Historical Fiction Review #3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590690140

2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963 is a story of the Watson Family, their life in Flint, Michigan and their trip to Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963 is a multiple award-winning book. It is a Newbery Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an ALA Notable Book. This is a well-written work of historical fiction. It is highly authentic, with a well-established setting. The story is set in 1963, first in Flint, Michigan, where the author Christopher Paul Curtis grew up, then traveling on I-75, “a road that runs all the way from Flint to Florida,” and finally in Birmingham, Alabama, during the unsettling times of the Civil Rights Movement.

Each chapter has a title, taken from a phrase somewhere within the chapter. They are fun and imaginative, such as “The World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever” (Ch. 3). The title of the book comes from Momma’s notebook, detailing the plans for their road trip. Curtis vividly recreates the times by referring to the 60’s pop culture. The reader learns about the shows and movies of the times (The Great Carp Escape, Lawrence Welk Show and “the worst cartoon ever made, Clutch Cargo”) and famous people (Sugar Ray Robinson, the fighter Joe Louis, and singers Nat King Cole and Dinah Washington). We also learn about the hairstyles of the times: “Byron had gotten a conk! (pg. 87). Finally, the reader learns about the new technology, such as the TT AB-700 Ultra-Glide -“a drive-around record player” that plays 45s. Cutis has also included expressions of the times, such as “cut up” and “being cool or square.”

The reader is able to identify with the story’s main protagonist, 10-year-old Kenny, and other members of his family. They come alive as we learn about each other their personalities. For example, we learn that Kenny’s favorite expression, when there are troubles, is “tied me to a tree and said, “Ready, aim, fire!” and his favorite record to listen to is “Yakety Yak.” Children can relate to the story because they get a sense of how events were perceived by other children. The reader can also tell that the story is told by a child because of some of the expressions used, such as “It was one of those super-duper-cold Saturdays" (pg. 1). Kenny’s character also uses some great comparisons that allow the reader to visualize the situation. My favorite is the visual I get when I read, “Brown Bomber must look like a bug lying on its back with four skinny brown legs kicking and twitching to try to put it back on its feet” (pg. 148).

The storyline runs smoothly and the plot is easy to follow. The turning point in the story is when the Wastons go to Birmingham. Everything changes while the Watsons are in Birmingham. Bryson becomes nice, saying, “yes ma’am” and not getting in trouble. Kenny, on the other hand, does get in trouble when he disobeys his grandma and goes swimming at Collier’s Landing. He is caught in a whirlpool and almost drowns.

There are many universal themes found in this book: the importance of family, friendship, how it is okay to be different and accepting differences in other people, and racial prejudice. For example, Kenny meets Rufus Fry, a new kid from Arkansas, who is different from the other kids. Kenny learns that they shoot and eat squirrels and they are poor and cannot afford a lot of clothes or food. While other people make fun of him, (the kids laugh at his “country style of talking”) Kenny learns what it means to be a friend. He shares his food, his toys, and his leather gloves with Rufus. The reader also learns about forgiveness from the characters. Kenny laughs about Cody’s jeans and Rufus gets upset, but then forgives him when Kenny apologizes.

The reader also gets a sense of the racial discrimination against African Americans during these times. Throughout the book, the reader gets little glimpses that lead up to the bombing at the church in Birmingham. For example, when Momma says that Birmingham is a good place and Dad said, “Oh yeah, they’re a laugh a minute down there. Let’s see, where was that ‘Coloreds Only’ bathroom downtown?” (pg. 5). Finally, this book demonstrates that we can all be heroes. Byron was a hero when he saved Kenny from drowning. Kenny was a hero when he somehow saved Joetta from the church bombing.

The reader knows that this is a work of historical fiction because the author includes an Epilogue at the end of the book, in which he explains that at the time of the story, the Civil Rights Movement was happening. Curtis explains how African Americans were segregated and that “the worst sections of public facilities were set aside for “Coloreds Only’” (pg. 207). Curtis comes right out and says, “The characters and events in this novel are fictional” (pg. 208). However, there were bombings in Birmingham in 1963. He dedicates the book in memory of four teenagers that were killing in one such bombing on September 15, 1963. By including a church bombing involving the Watsons in his story, the reader experiences what it may have been like to be there. We see how the event traumatizes Kenny and how he works through his feelings of anguish and uncertainty.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly (Starred, Boxed Review)
“An exceptional first novel.”

The Horn Book Magazine (Starred Review)
"Superb . . . a warmly memorable evocation of an African American family.”

The New York Times Book Review
“Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving.”

School Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Ribald humor . . . and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Kids’ Reviews
October 27, 2006
"Christopher Paul Curtis brings his characters to life with his outstanding writing. I found myself falling into another world as I began to read each and every night.”

The greatest book in the world! October 19, 2006
“The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this book. I love this book, its soooo funny, except the true part that was sooo sad.”

*Activities
-Have the children pick their favorite scene from the book and make their own Readers Theater Script from it. Then, have different groups read their scripts.
-Read Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream…” speech and discuss how things have changed for African Americans since the Civil Rights Movement.

Happy Reading!
Lonnie