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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTen-year-old Kenny Watson lives in Flint, Michigan, with his parents and two siblings: his little sister Joetta, sweet and rule-following, and his older brother Byron, a thirteen-year-old troublemaker who has a long list of offenses including lighting fires, skipping school, and getting a forbidden hair conk. The family is funny, loud, and close, and Kenny narrates their daily adventures with sharp, affectionate humor. But when Byron's behavior gets bad enough that their parents decide something drastic has to be done, the Watsons pile into their beloved 1948 Plymouth — the Brown Bomber — and head south to Birmingham, Alabama, to leave Byron with their strict Grandma Sands for the summer. What starts as a road trip full of family jokes and "Yakety Yak" playing on the car's new Ultra-Glide record player turns into something that will change the Watsons forever.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book is a second-grader paraded into a fifth-grade class to read Langston Hughes aloud?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Miss Henry brings Kenny to Mr. Alums's tough fifth-grade class to demonstrate advanced reading. Kenny is mortified to spot his brother in the front row giving him a fierce stare.
- First half
In what book does a kindergartener save her brother by blowing out five matches in a row?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Joey saves Byron by puffing out five matches in a row, spit and all, like the Little Engine That Thought It Could. Their mom finally gives up and waits for their dad to deal with him.
- First half
In what book does a mom mock her son's straightened hair by calling him Bozo the clown?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Wilona flicks pieces of the porcupine-stiff hair out over Byron's ears and laughs that he looks like an honest-to-God circus clown. Byron insists he wanted Mexican-style hair and thinks it is cool.
- Second half
In what book does a dad say the family is tickling "God's beard" driving through the mountains?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Driving through the Appalachian Mountains at night, Dad tells everyone the cool, silky air on their fingers means they are tickling God's beard. Byron acts like he is going to throw up.
- Second half
In what book does a boy expect a brother and grandma showdown like "Bobo Brazil meets the Sheik"?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Kenny imagines the meeting between Byron and Grandma Sands as a wrestling battle. Instead Byron immediately starts saying "Yes, ma'am" and surrenders before the first punch is thrown.
- Near the end
In what book does a boy nearly drown at a forbidden swimming spot called Collier's Landing?
✓ Answer
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Kenny ignores Grandma Sands's warning and goes alone to Collier's Landing, where he wades out to try to catch a green turtle. The rocky bottom slopes away from shore and he gets sucked into deep water.
