The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
Ratings44
Average rating4
My 11-year old quasi-stepson's literature class read this book and I decided to read along with him.
While I thought the book would be good, I was blown away by the author's ability to combine the pathos of growing up a middle child and one with a few physical differences that made him the target of bullies.
There are some great family scenes with beautifully drawn characters that leap off the page at you. I also laughed out loud at so many points and found myself crying at others.
This is a great book for middle grade readers up to adults and I look forward to other reads from Christopher Paul Curtis.
I selected this audiobook because it was recommended for kids around the age of my grandson. It was a good, and even educational story. A few things were a little harsh for an 8-year old, but he enjoyed it. 1963 was a much different time. I was an infant at the time, and things have changed a bit since then. But this story tells it like it was back then.
I really love how the author draws you into the Watson family slowly but surely. I also love any book that has me going to the wiki to find out more info about an intriguing subject (for this book I couldn't resist looking up conks).
A solid juvenile historical fiction novel. The Watsons are a charming, funny family. The civil rights movement history seemed slightly tacked-on, but overall a pretty good read.
This book had an excellent ending but it just could not make up for its earlier transgressions. I thought it was a bit of a slow read and I did not even like the characters that much. I thought this whole book was going to be about the trip to Birmingham but it took them a very very long time to get on the road. I really just did not care about everything that happened before they started talking about going to Birmingham.
