Reading an inspiring story can brighten any reader's day. The book “The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963”, written by Christopher Paul Curtis, is an inspirational book designed for young readers. The genres of this book are children's fiction and historical fiction. “The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963” was published by Yearling Books in 1995. This book is about a boy named Kenny who learns the true meaning of family through a trip to Birmingham. "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963" begins in Flint, Michigan, in the winter of 1962, but the majority of the story takes place in the spring and summer of 1963. The protagonist, Kenny, tells the story from his point of view, which is the first-person point of view. Kenny is the middle child of the Watson family. He is ten years old, has a lazy eye, but is an excellent student. Kenny is the target of bullying at Clark Elementary School. He introduces his family as "Weird Watsons". His family includes his father, mother, Joey and Byron. Kenny's father's name is Daniel Watson. He is known to have a good sense of humor. Kenny's mother is called Wilona Sands Watson, but her name is Momma. She is originally from Birmingham and is overprotective of her children. Joey, short for Joetta Watson, is the Watsons' youngest child. She is the most religious character in the story. He also gets along with Byron, which Kenny doesn't. Byron is the Watsons' eldest son. He gets into trouble very often and really enjoys bullying Kenny. Byron is a dynamic character because his personality changes dramatically from the beginning to the end of the story. The conflict in this story is that Kenny is being picked on by his older brother and other students. Kenny's mom and dad decide to take a trip to Alabama to Grandma Sand's house... middle of paper......the Ericana family lives during the times when the civil rights movement was happening. The climax, which is the bombing event, is a real historical event. The author's inclusion of that event makes the novel more effective. This book not only teaches the reader about the events of the story, but also life lessons. Reading "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963" can teach readers while giving them a little laugh. When a person reads a book, they should read it for enjoyment, but also look between the lines for the purpose of the book. Every author, whether writing fiction or nonfiction, has a moral behind their story. Each book is like a painting, a work of art. Yes, you admire it, but you should squint a little, turn your head to any angle and try to find what message the author or painter was trying to send with his work.