The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Christopher Paul Curtis, Delacorte, 1995

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 is a novel by Christopher Paul Curtis about the Watsons, an African-American family living in Flint, Michigan in the early 1960s. The story is told from the point of view of Kenny, a bright ten year old, as he shares memories from his childhood which mostly revolve around his older brother Byron. Byron is notorious for causing trouble in the house, around the neighborhood and at school, which finally leads Mr. and Mrs. Watson to pack the family's bags and take a road trip to Birmingham, Alabama to visit Mrs. Watson's mother with every intention of leaving their eldest son with his grandmother if he does not shape up his act. The novel centers around this trip to the South as the Watsons are impacted by the realities of the segregated and hateful world. Throughout the story, Kenneth illustrates the growth of his relationships with his family members as well as the growth of his own maturity.

One of the big ideas throughout the entire novel is the importance of our relationships with family members to our growth as individuals. There are many points throughout the novel in which the Watsons must make tough decisions but all are influenced by the love they have for each other. Each member of the Watson family shows compassion towards one another during the difficult times that they face and serve as emotional support systems. One possible writing assignment is for the students to write about a family member that has impacted their life in a positive way.

In terms of the "teachability" of The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, the language of the novel is appropriate and not too difficult. The story does involve the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church that killed four little girls but that is an ugly moment in our country's history that young people should learn about it. The plot of the novel is slow to develop and if the class has students that need constant action, plot twists, etc. this might not be the book for them. However, Curtis' story is warm and humorous, relying more on the strength of the characters and their relationships then plot development.