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Book News, Guests | December 14, 2009

Amy Gray: IMG How to Be a Vampire

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Oh, hi. I'm Amy Gray. I like smoking, carbs, and words. I live in the (currently) sleek humidity of Melbourne, Australia. When not lying... Continue »
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    How to Be a Vampire: A Fangs-On Guide for the Newly Undead

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The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Enter the hilarious world of 10-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who's 13 and an "official juvenile delinquent." When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They're heading South. They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.

Review:

"An exceptional first novel."
-Publishers Weekly, Starred, Boxed Review

Review:

"Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving."

-The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"An exceptional first novel."

—Publishers Weekly, Starred, Boxed Review

"Superb . . . a warmly memorable evocation of an African American family." —The Horn Book Magazine, Starred

"Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving."

—The New York Times Book Review

"Ribald humor . . . and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit."—School Library Journal, Starred

Synopsis:

A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird  Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's  13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble,  they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the  one person who can shape him up. And they happen to  be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown  up.
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About the Author

Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up there. Bud, Not Buddy, his second novel, winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award, is available in a Delacorte hardcover edition.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
roz~e~kinz, March 6, 2008 (view all comments by roz~e~kinz)
this book was great. I never expected that ending to come. I also never expected byron to become the big brother he could be! this story made me sick with emotion that i never thought possible.
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paula122452, November 24, 2006 (view all comments by paula122452)
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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Product Details

ISBN:
9780440228004
Author:
Curtis, Christopher Paul
Publisher:
Laurel Leaf Library
Location:
New York
Subject:
Family - General
Subject:
Family
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General
Subject:
Family life
Subject:
Ethnic - African American
Subject:
Brothers and sisters
Subject:
Ethnic - General
Subject:
Prejudices
Subject:
African Americans
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Family
Subject:
Flint
Subject:
People & Places - United States - African-American
Series Volume:
1
Publication Date:
December 2000
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Grade Level:
Elementary and junior high
Language:
English
Pages:
224
Dimensions:
6.96x4.24x.63 in. .26 lbs.
Age Level:
09-12
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