Curtis, C ( 1995). The Watsons Go To Birmingham -1963. New York, NY: Yearling.
The United States was a different place in 1963. The southern states still practiced systematic discrimination of people of color. This novel addresses a family raising children during this time. The Watson family consists of a father, mother, their two sons Byron and Kenny and their daughter Joetta. The live in Detroit far away from the hatred in the south. The mom is from Birmingham and still has family there mainly her mother. In the summer of 1963, the family takes a trip down to Birmingham. The kids experience what southern living is like complete with southern dialects, swimming in lakes, magnolia trees, and the extreme heat. The trip brings a change in everybody. Byron, who normally is a troublemaker in Detroit, become more respectful and responsible. The mom who usually is the head of the household becomes a daughter again when around Grandma Sands. And Kenny who is usually very dependable begins to get careless and a bit reckless.
A near death experience for two characters change the family forever. The kids experience the ugly side of America and have to decide how to deal with it. The parents have to come to terms with the fact that their children came so close to something they have worked so hard to keep them from. But they realize their family is a lot stronger together than they ever could be if they are separated. They come to understand that they can depend on each other.
This is a fiction story written as a personal narrative. I thought it was an actual biography or memoir. Christopher Curtis includes a real historical event to bring a feeling of reality to the readers.The recollection of this and the response of the characters brings a sense of familiarity to readers who were alive during that time. He uses vivid imagery and quick witted dialogue to bring the setting and characters to life. Teachers can use this novel to show how to writers use powerful vocabulary in their writing. It can also be included to show how a personal narrative is written
The United States was a different place in 1963. The southern states still practiced systematic discrimination of people of color. This novel addresses a family raising children during this time. The Watson family consists of a father, mother, their two sons Byron and Kenny and their daughter Joetta. The live in Detroit far away from the hatred in the south. The mom is from Birmingham and still has family there mainly her mother. In the summer of 1963, the family takes a trip down to Birmingham. The kids experience what southern living is like complete with southern dialects, swimming in lakes, magnolia trees, and the extreme heat. The trip brings a change in everybody. Byron, who normally is a troublemaker in Detroit, become more respectful and responsible. The mom who usually is the head of the household becomes a daughter again when around Grandma Sands. And Kenny who is usually very dependable begins to get careless and a bit reckless.
A near death experience for two characters change the family forever. The kids experience the ugly side of America and have to decide how to deal with it. The parents have to come to terms with the fact that their children came so close to something they have worked so hard to keep them from. But they realize their family is a lot stronger together than they ever could be if they are separated. They come to understand that they can depend on each other.
This is a fiction story written as a personal narrative. I thought it was an actual biography or memoir. Christopher Curtis includes a real historical event to bring a feeling of reality to the readers.The recollection of this and the response of the characters brings a sense of familiarity to readers who were alive during that time. He uses vivid imagery and quick witted dialogue to bring the setting and characters to life. Teachers can use this novel to show how to writers use powerful vocabulary in their writing. It can also be included to show how a personal narrative is written
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