Rating: Summary: The Watsons Go to Birmingham Review: The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis, is definitely a five-star book. It is hilarious but also has some good historic information. The main character is Kenny. Kenny has a younger sister and an older brother named Byron who is a juvenile delinquent. Kenny's mom starts to get tired of the things Byron does, and decides to send him to their grandmother's house in Birmingham, Alabama. Finally they leave Michigan to go to their grandmother's house. While they are there, someone bombs a church that Kenny's sister is in. Luckily, nothing happens to her. This book is also funny. Kenny gets caught in a "whool pool"; whom Byron says is Pooh's evil brother. It is especially funny when Byron gets his tongue stuck on the car mirror, and his dad makes fun of him saying that he is attracted to himself. Another part that I liked was when Kenny stayed behind the couch, a.k.a. the pet hospital, hoping it would make him feel better. He didn't come out for days. I think this book was well written. It also deserves the Newberry Honor medal that it received. If you want to find out more about this book, then you should read it. My recommendation is that everyone should read it, but that's your decision.
Rating: Summary: The Weird Watsons entertain and amuse Review: This novel, a Newbery Honor book for 1996, consists of two very different parts.In the lighthearted beginning of the book, Kenny and his quirky family, the Weird Watsons, have a series of funny adventures in their hometown of Flint, Michigan. Kenny's older brother, Byron, provides much of the hilarity, from his sub-zero mirror-kissing fiasco, to his ill-fated attempt to consume an entire bag of stolen cookies. However, some of Byron's stunts cross the line between innocent hi-jinks and juvenile deliquency, and the Watson parents decide to intervene. They arrange a trip to visit awe-inspiring Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama. The Watsons set off in their car, equipped with an Ultra-Glide record player and all the latest tunes. Until three quarters of the way through the story, the tone remains lighthearted. Shortly after the Watsons arrive in Birmingham, though, Curtis changes gears. The event that causes this rather abrupt shift is the bombing which killed four young girls in a Sunday school class. The story's mood becomes dark as Kenny grapples with the deaths, and the existence of evil in the world. Although I recognize the importance of including the serious event, I confess that I did not enjoy Curtis's writing as much after the change in tone. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book for its fascinating characters and funny adventures.
Rating: Summary: Hatred Attacks in 1963 Review: In this book, I liked how at the end Bryron came together with his brother Kenny and talking to him and making him feel safe. Although they had alot of conflicts between each other, he finially realized that the love he had for his brother. When I read that Joetta was in the building that was was bombed, my heart went out to her because she was so sweet. The thing that amazes me is when a look alike of Kenny led Joey away from the dasaster. Who was that gifted person, who was chossen to save an innocent life? Over all the book was really GREAT!
Rating: Summary: Byron Gone Crazy !!!!! Review: This book is Awesome! I loved it. I got so into it on the first page. It is filled with exciting events. This book is thrilling and interesting. It teaches you the real reason of having a good family.
Rating: Summary: The Watsons Go to Birmingham Review: Great Book! This is a story about Kenny a ten-year old boy who is not really the coolest boy in school. He has an older borther named Bryon , he is also named the "School God." Kenny also has a sister , momther ,and a dad. Great book to read for a book report.
Rating: Summary: The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 Review: The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 is both a humorous and tragic story that takes you back in American history during the Civil Rights Movement. This story is told through the eyes of ten-year old, Kenneth Watson. Kenny lives with his family, Byron, Joetta, mom, and dad in freezing Flint, Michigan. Later in the story, the Watsons decide to travel to Birmingham, Alabama because of Byron's mischievous behavior. When they reach Birmingham, Kenny and Byron have semi-adventures that make them realize that life isn't always fair and pleasant. Christopher Paul Curtis made the Watsons seem realistic and ordinary. Unlike some families you see on television, they aren't always so happy and cheerful. Kenny has his problems. For instance, his brother Byron is mean to him, the other kids tease him about his lazy eye, and that he's smarter than the rest of the class. This isn't a cursed family either. The Watsons have their happy times too. For example, when Daniel, Kenny's dad, got a record player for their car, the Brown Bomber. Byron is one of the most comical characters in the book. Once he made a movie in the bathroom called, Nazi Parachutes attack America and get shot down over the Flint River by Captain Byron Watson and His Flamethrower of Death and ended as, Captain Byron Watson Get Shot Down by the Evil Snake Woman and His Own Flamethrower of Death, and this is just one of them. After his mom told him not to play with fire again, she swore that the next time he plays with matches, she was going to burn his fingers. If it wasn't for Joetta, Byron's fingers would've been charred. Also, not all of the events in the book are realistic fiction. When Joetta's church was bombed, Curtis mentioned that four little girls were found under some cement and bricks, dead. This made me realize that almost anyone can go outside into the world and make a difference. In conclusion, I give this book a five-star rating because it was comical, tragic, and the theme teaches you a very important lesson. Plus, the epilogue in the back of the book tells more about the Civil Rights Movement if you want to learn more. I hope you'll enjoy The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 as much as I did!
Rating: Summary: The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 book review Review: The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis, is a great book. It takes place during the Civil rights movement. It is about a Family that lives in Flint, Michigan. The family is made up of Daniel (dad),Wilona (mom), Byron,Kenny, and Joetta, also known as Joey. I think the characters in this story are really interesting. Kenny is smart. He reads stuff to higher grades than he is in. He is also one of the least popular kids in his school. And, he has a lazy eye. Kenny's big brother Byron is a trouble maker. He is known as the god of the school children at Clark elementary. Joetta, Kenny's little sister, likes to protect Byron from her mom. She also believes all the tall tales he makes up. The whole family seems so realistic. Christopher Paul Curtis does something cool with Byron in the book. Byron changes from a trouble-maker to a nice person. He changes because of a true historical event that happened in this story.In the beginning of the story is parents get so mad because of the bad stuff he did. They decide to drive to their grandma Sands house in Birmingham, Alabama. That is how they end up going to Birmingham. Christopher Paul Curtis has a cool bad guy for the story. When they are in Birmingham, Kenny goes some where he shouldn't go and meets the bad guy of the story,The Wool Pooh. He says that it has a gray body, no face, square feet, square shoulders, and square fingers. Kenny sees the Wool Pooh twice in the story. When he is swimming where he shouldn't and after the historical event. Kenny thinks that it means death. I think there are some bad things about the book. Christopher Paul Curtis skips the part when they are going back to Flint. There are some other things he doesn't tell about. For example,He doesn't tell when Kenny tells his Mom, Dad, and Byron that Joey is back at Grandma Sands house I give this story four stars. It is a great book to read. One of the morales of this story is how important family is. That is why Byron became changed from a trouble-maker to a nice person. So all in all I think you should definitely read this book. And if you want to find out what the historical event is, read the book.
Rating: Summary: Review Review: I read the book The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963 and found it very interesting and funny. The story is about a boy named Kenneth Watson who has an older brother, Byron, a younger sister, Joetta, a mom, and a dad. They all live in Flint, Michigan. Byron is constantly getting into trouble, so mom and dad decide that he should spend the summer with his grandmother in Birmingham. The whole family has to go on the trip because they can't leave anybody at home. While they are in Birmingham, the church is attacked by white people who throw a stick of dynamite into it. Kenny goes into the church after this and thinks he sees Joetta's shoe, and he thinks that the Whool Pooh, an imaginary evil twin of Winnie the pooh, is trying to kidnap her, so he leaves. When he finds out that Joetta wasn't in the church, he feels guilty because even if she had been in the church he wouldn't have helped her escape the Whool Pooh. After this, they decide to leave Birmingham. When they get back home, Kenneth hides behind the couch in their house and hopes to not feel guilty about not rescuing Joetta. Byron finally (...). I like this book and would recommend it to readers of any age. It is funny and entertaining. For example, one funny part is when Byron tries to kiss his reflection is the car mirror and gets his lips stuck to it. In conclusion, I think the book is amusing though it is sad and is a good book for anyone to read.
Rating: Summary: The Watson go to Birmingham Review: I think this was a prety good book it was funny espescially when Byron was talking to Larry Dunn with his deaf language. It to was a very interesting book especially when the watson family got to birmingham and when Kenny went to coillers bay and saw the whool pool,but this book was sad and scary when the church blew up but overall this was a good book.
Rating: Summary: Ian T. Review: The Watsons go to Birmingham is a great book for young readers and adults. I enjoyed this book because of its emotion and humorous scenes. The best part about this book is when the Watson's go to Birminham, Alabama in 1963 to go see Grandma Sands. The funniest part of this book was when Byron got his mouth stuck to a car door mirror. I would recommend this book to any readers of ages betwwen 9-15. I really enjoyed reading this fabulous book.
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