Overview Of The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 By Christopher Paul Curtis

In the historical fiction novel, The Watsons go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Byron has changed in several great ways. Kenny, a ten-year-old boy was crying and his older brother, Byron was trying to comfort him. A little while before this, there was an incident where Joetta, Byron and Kenny’s little sister, could have died. There was a bombing at the church where Joetta was attending, and the Watson family hears about this, worried for Joetta. Joetta arrives home safely, asking Kenny why he changed his clothes. Joetta and the rest of the Watson family believes that Kenny was the one who saved and brought Joetta home, even though he did not. No one dares to tell Joetta about the bombing.“‘If you hadn’ta been born who would have

She’da gone right back in there. If you hadn’t been born who woulda gone in that church to see if Joey really was in there? Me and Momma and Dad was all too scared, you was the only one brave enough to go in there”’ (Curtis 202). The evidence supports the claim because the old Byron would have never said such caring words to anyone. Byron was always isolated and cold; he never cared or paid so much attention to anyone. After the trip to Alabama, Byron is more open and sensitive. He comforted Kenny when he was going through a lot, but the Byron before would have laughed and walked away. In addition, Grandma Sands was telling the Watson family about a little boy Jimmy, who got caught in a whirlpool and died. Joetta and Kenny were not paying much attention, so Byron said that the whirlpool was actually called a Wool Pooh, and it was Winnie’s evil twin brother. He said that the Wool Pooh hid underwater and snatched kids to bring down with him. Kenny did not believe Byron, so he jumped into the water. He got caught in a whirlpool and Byron ends up saving him. “...he just wrapped his arms around my shoulders real tight and put his mouth right on top of my head! Byron was shaking like he was getting electrocuted and crying like a baby and kissing the top of my head over and over!” (Curtis