Synopsis
Nine-year-old Kenny narrates this story about his middle-class, African-American family and their 1963 trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama. The trip's purpose is two-fold--to visit their grandmother, and to get Kenny's older brother away from the rough crowd he has been running with. Sadly, racism rears its ugly head as the family travels through the South, eventually culminating in the bombing of Kenny's grandmother's church while his younger sister and many others are inside.
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-10-01 | | Edition Description: | Reprint |
| Size | | Length: | 210 pages | | Height: | 7.5 in | | Width: | 5.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 5.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
Enter the hilarious world of 10-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. Theres Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, Kenny, and Byron, whos 13 and an official "juvenile delinquent. " When Momma and Dad decide its 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. Theyre heading south. They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in American history.
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.
Industry Reviews
"Mr. Curtis thus skillfully merges the Watsons' story with the actual bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in September 1963, in which four young African American girls were killed....a marvelous debut, a fine novel about a solid and appealing family."
New York Times Book Review - Kermit Frazier (11/12/1995)
"Fourth-grader Kenny Watson brings his black family beautifully to life in Flint, Michigan, in the 60s--but this warm and funny and touching first novel turns into a searing indictment when the Watsons venture south into ugliness and violence. You won't soon forget Kenny and all the Watsons."
Publisher's Catalog - Robert Cormier
"With a skill and mastery not often observed in a first novel, Christopher Paul Curtis has created a memorable tale about love and rivalry between siblings, growing pains, friendships, and the strength of black families who continue to love and support its members despite the obstacles created through ignorance and racism."
Quarterly Black Review of Books - Shree R. Thomas
"...warmhearted and luxuriously padded with humor."
Literary Review - Michael Thorn (09/19/1997)
"The poignancy of the ending lies in the protagonist's bright spirits darkening after this trauma, without the author's relinquishing control of a consistently fresh narrative voice. The contrast is startling, innovative, and effective in a strong first novel showing how--and why--the Civil Rights movement affected individual African-Americans."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - Betsy Hearne (10/19/1995)
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