The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Curtis, C. P. (1997). The Watsons go to Birmingham. London: Orion Children's Books.

Kenny is an 11-year-old boy who happens to be the middle child in the tight-knit humorous Watson family. Kenny witnesses the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement as social injustices begin to unravel that begins in Flint and ends in Birmingham. Not to mention, is constantly bullied due to his lazy eye by Buphead and his older brother,By. By seems to be the black sheep and delinquent in the family, who happens to be a disappointment in his parent's eyes. Climatic events occur when Kenny almost drowns, his brother continues to get into trouble and gets sent to live with his very strict Grandmother Sands where a bombing occurs in a church that leaves four little girls dead. tjis tragic event does something to By and leaves the family devastated. A great book with important themes about the importance of family and acceptance of others.