The story centers on the Watsons, a Black family living in Flint, Michigan. The narrator, ten-year-old Kenny, describes their daily life alongside his bossy older brother Byron and their younger sister Joetta. In an effort to curb Byron's rebellious behavior, their parents, Daniel and Wilona, decide to drive the family south to stay with their strict grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. During their visit, the children encounter the realities of racial segregation, culminating in the historic 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, which forces the family to confront unexpected violence and its aftermath.
Middle-grade readers and students of American history read this book to understand the intersection of domestic family life and the Civil Rights Movement. It provides a specific look at how large-scale political events and systemic racism impact the safety of private individuals. Readers walk away with a clear picture of the 1960s racial landscape in both the North and South, as well as a perspective on how siblings support each other through psychological trauma and grief.
Clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1995
- Language
- EN
