Why was the Watsons Go to Birmingham banned?
Why was the Watsons Go to Birmingham banned?
The Watsons Go To Birmingham–1963 Challenged in the Stafford County, Va. middle schools (2002) because a parent was offended by some language. The book is a 1996 Newbery Honor winner and the same year was named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
What is the author’s message in The Watsons Go to Birmingham?
The overarching theme of this novel is that of family. This is a character-driven story, which gives the reader a slice of family life, through Kenny’s eyes, as he comes to understand the power that lies in familial love. The reader can see that love between the Watsons in countless ways throughout the novel.
What is a symbol in the Watsons Go to Birmingham?
The Wool Pooh is the novel’s most prominent symbol. For Kenny, the Wool Pooh symbolizes death, acting much like a grim reaper figure. Kenny encounters the Wool Pooh twice — once when he nearly drowns at Collier’s Landing, and again at the bombed church.
What are some metaphors in The Watsons Go to Birmingham?
The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 Metaphors and Similes
- “[Byron] dropped out of the tree like a superhero.”
- “Momma’s voice got strange, hissing like a snake.”
- “Haven’t any of you wondered why you’ve been sleeping like a little herd of angels?”
- “Grandma Sands laughed just like the Wicked Witch of the West.”
How does Kenny help Byron?
Byron is the one who finally gets Kenny to come out of hiding. Byron gets Kenny to talk about the bombing and Byron convinces Kenny that he has nothing to be ashamed of. Byron helps Kenny see that even though life isn’t fair and bad things happen, it’s important to keep living.
How does Byron get himself stuck to the car mirror?
How does Byron get himself stuck to the car mirror? He got stuck from kissing himself in the mirror. How do they separate Bryon from the mirror? The mom separates Byron from the mirror by pulling him off of it.
What does the whirlpool represent in The Watsons Go to Birmingham?
The whole Wool Pooh thing gets started when Grandma Sands tells the kids to stay away from Collier’s Landing because a little boy got caught in a whirlpool there and drowned. Whatever else it might be, the Wool Pooh is definitely a symbol for death.
What does Momma threaten to do each time Byron gets caught lighting matches Why doesn’t she follow through with the punishment?
Byron gets caught lighting matches for fun (this kid really is a delinquent), and Momma swears that the next time she catches him starting a fire, she will burn him. Yikes!
How old is Bryan in The Watsons Go to Birmingham?
When the Watsons travel to Birmingham, Alabama to drop him off to their Grandma Sands to set Byron straight, Byron is changed forever. Throughout the story, Christopher Paul Curtis first portrays Byron as a selfish and cruel character, but by the end, Byron changes into a more mature 13 year old.
