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The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
Christopher Paul Curtis

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paula122452, November 24, 2006

I just completed "The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963". I must say that I have never felt so many emotions at once. I am an 8th grade school teacher and so much of this book is a part of me. I, too, lived in Flint, MI for several years; I, am originally from Bessemer, AL, 12 miles south of Birmingham. I am a witness from a distance to the bombing that took place (we heard it and thought it was the plant), was an integral part of the marches (Martin Luther King and company stayed at our home when they passed through during the "mule train march" to B'ham; I was also involved in the integration process as a 9th grader into an all white school. I felt so, so many feelings when I read this book. I will cherish this as one of the most interesting, humorous and poignant stories that I have ever read. I was particularly curious about how the author kept the Dad out of the picture for several chapters. One of the funniest scenes I read was the hair cutting incident with Byron. Kenneth's attitude and reparte' with his brother had me rolling on the floor. I would love to see these characters developed in detail and another story created to explain some gaps that I believe need to be filled. We only got bits and pieces of Dad, his work, his life, his relationship with his wife - yet, the reader could tell there was a definite family bond with the children. It is so ironic all the things that happened to Kenneth - because I recall in the 4th grade, at Carver Elementary School in Gary, IN where my Dad moved to get work - I was carried around from class to class to read to the students. I remember how I felt - as though I was on display and how the kids hated me and teased me every chance they got. Leaving the north and going south caused so many problems for me - we were a proper, educated family - spoke well - and here - we were going south and all the students thought we were "high-falutting" - because we spoke proper English. This book was a perfect snapshot of many chapters of my own life. I really enjoyed it - and would love to correspond with the author. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to write my thoughts. This is a book that I will certainly have my 8th graders reading and will be a part of my library and conversation for years to come.

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