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Summary: Welcome to Birmingham!
Review: When I picked this book up, I read the first few chapters, got bored, and put it back down. But when I picked it up over the summer and began to read again, I realized how funny the book really was. I found myself laughing my head off all summer! I also recommend "Bud, Not Buddy" by the same author, to everyone who loves a good laugh!
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Summary: The Five Star Book
Review: The Watson's Go to Birmingham 1963 is a great book. We really like the part when Byron got his tongue stuck to the rear view mirror of their car. They had to get warm water and it still didn't come off very easily. The story is from Kennys point of view. It also talks about how you need to be nice for good things to come. The Watsons family traveled by car from Flint,Michigan to Birmingham,Alabama. They went there at a time when white people hated black people and the Watsons were some of those black people. I learned a lot from this book and I hope you do to.
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Summary: Humorous and Insightful
Review: The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 is a beautifully written book that tells of a family's interaction, dedication, and love. Told from the viewpoint of ten-year-old Kenny, the reader is introduced to the Watson family- Momma, Dad, Joetta (Kenny's little sister), and Byron (Kenny's older brother), who is described as an "official juvenile delinquent". As the result of several humorous incidents, their family is affectionately known as the "Weird Watsons" in their hometown of Flint, Michigan. Set in 1963, the story shares the experiences of this African American family as they travel into the deep South where racism is a cruel reality that the children have never seen before. In hopes of changing Byron's ways, the family takes him to Alabama to visit his maternal grandmother. In Birmingham, they are soon drawn in the Civil Rights movement and suffer a great tragedy that forever changes all of their lives. The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 is an excellent young adult novel that not only presents the ugly reality of racial discrimination but shows in a humorous way the many facets of an African American family. Because the characters are so realistic and warm, the reader experiences the Watsons' joy and pain on a personal level. Middle school aged students would not only enjoy the humor in this book, but would get a true picture of the horror of racism in our country's past. I would definitely recommend this book!
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Summary: Not on my favorites list
Review: This definetly was not one of my favorite books. First of all, it doesn't get into the real plot until more than 1/2 way through the book; the other parts are just events strung together into chapters. Sure MOST of it leads up to the main point of the story, but do you realize this? I sure didn't. The author's style of writing makes this book hard to follow. I can tell that he tried to write from a 10-year-old's point of view, but obviously he tried a lil too hard, because it sounds like from the point of view fom a very immature ten year old. The description of the setting and characters in this book made it very difficult for me to write a book report for; and I just overall didn't like it, although most of the people I know (from my brother to my best friends) were exclaiming, "Oh, you're reading that? Isn't it the best?" I usually finish a book this length in 1 1/2 to 2 days. But this one took me more than a week, I think, to finish because I was like, groan, do I have to?
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Summary: the weird watsons pet hospitats
Review: I read six chapter books this summer and the Watsons go to Burmingham was my favorite. I thought I was part of the story when I read it!
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Summary: One Great Book
Review: I loved this book! It was in the genre of history, but it was more like a story we might hear about today! There were some parts that had to do with boring history, but the author made it fun to read about. This hilarious book is for boys and girl from ages 10-13! Read it, and you'll love it!
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Summary: Fantastic Read
Review: This was one of the best and most wacky books I have ever read. I like the short story form of this book. It should win every award possible it is fantastic. If you are doubting getting this book get it! It was a great read. I hope the author keeps writing!
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Summary: The Watsons Go To Burminham
Review: The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 is a hilarious combination of a fictional story and real events occuring in Birmingham in 1963. This fictional story is about the Watson family trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama in the "brown bomber". Intertwined in this fictional story are the events of the Sixteenth Avenue Church bombing where four African American girls lost their lives. This book contains both comedy and tragedy. The narrator is fourth grader Kenny Watson. Because of his age and innocence, Kenny is able to bring many questions about prejudice and the civil rights movement during 1963. Readers of this book become familiar with the character Joetta. Joetta's character gives a face to the girls killed in Birmingham. Byron, the oldest brother, has many trials and tribulations in his attempt to grow up. Teenagers can relate to the character of Byron. He is frustrated, isolated, and trying desperately to find his way to becoming an adult. Christopher Paul Curtis did a great job writing The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963. Curtis is from Flint, Michigan where he attended the Flint branch of The University of Michigan. Many of the funny stories in this book are events from his own life. Curtis has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Award, the Newberry Honor, and is currently a full time writer.
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Summary: A great job showing a family promoting strong family bonds.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I think that the author, Christopher Paul Curtis, not only does a great job at describing the characters, he also shows a black family promoting strong family bonds. I was "brought in" to the book not only by the humor, but also by the strong emtions of the mother trying to keep her family on the right track. I enjoyed how at the end of the story not only did the main character, Kenny, grow spiritually and emotionally, but Bryan did too! I think Curtis did a good job at addressing racism and the tragedy of the church bombing by keeping it second, to the characters lives and experiences. This would be a great book for adolescents because not only is this book enjoyable, but history is being addressed along with humor and drama.
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Summary: Watson's Review
Review: The book reminds me of my childhood and so many coming of age movies I've seen. The honesty found in the book gives us the human side of growing up in a family with siblings. Throughout the book we see the roles of each family member. When the mother was going to burn Byron for playing with matches the little girl tried everything to keep her brother from getting hurt. The little girl always took up for Byron. At the end of the book when the swimming incident happened and the bombing took place the little girls character played a big part. We saw through the book how she wanted her brother to be good and not get in trouble and her life was spared on the day of the bombing. The book would be good for middle school children because they could be taught that although siblings fight they still have a loyalty to one another. Children can also get an idea of what it was like to be there and feel the effects of the bombing.
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