yesterday in a last minute scramble to read something for black history month (my original plan was to read black boy because my best friend tiffany had given me a copy but that didn't work out), i borrowed the watsons go to birmingham-1963 from the classroom i subbed in (thank you again gina!). the book received both the newbery honor and the coretta scott king honor. based on these honors, i knew i had picked a great read in honor of black history month.
the watsons go to birmingham-1963 is the story about a black family, nicknamed the weird watsons. our narrator was the middle child kenny (of kenneth), a cock-eyed boy that loves to read. he had two siblings, a younger sister joey (joetta) who was very loving and protective of her brothers, and an older brother by (byron) by that was a juvenile delinquent.
the first half of the book is the story of kenny's life. we get to know his family. his mother was originally from the south, a worrywart when it comes to winter and strict (to stop by from playing with matches, she burned his finger to show him the harm it does first hand!). his father was a jokester, a fun dad but strict when he needed to be. kenny would have been bullied all of the time because he was a gifted reader and his eye but his wasn't because as mentioned before by was a juvenile delinquent and head thug of the school so people left kenny alone.
by was constantly in trouble, he considered himself a "cool daddy". he ditched school, cussed, played with matches, etc. in a hilarious episode, he relaxed his hair, he wanted mexican hair! the parents' jokes about this were great, his mother introduced him as their long lost son from mexico when showing his dad what he had done! and then his father shaved his head afterwards introduced him as their long lost son from siam, yu watson!!! lol. but jokes aside, his mother did give him a great lecture about him being happy with the hair god gave him verse trying to be something he wasn't with chemicals.
all of by's trouble resulted in the family heading to birmingham because by was to stay with their grandma sands (their mother s mother) for the summer to shape up. as the family prepped for the trip, i discovered something i never knew existed . . . record players in cars! kenny's dad had a record player put in their car for their trip, at first i assumed it was just a radio but i googled. and yes! people had actual record players in their cars! they were small and played 45s but still crazy. i assumed a record player would be inconvenient in the car but people had them!
the family was at risk in birmingham, kenny's father explained to him the racism and violence that was occurring in the south but reassured him that they would be safe.
once in birmingham, by began to soften. he was respectful towards his grandmother and more open with the family. kenny does not have the same type of experience in birmingham. he had an near death experience having almost drowned due to a whirlpool. based on a story by tried to spook him with kenny imagined that wool pooh, winnie the pooh's evil twin brother, was the one that grabbed him and tried to kill him. by saved kenny but they do not share with the family what had occurred.
then one sunday, the church that joey attended with family friends was bombed. the whole family ran to the church in search of her. kenny entered the church and saw what he imagined to be joey's shoe and assumed his sister was dead. he saw wool pooh again but this time he took his sister.
kenny returned home and his sister, joey finds him. he at first thought joey was a ghost, wool pooh bringing her around for her final good-byes but it really was her! she survived. it turned out that joey stepped out to the church porch for a minute and thought she saw kenny waving to her and so she followed what she thought was him. regardless of what really occurred, joey was safe!
the family returned home, even by, but not all was well. due to what he witnessed in the church kenny fell into a depression. he disappeared behind the couch hoping that magic would save him (by called it a magical hospital for their pets). his family tried their best to help but in the end it was by that helped kenny. by helped kenny realize that there is no understanding racism and that life is unfair but instead of becoming depressed by it you have to move on. it was wonderful advice that by gave to him that could be apply to anyone. it was also great to see by growing up and being a great young man.
this is an excellent story for children and young adults to read. by connecting with kenny through his trials at school and interactions with friends and family, they are able to view the racism of the 1960's filtered through his eyes. it becomes a more personal experience than facts they can read in a textbook.
furthermore, curtis did a great job of making real life connections in the epilogue. he reminds the readers that victims of racial violence in the 1960's had family members that cared for them and they suffered reprecutions due to their deaths. futhermore, in the closing paragraph he goes onto explain the importance of questioning unfairness in society and trying to make a change for the better, this desire for a better world is what makes someone a heroes. i think that is important message for anyone, regardless of age. we are all capable of making the world a better place.
the waitrons go to birmingham-1963 is a great book for young minds and perfect for black history month but should be regardless if its february or not.
all in all, a wonderful book not only for black history month but for any month!
