Curtis, Christopher Paul. (1995). The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.
Awards: The Coretta Scott King Award and Newberry Honor Book
Genre: Historical Fiction
Lexlie Measure: 1000L
DRA: 50
AR: 5.5
Summary: 10 year old Kenny lives in Flint, Michigan with his Mom, Dad, his little sister Joetta, and his big brother Byron, who is considered a delinquent. When Byron's behavior starts to get out of control, his parents decide he should spend the summer in the South with his Grandmother. The family decides to take a road trip to visit Grandma in Birmingham Alabama. Their summer vacation of 1963 will change their lives forever as they witness segregation and tragic events in the African-American community.
Reader Response: The first part of the story causes humor when reading about Byron playing with matches and putting chemicals to straighten his hair. It's entertaining reading about Dad's love of his old Bomber car, and Kenny and Joey getting teased for wearing many layers in the winter. Towards the end of the story the plot changes dramatically, it narrates the true events of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham in 1963, an event that gave reason to the Civil Rights Movement. This book can be read to teach cross curriculum skills, such as reading and events in history.
Author's Official Site
Reading Guide by Marshall George
Other award winning books by Christopher Paul Curtis:
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