The wonderful weird Watsons



 Curtis, C. (1995) The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963. New York, NY: Delacorte Press
The Watson family has a reputation for being a little weird. The eldest brother Byron is on his way to being a delinquent, Kenny, the younger, is an amazing reader with a lazy eye, while their little sister Joetta is a pretty well-mannered little girl.  Their father is a bit of a joker, and their Mama’s Southern roots come right out when she’s excited or angry.  Just as Byron’s delinquency is reaching a high, they decide to explore Mama’s southern roots on a road trip to Alabama. It’s a trip that will change their lives forever.
        This book somehow manages to be hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, poignant, and hilarious all over again.  You cannot help but fall in love with Kenny’s views of the world and how he interacts with it.  Racial equality is an issue that comes up within the story, but not in a preachy, or angry way.  The book is really about this amazing family, and in the end, how they could be affected by that kind of hate.  I loved this book and really recommend it.

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