Editorial Reviews
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The year is 1963, and
self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's
existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from
straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips
to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too
far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or steal
change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to
send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict
grandmother. Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive
from Flint, Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in
America's history: the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with
four little girls inside.
Christopher Paul Curtis's alternately hilarious
and deeply moving novel, winner of the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott
King Honor, blends the fictional account of an African American family with
the factual events of the violent summer of 1963. Fourth grader Kenny is an
innocent and sincere narrator; his ingenuousness lends authenticity to the
story and invites readers of all ages into his world, even as it changes
before his eyes. Curtis is also the acclaimed author of
Bud, Not Buddy, winner of the Newbery Medal.
(Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up?Kenny's family is
known in Flint, Michigan, as the Weird Watsons, for lots of good reasons.
Younger sister Joetta has been led to believe she has to be overdressed in
the winter because Southern folks (their mother is from Alabama) freeze
solid and have to be picked up by the city garbage trucks. Kenny, the
narrator, does well in school and tries to meet his hard-working parents'
expectations. After a string of misdeeds, Mr. and Mrs. Watson decide that
tough guy, older brother Byron must be removed from the bad influences of
the city and his gang. They feel that his maternal grandmother and a
different way of life in Birmingham might make him appreciate what he has.
Since the story is set in 1963, the family must make careful preparations
for their trip, for they cannot count on food or housing being available on
the road once they cross into the South. The slow, sultry pace of life has a
beneficial effect on all of the children until the fateful day when a local
church is bombed, and Kenny runs to look for his sister. Written in a
full-throated, hearty voice, this is a perfectly described piece of past
imperfect. Curtis's ability to switch from fun and funky to
pinpoint-accurate psychological imagery works unusually well. Although the
horrific Birmingham Sunday throws Kenny into temporary withdrawl, this story
is really about the strength of family love and endurance. Ribald humor, sly
sibling digs, and a totally believable child's view of the world will make
this book an instant hit.?Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School,
Winchester, KY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Written in 1995, Christopher
Paul Curtis captures the Watson family in 1963 as a timepiece. Curtis's
story is a strong one with humor, tragedy and family life finely interwoven.
Portraying the African-American family living in Flint, Michigan, Levar
Burton needs to recreate an era more than 30 years ago. Burton doesn't quite
manage to make us believe this is a family of the '60's. The epilogue
directed to a young audience has an important message for listeners putting
the story of the Watsons in historic perspective. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile,
Portland, Maine
From Booklist
Gr. 4^-8. In a voice that's
both smart and naive, strong and scared, fourth-grader Kenny Watson tells
about his African American family in Flint, Michigan, in 1963. We get to
know his strict, loving parents and his tough older brother, who gets into
so much trouble his parents decide to take him back "home" to Birmingham,
Alabama, where maybe his strong grandmother will teach him some sense.
Several of the family stories are a bit self-conscious (we keep being told
we're going to laugh as Dad puts on a show and acts the fool), but the
relationships aren't idealized. Racism and the civil rights movement are
like a soft rumble in the background, especially as the Watsons drive south.
Then Kenny's cute little sister is in a Birmingham church when a bomb goes
off. She escapes (Curtis doesn't exploit the horror), but we're with Kenny
as he dreads that she's part of the rubble. In this compelling first novel,
form and content are one: in the last few chapters, the affectionate
situation comedy is suddenly transformed, and we see how racist terror can
invade the shelter of home. Hazel Rochman --
Book Description
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.
Ingram
Ten-year-old Kenny and his
family, the Watsons of Flint, Michigan, are heading for Birmingham, Alabama,
and one of the darkest moments in American history. 1996 Newbery Honor Book.
1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. An ALA Notable Book. An ALA Best Book
for Young Adults. A New York Times Book Review Best Book. A Horn Book
Fanfare.
From the Publisher
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, Kenny, and 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 American
history.
From the Back Cover
"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
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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