Parent reviews for The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

This book has adult language, sexual innuendos, and violence (bullying, name calling, etc). Definitely a PG 13 rating.

Realizing there was NO actual sex, there was more innuendo than necessary. I really enjoyed the Watson family and the book did prompt me to delve into certain aspects of history that were depicted! The historical content is great but the emotional content presented requires more maturity. For instance, there were some parts that touched on developing sexuality that I think a 13 year old would have a healthier time processing than a 10-12 year old. The mention of smart kids and dirty magazines was unnecessary, the interaction of the parents during the car record player sequence was fine because married but still more appropriate for a teen reader. The prefrontal cortex brain development of a 10-12 year old should not have to process this... no matter the level of reader. In my opinion, the darkness of the "Wool Pooh" and the momentary dealings with loss of a sibling were too emotionally charged for a 10-12 year old's brain /emotional development as well. Some questions for discussion between a parent/child could be: 1) Are there any views presented that could change as the character grows older? If so, how? 2) Did any of the content seem to personal to you or to any of your friends? 3) Were your views on racial tension in history and present day altered by reading this? If so, how?

This book is just right for kids that are growing up mostly because if they never about black history then they might never know what most black people had to go through. Some people lost their lives during this time, and if y'all are worried about "too much sex" "Too much swearing" Too much violence" then y'all should really consider if you were black and your kid wanted to learn about black history then let them no matter what a book or a documentary says( cussing) he/she are still learning something.

it is a good book and movie but language and violence was the problem

he book the Watson go to Birmingham you read about a family in flint Michigan that live in house . you will start to learn more and more about the family like how they eat or how they deal with problems.one of the central conflicts in the book is when Kenny and his family go on a trip to Birmingham in there car which takes a while to get there they have all kinds of fun when Kenny and buyrone go to use the restroom in the woods they talk about rednecks attacking them to the part were he attacked his bully because he had enough of it. one of the central themes in the book is curiosity because Kenny is very curious thought the whole book for example when his friend stops hanging out with him he starts to wonder what he did wrong also when they were talking about red necks he wondered what they looked like while they were in Tennessee. I think that the grade i gave this book was what it deserved because i have read this book a couple of times . but i don't hate the book but i also don't like it a lot and that what i thought of the Watson go to Birmingham

I am an avid reader, always have been. For me in order to learn something and understand it I had to read it in a book. (Many different books in most cases.) As an adult that read this book as a child I really think it gave an up close look at racism in first person view without being over the top graphic, although some of the story is worded very strongly. I think it gave me perspective while still capturing my attention with humor and other plot lines it wasn't serious 100% of the time. It really gave an honest look into what family structure was like in that time period, the divide in the south and north with segregation, the violence that occured and many other things. I think this was a great book to read at that young age.

This is an excelent book with real life characters. The story covers life situations a black family encountered during the 1960's.

Byron uses minimal bad language but is still a hazard to kids under 10, and is very educational.

i am 11 and my class recently finished reading this book.i think anyone can read this book once they are mature enough,so they wont try doing these stupid things i love this book and i think everyone else will too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love this book it is a very good book and it has a little cussing in it and it has some violence in it like squirrels getting shot by a 22 and a bird dies and stuff like that i would recommend this to a 12 or older