Reviews

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

emily_m_green's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 

In The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Kenny Watson tells us that there’s a reason his family is known as the Weird Watsons. His mother’s Southern upbringing makes her react to the Michigan winters by making the children wear so many layers that they are dripping with sweat by the time they get to school. His father is full of extra wacky dad jokes. And his older brother, Byron, is so cool he’s always getting into some sort of trouble. Kenny’s only friend seems to play with him only to steal his toys. 

But life is changing--Byron is causing even more havoc, a new family with a boy Kenny’s age moves in, and the country is going through turmoil, particularly in the still segregated South. 

The Watson Go to Birmingham is funny, silly, and sad, as Kenny navigates an older brother who can be cruel or caring, a younger sister who can be a pain, and all of the social difficulties a ten-year-old can have nightmares about. The book is told mostly in vignettes, and many chapters feel as though they could stand independently. The last part of the book feels more coherent and plot driven, but it is also more emotionally intense. 

In his introduction to the edition I read, Christopher Paul Curtis describes the reactions he has received from kids who said that they never liked to read until they read The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, and the book was unusual in its time (1995) in terms of a major publishing house (Penguin Random House) releasing a middle grade novel about an African American family who is comfortably working class and full of humor. The book certainly has its share of tension, but it does not always stay at a dramatic pitch and allows us to see the family being a normal, silly family. The book is, in part, about race in the United States, but it is not all about race. In fact, the majority of Kenny’s challenges have nothing to do with race. 

Would I teach this novel? I teach the book as part of a unit during African American History Month, and students have the option to choose The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 from five novels. The students who chose to take the trip with the Watsons are surprised at the mother’s physical forms of discipline--she believes in corporal punishment, which is unfamiliar to many of them. They see her as abusive, with no frame of reference for physical discipline. For me, this reminded me of how much parenting has changed in the last sixty years. Students also questioned if it was appropriate for the father to mock Southern accents, which also shows how understanding of race and class have changed since 1995--I don’t think many middle schoolers in 1995 would have batted an eye at such humor. For these reasons among others, some frame of reference for 1960s America would be helpful for students to get some of the context of the story, though it is not necessary for them to appreciate the book. So, yes, there are many aspects of The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 that will help create discussions and make the students want to keep reading. 

amysan's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

whatsthestorywishbone's review against another edition

4.0

Over all I enjoyed this book and I think Reid did too. We were both engaged. Chapters are almost like short stories. Was expecting it to deal more with racism but it doesn’t get there until the end. Maybe not appropriate for a five year old with language and near death experiences but I think it ended up being a good intro to some hard topics.

alphawolfe13's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Hate crime, Child death, Death, Violence, and Racism

jchinzi's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

peachykeenebooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

laila4343's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book SO MUCH. How on God's green earth did this not win the Newberry Medal?!?

I listened to the audio book version read by Levar Burton, which was an absolute pleasure.

This historical fiction middle-grade novel manages to be funny, realistic, warm-hearted, and heartbreaking all at once. The Watsons truly are a remarkable family. Highly recommended! (Grade 4 and up.)

jessuly's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Violence

isethia's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

rescuingsteele's review against another edition

5.0

Probably banned in schools these days smh. Tells the tale of a road trip that a black family takes from northern us to southern us.