Relax & Read: Historical Fiction (textbook assignment #4)

The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963

Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963. NY: Scholastic.

Ten-year-old Kenny Watson lives with his parents, sister, and his thirteen-year-old brother, who’s the “official juvenile delinquent in Flint, Michigan. Day after day, Kenny has to deal with being bullied by his brother and classmates. Kenny is constantly questioning why is he’s brother so mean. On the contrary, if it weren’t for his brother, it could be worst. Out of desperation to try and straighten Byron, the juvenile delinquent, his parents decide to travel to Birmingham and drop Byron off at his grandmother’s house. Its 1963, and Birmingham has become the center of the civil rights movement. The story is written in the first person point of view, Kenny. Readers can identify with Kenny as he deals with being bullied by his older brother, and being known as one of the Weird Watsons. Its in Birmingham, that Kenny encounters the Wool Pooh at Collier’s Landing and at the Baptist church. Its during this difficult time, that Kenny understand and values his brother’s protection. The author’s use of language known as the Southern-style will keep the reader fascinated with reading.

Book trailer:

Lesson plans:
https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=7193

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385321754&view=tg

http://www.walden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The-Watsons-go-to-Birmingham-Educational-Resource.pdf

https://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WatsonsGoToBirmingham_EG_WEB.pdf

Author webpage:
http://www.nobodybutcurtis.com

Additional books:
Bud, not Buddy
Elijah of Buxton
Bucking the Sarge

Good masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from Medieval village

Schlitz, L. A. (2007). Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from Medieval village [Kindle version]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com

Its 1255, where the reader encounters children and teenagers living on or near an England manor. Some of the youngsters come from a pauper family and some are sons or daughters of nobility. Its through their stories that we learn of their everyday life and customs. In Otho’s story, the reader learns how the Miller deceives peasants by stealing a portion of flour using chalk as a substitution. The reader learns of how Jews were made to wear a yellow badge to identify themselves. Also, in between the short one person plays, the author adds “a little background section” on the Crusades, the Pilgrimage, the three field system, falconry, and Jews. As each youngster tells their story, one can relate to their experiences. Some problems that children encounter then, are still being dealt with today. Young Edgar breaks into the falconer’s property and steals (or frees) the hawks. In Simon’s story, he was ready to be a knight like his father and grandfather. However, the family is left with no money, after having to sell their possessions to pay for the knight’s horse, armor, and weapon. Some were physically abused like Mogg. Each story is written thorough the eyes of the beholder. The language used is appropriate to each of the youngster’s social class.