The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
Encyclopedia
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 is a historical fiction book by Christopher Paul Curtis
, written in 1995, and republished in 1997. It is about an African American family living in the town of Flint
, Michigan
who goes to their grandmother's home in Birmingham, Alabama
to get Byron to behave, in the year of 1963. The book was Curtis' first novel, and received a Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award
. He is the author of the Newbery Award winner Bud, Not Buddy. The book includes the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
in Birmingham, one of the most critical events in the book.
. Two other books he wrote are Bud, Not Buddy
and Elijah of Buxton
. He was born in Flint, Michigan
- which is where the Watsons live in the book.
That was Byron's last straw. The family decides Byron should live with his Grandma Sands in Alabama for the summer or maybe for a year if things don't work out in the hope of straightening him out. They drive straight from Flint to Birmingham, where Kenny almost drowns ,and the family almost suffers a terrible loss during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Kenny believes that Joey is gone in the bombing which makes him worry about her.
Byron Watson - Kenny and Joey's older brother, a thirteen-year-old "official juvenile delinquent" whose many "fantastic adventures" continually get him into trouble at home and at school. He sometimes bullies and teases Kenny, but also protects him at school, and saves his life in Birmingham.
Joetta "Joey" Watson - The youngest child. She is five years old, and is in kindergarten. She's known as a very respectful little girl. Joey has a special relationship with Byron.
Wilona Sands Watson - Usually called Momma. She's the mother of the three children and the wife of Daniel. A native of Birmingham, she slips into a thick southern accent when mad or excited and complains about Flint's harsh winters. She is tough but fair to her children. Wilona wants Byron to become mature and set a good example for Kenny and Joey.
Daniel Watson - Father of the three children. He's known for having a good sense of humor and the husband of Wilona. He is referred to as "Dad".
Grandma Sands - Wilona's mother, Daniel's mother-in-law, and Byron, Kenny, and Joey's grandmother. She lives in Birmingham, and has an even thicker accent than Wilona. She is also very strict. Byron is sent to her for the summer and possibly for the next school year so that he can change his ways. It's hinted that Grandma Sands has a crush on her friend Mr. Robert.
They are not wealthy.
Mr. Robert - Grandma Sands' friend.
Buphead - Byron's best friend who is also an "official delinquet", helps Byron bully many kids, including his brother. Byron and Buphead do stand up for Kenny and Rufus when they're being bullied by Larry.
Rufus Fry - Kenny's new best friend. His family moves to Flint from the South. He and his little brother befriend Kenny.
Larry Dunn - Kenny's bully at school.
Brown Bomber - The family's car.
Christopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis is an American children's author and a Newbery Medal winner who wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and the critically acclaimed Bud, Not Buddy. Bud, Not Buddy is the first novel to receive both the Coretta Scott King Award and the Newbery Medal...
, written in 1995, and republished in 1997. It is about an African American family living in the town of Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
who goes to their grandmother's home in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to get Byron to behave, in the year of 1963. The book was Curtis' first novel, and received a Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award
Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award is an annual award presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, part of the American Library Association...
. He is the author of the Newbery Award winner Bud, Not Buddy. The book includes the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S...
in Birmingham, one of the most critical events in the book.
Author Information
The author of the book is Christopher Paul CurtisChristopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis is an American children's author and a Newbery Medal winner who wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and the critically acclaimed Bud, Not Buddy. Bud, Not Buddy is the first novel to receive both the Coretta Scott King Award and the Newbery Medal...
. Two other books he wrote are Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy is a 1999 children's novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. The book is the winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award that is given in recognition of outstanding African-American authors.-Plot summary:Bud,...
and Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton is a 2007 novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. It is his fourth book. It won the 00001Coretta Scott King Award, the 2008 Newbery Honor, the 2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2008 Book of the Year for Children Award of the Canadian Library Association-Jacket...
. He was born in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
- which is where the Watsons live in the book.
Summary
The first part of the book has Kenny introducing his family, the Watsons. His family has his dad, his mom, older brother Byron and younger sister Joetta. He retells stories about him and Byron, including the story of Byron and Buphead teaching Kenny how to survive a blizzard, in which they spat snow at him. Byron continues to act bad, including beating up Larry Dunn, and lighting matches at his house. As for Kenny, he tells about his lazy eye, his time with L.J. Jones stealing dinosaurs, and about his new friend, Rufus Fry, which Kenny thinks will be his "saver" who God has sent. Joey complains about how Momma makes her and Kenny wear so many clothes outside during the Winter. Byron makes many mistakes in the book such as, going to Buphead's to make his hair "Mexican style" by straightening it. His mom gets very mad, and his dad shaves his head bald as a punishment.That was Byron's last straw. The family decides Byron should live with his Grandma Sands in Alabama for the summer or maybe for a year if things don't work out in the hope of straightening him out. They drive straight from Flint to Birmingham, where Kenny almost drowns ,and the family almost suffers a terrible loss during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Kenny believes that Joey is gone in the bombing which makes him worry about her.
Setting
The Watsons live in Michigan, while Grandma Sands lives in Alabama. Both places have very inturiging seasons. The book takes place during the civil rights movement. During the time, crucial events take place in American history. The book is during the fall/winter of 1962 to the summer of 1963. The church bombing had happened while the Watsons were in Birmingham. Because of what had happened, Byron Watson even got to come home that week. After the tragic event, the Watsons started packing their stuff to head back to Flint, Michigan.Characters
Kenneth Bernard "Kenny" Watson - The middle child. He is ten years old, the main protagonist, and narrator of the book. He's known for having a lazy eye and for being an excellent student, both of which make him the target of teasing at Clark Elementary School.Byron Watson - Kenny and Joey's older brother, a thirteen-year-old "official juvenile delinquent" whose many "fantastic adventures" continually get him into trouble at home and at school. He sometimes bullies and teases Kenny, but also protects him at school, and saves his life in Birmingham.
Joetta "Joey" Watson - The youngest child. She is five years old, and is in kindergarten. She's known as a very respectful little girl. Joey has a special relationship with Byron.
Wilona Sands Watson - Usually called Momma. She's the mother of the three children and the wife of Daniel. A native of Birmingham, she slips into a thick southern accent when mad or excited and complains about Flint's harsh winters. She is tough but fair to her children. Wilona wants Byron to become mature and set a good example for Kenny and Joey.
Daniel Watson - Father of the three children. He's known for having a good sense of humor and the husband of Wilona. He is referred to as "Dad".
Grandma Sands - Wilona's mother, Daniel's mother-in-law, and Byron, Kenny, and Joey's grandmother. She lives in Birmingham, and has an even thicker accent than Wilona. She is also very strict. Byron is sent to her for the summer and possibly for the next school year so that he can change his ways. It's hinted that Grandma Sands has a crush on her friend Mr. Robert.
They are not wealthy.
Mr. Robert - Grandma Sands' friend.
Buphead - Byron's best friend who is also an "official delinquet", helps Byron bully many kids, including his brother. Byron and Buphead do stand up for Kenny and Rufus when they're being bullied by Larry.
Rufus Fry - Kenny's new best friend. His family moves to Flint from the South. He and his little brother befriend Kenny.
Larry Dunn - Kenny's bully at school.
Brown Bomber - The family's car.