I didnt expect this to take the serious turn that it did. Kids may not "get" the intensity toward the end. Having said that, I would still like my kids to read it in the hopes ofnopening their eyes a bit to the African American experience of the 60s. ( )

The Watson family go on a trip south. They visit their grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. It ends up being one of the worst moments in America's history. The story shows how a family copes with racism and learning to count on family. ( )

This is humorous, but tragic story revolving around Civil Rights in the 1960s. Kenny and his family leave Flint, Michigan to go visit their grandma in Birmingham, Alabama. However, things are very different in Alabama than Michigan for this comical family. Follow Kenny as he discovers what he needs to do to deal with the problems his family is facing. The story encourages readers to explore conflict resolution and observing situations through multiple perspectives. ( )

This book is told through the eyes of Kenny Watson who lives in Flint, Michigan with his mom, dad, sister Joetta, and brother Byran. It tells about everyday experiences with his family and how close his family is no matter how much they fight. It takes place in the winter. Kenny talks about the different things Byron does to get in trouble. Kenny looks up to his big brother Byron and he protects and helps take care of his little sister. The family decides to go to Birmingham which is where a tragedy takes place. This book is a must read for middle school students. ( )

The author does a wonderful job portraying a 10-year-old's perceptions of the world. Kenny's family is easy to relate to with the older teenage brother's antics, and the youthful innocence of the younger sister, and loving parents who decide to take the family on a road trip to visit grandma. There are plenty of laughs in the beginning of the book, but then the book takes a dark turn when the harsh reality of hate crimes against African Americans during the 1960s becomes centerpoint. ( )