort in the words of the person he least expected.

Who should read this book? Why?
Anyone should this book. It’s a good read and people would really enjoy it. It’s a awesome read and just spending some time reading it would make you keep reading it. You would be hooked on it and continue reading. It has its ups and downs and I really enjoyed reading this book. This book is based on the life of a black family in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. The book is narrated by one of the young family members, Kenny.
What was your reaction to the book?
My reaction of reading the story was funny and shocking. Some parts in the story are funny, I mean funny like you be laughing yourself while reading. Kind of creepy people would say. I felt like this because I couldn't believe when Byron gets his lips frozen to a car mirror. That was funny and I kept reading and I found out he put his lips on the car because he was practicing kissing.

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Jan 27, 2012

Julie Esanu rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, discrimination, prejudice, family, newbery, csk-award

The endearing story of the Watsons—an African American family living in Flint Hill, Michigan, in 1963. The episodic format of this book is narrated by Kenny, the middle child, who introduces his family in a variety of vignettes from his brother’s intimate experience with a side-view mirror to meeting his best friend Rufus to his father’s purchase of an Ultra-glide, a record player for the car. After Byron disobeys his parents one too many times, the family embarks on a road trip to visit their g...more

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Jan 15, 2012

Scott Volz rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: grades-6-8, historical-fiction, humor, coming-of-age, ya-novel

An often-humorous depiction of the neighborhood and family life of the Watsons, a black family living in Flint, Michigan, in the early 60s. The novel is comprised of related vignettes recounting the colorful exploits of narrator Kenny, his siblings (troublemaker older brother Byron and younger sister Joetta), his parents, and a cast of characters encountered around the neighborhood and in the family's trip to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit Grandma Sands--with whom Byron is to spend the summer so ...more

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Dec 11, 2011

Tonya Branch rated it

· review of another edition

Historical Fiction

This book is set in 1963 in Flint Michigan. Kenny, his older brother Byron, and his younger sister Joetta are the main characters along with their mom and dad. Kenny is the middle child who struggles with his own issues. His five year old sister Joetta seems to be the prize child, who does the right thing and his older brother is the reason the entire book happens. In Flint, Byron is “hanging with the wrong crowd” and getting himself into trouble. His parents dec...more

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Nov 28, 2011

Katelyn rated it

· review of another edition

1. Historical Fiction

2. Kenny Watson, a ten year old, tells the story of his family trip to Birmingham, Alabama, where his grandmother lives. The Watson family decided to take a trip after Byron, Kenny’s brother, gets into a bit of trouble. The family faces some hard times, and the trip brings them closer then ever.

3. A- This is a wonderful book that reveals the harsh reality for young black children during the civil rights movement. Students can gain a sense of what ...more1. Historical Fiction

2. Kenny Watson, a ten year old, tells the story of his family trip to Birmingham, Alabama, where his grandmother lives. The Watson family decided to take a trip after Byron, Kenny’s brother, gets into a bit of trouble. The family faces some hard times, and the trip brings them closer then ever.

3. A- This is a wonderful book that reveals the harsh reality for young black children during the civil rights movement. Students can gain a sense of what life was like in America, and how unfair and scary it was. The author does a wonderful job of making this story emotionally relatable.
B- Their are several strong points throughout the story. The variety of characters help readers relate to certain ones, and connect with the story. The book is appropriate of upper elementary grades, and can really help students understand the civil rights movement. It makes the topic more real, and there is a positive message in that. Students can begin to decipher what is right and wrong, because of all of the injustices Kenny and the Watson family deal with.

C- When Kenny believes his sister has died in a church fire, readers can empathize and feel for his sadness. However, when she is found to be alive, there is a sense of relief and appreciation. Readers then discover that the church was bombed because of skin color. This is an example of a few of the injustices, and the readers can witness how unfair things were for Kenny, and think about what was right and wrong.

4. I fell in love with this book in 6th grade, and it changed my mind about history forever. This was my first historical fiction book, and once I realized that I could learn through stories instead of textbooks...that was it for me. I firmly believe in historical fiction books, and I think they can teach more than textbooks can sometimes. History is relatable, and this genre defines that. Teachers can certainly assign this books, or read it aloud when teaching on the civil rights movement. Students will gain so much insight, instead of just learning the new laws that came about. (less)

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Nov 14, 2011

Jordan Caton rated it

· review of another edition

This is my historical fiction. This is a story of an African American family who are seen as "weird" by others in the community. They have strange habits and quirky personalities, but they love each other very much. In the family, there is an older son named Byron who is a troublemaker. He is a school bully and is always getting into trouble. The middle child is Kenny and the youngest is little Joetta. The family lives in Michigan and this is an adjustment for mostly the parents. They ...more

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Nov 04, 2011

Alice rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-3rd-5th, fiction-historical, feelgood

I can't believe I never read this book until this year. WOW! Another great recommendation by my local librarian. This book was written by Christopher Paul Curtis, and was nominated for many awards including The Caldecott. It is beyond me why this book didn't win and Bud Not Buddy did. Bud Not Buddy was also a great read, but this book was phenomenal. Phe-nom-e-nal!

The characters are so real and the story so close to home that I really truly thought it was a work of non-fiction the whol...more

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Sep 19, 2011

S rated it

· review of another edition

A hallmark of Christopher Paul Curtis' style of writing is the idea that the prose reproduces exactly what the character is thinking or feeling, to a degree that is a bit greater than what is normally seen in first-person stories. In many ways, the tone is believably that of a ten-year-old, and as such the book has the feel of being seen from a ten-year-old's eyes. At the time that I first read this story, it really helped me form a strong image of what it must've been like to live during this t...more

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Jul 29, 2011

Catherine Woodman added it · review of another edition

This is perfect for the middle school aged child--the story is of a lower-middle class family in Flint, Michigan in the early 60's--their oldest son is going down a pathway of becoming a bad-ass, and while they have consistent parenting with clear expectations, and significant consequences,he is not being dissuaded from his path toward jail time. SO the family decides that they need to do some environmental engineering--they need to take him somewhere else, and so they all pile into their overs...more

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Jul 11, 2011

Tiffany Cooke rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Teachers doing a unit on the Civil Rights Movement

Shelves: 2011

The Watsons Go to Birmingham is historical fiction about the church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama 1963. Byron is a fun character because he does things that I would never do. This boy oozes confidence. He is so in love with himself he freezes his lips to the side mirror of the car. He sets things on fire, bleaches his hair, steals, sluffs school and picks on his little brother. Even though he is the "bad" kid, he has a heart of gold. He saves his brother, cries over a dead bir...more

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May 25, 2011

Dominic rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: banned-ya-lit-class, children

I just can't recommend The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. While the book can be pretty funny and the Weird Watsons are a tight-knit, pretty-darn-average family filled with support and love, it also meanders and at times even plods. I'm surprising myself to say this (because I rarely say this about any book), but I actually found it pretty boring.

The episodes, or vignettes, have the feel of the Jean Shepherd-inspired film, A Christmas Story (and some of the scenes seem borrowed fr...more

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May 24, 2011

Jbazelon added it · review of another edition

The first part of the book has Kenny introducing his family. His family has his dad, his mom, older brother Byron and younger sister Joetta. He retells stories about him and Byron, including the story of Byron and Buphead teaching Kenny how to survive a blizzard, in which they spat snow at him. Byron continues to act bad, including beating up Larry Dunn, and lighting matches at his house. As for Kenny, he tells about his lazy eye, his time with L.J. Jones stealing dinosaurs, and about his new fr...more

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Mar 27, 2011

Olivia rated it

· review of another edition

Overall, Charise and I both liked this book. It’s a good story with a good message, and is very funny and entertaining. The Watson’s Go to Birmingham tells the story of a quirky African American family from Flint Michigan that travels to Grandma’s house in Birmingham Alabama. This novel is well structured, and the author develops each of the characters fully throughout the novel. Additionally, the author describes funny anecdotes about each of the Watson children. These anecdotes are hilarious, ...more

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Mar 07, 2011

Cassy Hulse rated it

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Shelves: books-with-reviews

The "Weird Watsons" of Flint, Michigan consists of Mom and Dad Watson, Kenny, His punk older brother Byron and his sweet little sister Joetta. Ten year old Kenny is an African-American boy with a lazy eye and some crazy stories. We get to know the characters through some fun and hilarious adventures. For instance, His older brother Byron is absolutely full of himself and gets into a lot of trouble (lighting matches, teaching Kenny how to survive in a blizzard in which spit was the b...more

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Feb 13, 2011

Jacob rated it

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Shelves: yong-adoolt

It's 1963 in Michigan, and while things with Kenny Watson's life and family ain't perfect, they're pretty good. In order to give them some perspective on just how good their life is, Kenny's parents take their kids down to the southern states to visit grandma and to witness the difficult circumstances of segregation and racism that exist down there. What is there to appreciate about being a black family in the sixties? Kenny is going to find out.

This book is brilliant for many thing...more

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Feb 13, 2011

Terri rated it

· review of another edition

This fabulous little book about a poor black family, the Weird Watsons, set in Flint, Michigan, has a little of everything: humor, sadness, adventure, family ties, friendship, love, fear, etc...and all of it woven into a little piece of history - the civil rights movement of the 60's. Christopher Paul Curtis is highly talented. I also read another of his books Bud, Not Buddy years ago, and it is just as excellent.

Kenny is the middle child between Byron, the tough, bullying older brot...more

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Feb 05, 2011

Lucia Benzor rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: discrimination, older-kids, social-studies, well-written, civil-rights

This book was pretty good. The main character and narrator, Kenny, was very well thought out. It is mostly the story of an ordinary family from Flint and their life there and later on their trip to Birmingham. This book has a place in a social studies Civil Rights Unit. I feel that the author manages to create this realistic family that the reader can get to know and then show how they are impacted by the First Baptist Church bombing in a way that makes us understand how that can impact a person...more

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Oct 16, 2010

Katie Mccue rated it

· review of another edition

This novel is about the Watson family who live in Flint, Michigan in 1963. The novel is told from the perspective of the main character Kenny. Kenny has a little sister Joey, and an older brother Byron who is a juvenile delinquent. Byron gets into a lot of trouble so his parents decide to send him to Birmingham to live with his Grandma for the summer of 1963. This book describes the events leading up to the family trip to Birmingham and also the situations that they face while they are in Birmin...more

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Sep 07, 2010

stegersaurus rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: award-winners, genre-historical, read-2010, read-as-audiobook, rereading-as-an-adult, type-kids-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So I read this book as a kid -- if it came out in 1995, I read it by 1998? And I've remembered it all these years, so I decided to reread. It was different than I remembered -- for one thing, the bombing in Birmingham happens very late in the book, and takes up very little narrative space, really. I did enjoy the book -- it's lots funnier than I remembered -- but I ended up not sure what to make of it, just because I had remembered it as being more about the South, and about the bombing, and ...more

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About Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books. One such example is Bucking the Sarge, which is about a fifteen year old boy named Luther T. Ferrel, who is in a running battle with his slum-lord mother. Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Mic...more

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