GoodReads Version: A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated
by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint,
Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble,
they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape
him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown
up .
by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint,
Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble,
they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape
him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown
up .
From Kids Reads.com :Sometimes 10-year-old Kenny can't believe his own family. Sometimes they act
so crazy he thinks they should be known as the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan.
Between trying to understand his parents' humor and dealing with his too-cool
older brother and crybaby-tattletale little sister, Kenny never has a dull
moment.
So, Kenny wonders, how will this wacky bunch survive when Momma and Dad load
the whole family into the "Brown Bomber" for the long drive down to Birmingham,
Alabama to visit Grandma Sands? With only a few brief rest stops along the way,
the Watsons finally arrive in Birmingham, greeted by stifling heat and Grandma's
strong hugs.
Just when the family starts to settle into a comfortable Southern rhythm,
tragedy strikes in Birmingham and changes all their lives forever. A bomb,
planted by white racists, explodes in a local church, killing four
African-American girls and injuring many others. At first Kenny thinks his
sister Joey might be among those who were hurt. Even though she turns out to be
safe, Kenny can't shake the image of the crumbled, burning church and the
screaming people gathered around it. The family packs up and heads out of town
that night.
Back home in Flint, the Watsons struggle to understand how anyone could be
hateful enough to commit such a horrible crime. But through the sadness and
confusion, Kenny comes to understand something else. He gains a new appreciation
for the strong love that makes the Watsons not so weird, but very, very
special.
so crazy he thinks they should be known as the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan.
Between trying to understand his parents' humor and dealing with his too-cool
older brother and crybaby-tattletale little sister, Kenny never has a dull
moment.
So, Kenny wonders, how will this wacky bunch survive when Momma and Dad load
the whole family into the "Brown Bomber" for the long drive down to Birmingham,
Alabama to visit Grandma Sands? With only a few brief rest stops along the way,
the Watsons finally arrive in Birmingham, greeted by stifling heat and Grandma's
strong hugs.
Just when the family starts to settle into a comfortable Southern rhythm,
tragedy strikes in Birmingham and changes all their lives forever. A bomb,
planted by white racists, explodes in a local church, killing four
African-American girls and injuring many others. At first Kenny thinks his
sister Joey might be among those who were hurt. Even though she turns out to be
safe, Kenny can't shake the image of the crumbled, burning church and the
screaming people gathered around it. The family packs up and heads out of town
that night.
Back home in Flint, the Watsons struggle to understand how anyone could be
hateful enough to commit such a horrible crime. But through the sadness and
confusion, Kenny comes to understand something else. He gains a new appreciation
for the strong love that makes the Watsons not so weird, but very, very
special.