The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963

The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Yes, it was set during a very dark time in America’s history. But before the violence in Birmingham is revealed, the reader is first taken on a ride with very funny tales about a heartwarming family. Right from the start with the title of the opening chapter, And You Wonder Why We Get Called the Weird Watsons, the humor is present. I loved the way the author titled each chapter; each draws the reader in from the very beginning.
Somehow humor makes difficult issues easier to handle. This book dealt with issues of race, poverty, family dynamics, relationships and bullying through the stories told by the main character, Kenny Watson. Curtis created wonderful characters in the Watson family and together they presented a strong family unit. Dad worked hard to provide for his family and showed warmth from his family. Momma was a boisterous character, infused with southern charm. Byron, while a bit misguide (as teenagers often are), ultimately was a good big brother. Joey was an adorable little girl with a lot of spunk. But my favorite character was Kenny.
Kenny, a smart middle child with a lazy eye, was the most endearing to me. He was filled with vulnerability while at the same time showed strength of character. His relationship with his brother was interesting. Clearly there were signs of sibling rivalry. Byron could be down right mean at times. Yet, Kenny knew that when push came to shove, his brother would be there for him. This was most clearly demonstrated at the end of the book when Byron held Kenny as he finally cried over the events in Birmingham. Kenny was caring towards and protective of Joey. I laughed out loud when reading the scene when Kenny had to help Joey take off the many layers of winter clothes. Kenny showed he was a good friend too. He befriended Rufus when no one else did and felt truly remorseful after he hurt his friend’s feelings. Kenny showed character by admitting he made a mistake and by asking forgiveness. I think any reader would be able to identify with at least one character in this book.
I would recommend this book for use with early middle schoolers. I think the chapters are written in such a way that they read like a sitcom. Also, this book presents serious subjects in a gentle way. The dichotomy of life for African Americans living in the northern states versus the southern states is examined along with the racial tensions and atrocities in the south during the 1960’s. Overall though, for me, this book was about family. As mentioned earlier, I think every reader would be able to relate to some character to some part of the book. The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 was a very pleasant read.