Genre Five - Historical Fiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM – 1963. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385321759.

PLOT SUMMARY:
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM – 1963 is the story of an African American family living in Flint, Michigan in 1963. Nine-year old Kinney tells the story about his family that has been nicknamed the “Weird Watsons.” When Kenny’s older brother, Byron, gets into trouble again the family decides to take a trip to Birmingham in order to visit their grandmother. While little sister Joetta is attending church, a bomb goes off and the ensuing aftermath changes the Weird Watsons forever.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Nine year old Kenny Watson tells the story of his family living in Flint Michigan. Readers see the world of 1963 through Kenny’s eyes and receive an innocent view of the time period from a young child who has not experienced many of the racial injustices that his African American neighbors in the South have endured. The book cover includes photos of a family that are black and white and obviously from the past.

Christopher Paul Curtis sets the stage of the novel by explaining the items bought for their car before their trip to Birmingham. The items are from the 1960’s and are described in such detail that one can picture exactly what they look like even if they have never one. The record player for the car is one such unusual item that the Watsons used during their trip.

Kenny’s use of figurative language keeps the reader in the world of a kid. His use of timely phrases never let one forget that this story takes place in a different time. The author uses humor to keep the story interesting and moving at a pace that is easy to keep up with and understand.

As the story changes settings from the north to the south the reader is introduced to the many differences between the two areas in the 1960s. The figurative language used by the characters is more pronounced when the setting is in Birmingham. As Mr. Curtis moves toward the climax of the story, which is the bombing of the church, the story picks up the pace and keeps the reader involved in the story. While the bombing is based on actual events, Mr. Curtis is careful not to make this bombing the real bombing from history. Instead he mirrors the events and creates an occasion that Kenny witnesses and then deals with in the aftermath of the tragedy.

It is not until the Epilogue that the author explains about the bombing that occurred in Birmingham at the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church. He also explains about the four girls who lost their lives on September 15, 1963. This clarification really brings home the events from the story. Mr. Curtis also explains more about other events happening in the South during the 1960’s. His novel is also dedicated to the four young girls who lost their lives that fateful day.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
A Newberry Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A New York Times Book Review Best Book
A Bulletin Blue Ribbon
A Publishers Weekly Best Book

School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Ribald humor…and a totally believable child’s view of the world will make this book an instant hit.”

Publishers Weekly, Starred, Boxed Review
“An exceptional first novel.”

The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review
“Curtis’s control of his material is superb as he unconventionally shifts tone and mood, as he depicts the changing relationship between the two brothers, and as he incorporates a factual event into his fictional story.”

CONNECTIONS:
Use this book as an extension when teaching children about the civil rights movement.

Have students research the church bombings in Birmingham, Alabama.

Use this novel to discuss family dynamics and open up discussions for students to tell their stories about older or younger siblings.

Have students write a story about their own “weird” family. It could be a story about a trip or an odd incident such as when Byron gets his tongue stuck to the icy car. Students can also write about a fiction event for a creative writing assignment.

Read this story aloud to students age 9-14.