The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

The Watson family from Flint, Michigan travels to Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 to visit Grandma Sands, arriving during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The story follows 10-year-old Kenny Watson and his family as they witness and experience the harsh realities of segregation and racial violence in the Jim Crow South. Through Kenny's perspective, the novel explores themes of family bonds, racial injustice, historical trauma, and resilience during one of America's most turbulent periods. The story culminates with the family experiencing the aftermath of the real-life 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four young girls.