The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

Rating:
Summary: The 'Weird Watsons' and a Trip to Remember
Review: In his book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Christopher Paul Curtis creates a wonderful story of family that prompts a reader's desire to be part of the "weird Watsons," traveling in the great Brown Bomber, listening to "Yakety Yak" on the Ultra-Glide, and even falling for thirteen-year-old Byron's tall tales and antics. Not only is Curtis a master at telling his story, he also carefully engages his readers in the experience of a tragic episode of racial tension from the perspective of ten-year-old Kenny Watson. When Kenny believes that his younger sister Joetta may have been among the victims in the bombing of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church, he is overcome with fear and its shame. This distressful event triggers something in Byron which matures him into the brother who pulls Kenny through this difficult time. As Kenny is restored to the normal activities of his family, he begins to see them from a lovingly different perspective. This is a memorable story of family and friendship built between brothers, a touching contrast to the lasting impression of a senseless tragedy that should never have happened. Christopher Paul Curtis has produced in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 a beautifully written story that will be loved by young teens and adults as well!

Rating:
Summary: No plot
Review: This book is funny and lighthearted, but doesn't have much of a plot -- most of the chapters are not even essential to the plot. Mr. Curtis' "Bud, Not Buddy" is a much better book.

Rating:
Summary: Review from a twelve yr. old student from Texas
Review: This is a story about a ten year old boy Kenny and his brother Byron is a juvenile delinquent who gets into a lot of trouble that he gets half of his finger burnt by his mean mom. Kenny's little sister Joey always feels sorry for Byron. His mom gets so mad that she wants to leave him at his grandma who lives in Alabama something very bad happens to Kenny, and his mom is having second thoughts about leaving Byron at his grandma's. Read and see what happens.

Rating:
Summary: the watsons go to birmingham 1963
Review: The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis I was shocked that there were still people that just because someone is a diffrent color they would bomb a church with people in it. I liked Byron who is an official juvinal delinquent. He tricks his little brother Kenny just for fun and he has a sister named Joetta who always feels sorry for him. So go and get this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Watsons Go to Birmingham By:Jose
Review: This story is about a ten-year-old boy named Kenny. His Brother Byron is juvenile delinquent who gets into alot of trouble. He even gets his finger burned by his mom for playing with fire. Kenny's sister Joey always feels sorry for Byron. Mom decides to go drop off Byron at Alabama with his grandma sands. There something happens to Joey and changes their lives forever.Read to find out what happens. this book is very funny and emotional that's why I gave it 5 stars

Rating:
Summary: I Agree About it Being a Deeply Moving Novel
Review: I agree when people say that this novel was deeply moving. There were many parts when I almost felt like crying. For example, in the part where Byron is beating up Larry I feel very sad for Larry, the way people are laughing at him. Sometimes I felt very relieved. For example, when I found out that Joey was actually OK after the bombing I felt so relieved and happy. This novel really helped me understand the whole segragation and civil- rights movement thing better. I felt really informed and touched after finishing the novel. I would have to say that this book has to be one of my favorite out-of-series books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Books Ever
Review: "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" is an intelligent book written by Christopher Paul Curtis on family life and also the disastrous and hurtful effects of racism, prejudice, and discrimination. The story involves a family called "The Weird Watsons", and they are very supportive of each other, although they get into arguments and trouble. The rough Momma, joking Dad, troublesome Byron, cute Joetta, or Joey for short, and the narrator of this story is the middle child, Kenny. Kenny describes his feelings, and uses many phrases, such as "they might as well tie me to a tree and shout ready, aim, fire!". "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" is a plus for kids and adults, full of hilarious moments and also serious events toward the end. The first few chapters tells about the family while they are living in Flint, Michigan. There are many unforgettable characters that are involved in this story, and many of them live near the Watsons. During this chapters, most of the storyline is about ridiculous stuff, which Byron (the so-called juvenile deliquent) tells to haunt Joetta and Kenny. Momma fusses about the frigid cold of Michigan, for she is from the south. The middle part tells about the family preparing for a trip down to Birmingham, because Byron would not behave himself. The end tells about the Watsons in Birmingham, especially about the church bombing. "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" is a fascinating book and combines all the possible genres in it. You have got to read this book to know how amazing it is!!!

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I thought Watsons go to Birmingham was a great book! Kenney Watson, a smart 10-year old with great dialog, is the main character. There's also Momma, Dad, Byron, Grandmaw Sands, and Joetta. I thought this book is as good as it is because it shows exactly what it was like back in the 60's. By that I mean predjudice running out of control, KKK, church bombing, and much much more.

Rating:
Summary: Watson's Go To Birmingham-1963
Review: This book was pretty good. I think anyone who reads this would probably enjoy this book. Some parts are quite funny. Over all, I'd reccomend this bok to anyone older than 13.

Rating:
Summary: The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963
Review: If you like funny and realistic fiction you will like this book. This book was about an African American family. There was Momma, Dad, Kenny, Byron, and Joey. They lived in Flint, Michigan. One day it was very cold outside Byron and Kenny had to shovel the driveway, then Byron for no reason kissed the icy cold mirror. Guess what happened. Throughout the book Byron continues to get into even more trouble. Kenny was the younger brother was very smart. Others and even his older brother picked on him. People teased him about his lazy eye. You have to read the book to find out other things that happen to Kenny. Joey was the youngest sister. She was a very sweet girl. Something happens to Joey near the end of the book that really affects Kenny you have to read to find out what the situation was. They end up traveling to Birmingham to see their Grandma Sands. It was very hot in Birmingham. Something scary happens to Kenny. This book talks about what life was like for African Americans in the 1960's. I thought this book was okay. I think it is only okay because there are only a few action parts. Byron was my favorite character, because it was funny how he got into trouble.