The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
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From: Amanda C. Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	We just finished chapter seven. I thought it was alittle funny. What do you think?
From: Kim Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: anyone I just finished reading the 7th chapter. It was really funny. I have so far enjoyed the book. It has a lot of humor.
From: Kenny Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: HI! This book is getting better by the chapter.
From: Bryan Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	So far this book is good. My favorite chapter is chapter 7.
From: Tammy Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Kim Dear Kim, Chapter 5 taught a good lesson.I think mrs. Watson had the right to try to burn Byron.Though it did make you feel kind of sad for Joey and how she had to be stuck in the middle.This was a sad chapter
From: Christie Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	I think chapter 7 was funny. Byron can be so ridculous. I would have never done that to my hair.
From: danp Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: the homies I think this book is great!!!I liked wgen mama was going to burn byron.I hope this boook will get even better,but some parts were boaring
From: Ainslie Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Christopher Paul Curtis I really loved chapters 5,6,and 7.They were kind of funny! I especially likedchapter 7 the most because of the way you described Byron's hair. He can be so ridiculus, though funny!!
From: Christie Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	My favorite chapter so far is chapter #7. I like books with humor in it. It makes the book more interesting. I am enjoying the book so far!!
From: JJay Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Shane I had the same reactions
From: Peter Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Anyone and C. P. Curtis I think that this book is great! Even though our school is only on chapter 8, it's so funny. I think it's funny when Mr. Watson shaved Byron's head. I knew someone who's ears stick out like By's. Do you think that Kenny should've acted like a reporter? I do because all the time Byron was acting like a bully to Kenny. i'm glad that Byron learned a leason after so long!
From: kenneth Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: spencer tx My favorit part is when By gets all those cookies. How far are you in the book?
From: JJay Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Stacey Do you think that Grandma Sands is weird, do you think that Ken will like the south too?
From: Robert Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	I think the book so far is funny but it's starting to get more serious. I feel bad for Kenny because he has lazy eye. I also felt bad for Larry Dunn in the one chapter because Byron was being so mean to him with the carp game.In conclusion, I think the book is going to turn out great.
From: ashley s Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Jon Hi! Do you think Byron will like Birmingham? Why or why not? I don't think he will but he has to get used to it. Because he is going to be there for at least the rest of the year and might come back next summer.
From: dan Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Chistopher Paul Curtis this is a great book what are other good books that you wrote?:~)
From: Christie Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Kelly I must agree with you and Erin. It was funny when Joetta was blowing out the matches. I wonder what would have happen if momma did actully burn Byrons finger?
From: Ainslie Grade 6 Stillwater Elementary Stillwater, NJ	To: Amanda C. I thought chapter 7 was a little funny also! I also liked chapter 6 when their mom was going to burn Byron!! Even though Joetta was very upset.
From: Dave Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Stephen I think that the book is very good and well writen too. He did cry after hitting the bird. I think that he didn't want anyone to know that they were on welfare, and By would be embarrassed.
From: Ray Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Mr.Curtis When you where writing this book did you have a picture of the charecters and the settings,because I have some in my head.
From: Erin Grade 5th Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Barbra I think the book is really good.I like how the author uses a lot of detail.Especially when they're going to all the new cities.
From: jason Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Author Do you think that Mamma is going too far by sending By to his Grandma Sands? I think that it is a perfect thing to do, it is just like sending him to boot camp from what I have heard. Mabey they should have sent his to Camp Greenlake.
From: Corey Grade seventh Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Kyle in MD I think it makes the book more interesting if you use imagery. Why do you think mama planned their trip to Birmingham to the last second? I think she did because people are racist in the south and there might not be a place to stop for anything. What chapter are you on? We are on chapter 11. What is you favorite chapter? I like all the chapters equally.
From: Amy Grade 5 Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Anyone and Everyone Why do you think mama packed all that extra food? Does she want to save money or is mama trying to just be prepared? Or do you think there is another reason?
From: wes Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: author Dear Author Is this a true book or is it fiction? I like to get to see it from a black persons view and how they think the white people will hang them than eat them. Are these characters based on people? Or are they all relatives of yours?
From: ashley s Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Jon What is your fav. chapter so far? I like chapter 10 it was alright. Did you like chapter 10 or 6 more? I like chapter 6 more than chapter 10.
From: kenneth Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: krista I think By should have listened to his moma because now he is in alot of trouble for all the things he did. Do you think moma and dad are right for sending By to Grandma Sands? I don't because that town is so racists it's not funny.
From: Devon Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Author I think it is funny that they have to go to bathroom in outhouses because it is just like a pit. And I think Byron will get bored with grandma sands because she is in a quiet neighborhood!
From: Kurt Grade 7th Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Erin at Plum Point I think that Kenny should play Yakety Yak for all of his times. That song is cool. Our teacher brought it in today. Dad shouldn't have bought that record player. They don't listen to it anyway. They also need to save their money.
From: Tracey Grade fifth Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Christopher Paul Curtis I think this book is great.It is amazing how you take the most boring or regular thing and make it funny.For instance,when you talk about Byron telling Kenny about rednecks and how they will hang you up and eat you later.If someone in my family said that, it wouldn't be half as funny.You are a great book writer.I hope you write more so I can read them.
From: Madison Grade 5 Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Jill I think By will suddenly be absolutely perfect to Grandma Sands the whole time he is in Birmingham. Then when he gets home he will go back to the way he was. If this does happen, I wonder if Mama will take Byron back to Birmingham. What do you think?
From: Lyndsey Grade 5th Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Kristyn K. I liked chapter 5 too, but it is not my favorite chapter. I have not read chapter 11 yet, but we are on it right now. I also thought that chapter 10 was my favorite chapter because they are on the road and I thought it was funny when Joey drooled on Kenny. After I read chapter 11 I will write you back.
From: Amber N Grade 7th Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: leslie@Katy TX I think he does care because he told buphead that he wasn't going to talk all the way down to Birmingham but he forgot about that. What chapter are you on right now. The book I like other than this is Holes. So do you like this book? Whats your favorite charater? Did you think it was mean of L.J. to take the monster from Kenny? What do you mean by he would like to stay for the who school year if it was summer?
From: JJay Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Christopher Paul Curtis Did you write this book off of personal experience
From: ashley s Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Jon Hi again! Who is your favorite character in this book so far? Mine is Joey!
From: ally Grade 7th Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: the author Thank you for the infomation. My dad will really appreciate it. Maybe you will see one of them on a shelf in a store some day. If my dad were writing he would say thank you too!!
From: Cory Grade 5 Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Anyone Do you think Grandma Sands is going to have everything ready for them to go back to Flint? I think that they have to go and buy everything. When they go and buy things they spend all of their money. So they had to borrow money from Grandma Sands. I think that Grandma Sands is not going to remember that Byron is comming down and she goes to visit sombody else. Or she thought she had to go and pick him up in Flint. What do you think?
From: erika Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: eric hi! Do you think Byron should be going down south? I think that it is funny that they dont like the portapotteis things. do you think that their granma is going to be meen?
From: Danielle Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Jamie Do you think that Byron is going to like Birmingham? I think at first he won't like it but get use to it and make some friends. He probly won't like it at first because he wont use to living with his grandmother and so will do stupid things and get in alot of trouble. And another thing is I know he won't like to use the outhouse.
From: ashley s Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: jon Do you think Byron should go to Birmingham? I think he should. What is your favorite chapter so far? Mine is alot of them.
From: Cory, Erin, Madison, Lyndsey, Amy Grade 5 Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: anyone We've had a great time discussing the early part of the trip. The Watsons are so funny! We especially liked the part with the outhouse in Ohio, and the part where Kenny wakes up because his leg is wet and discovers that Joey has drooled all over him. We talked about family trips we've taken with our families. Are we there yet? It's my turn to sit by the window! But the Watsons are funnier!
From: josh Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: christopher poul curtis What was your inspiration for writing this book?
From: Shawn Grade 7th Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Amy I thought By had alot of feelings in side one of them was relief because he wouldn't get laughed at for being on welfare, another one was happiness because he doesn't need to pay for food anymore and last feeling was evil because By was thinking he could get anything he wants. What to you think of mama burning By's fingers also tell me how far you guys got in the book we're at chapter 11.
From: Sheridan Discussion Group Grade 5 Sheridan Elementary Petoskey, MI	To: Christopher Paul Curtis and other participants Dear Mr. Curtis: As we discuss your story, we are surprised and shocked at some of the things that happen and the way people treat each other. We can't even imagine the segregation and discrimination that were happening in the south when the Watsons made their trip to Birmingham. Maybe it's because of where we live, but we hope things aren't that bad anywhere in our country anymore! The Watson family tries to laugh it off by telling tall tales (hillbillies eat colored people) and by talking "Southern" -- but it would be really scary to live like that, always worried about how others will treat you.
From: Karen Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	Hello. The part when Joey tells her parents that Byron was going to escape in the night was for Byron's protection but he thought that Kenny told on him. That has never happened to me before because I am kind of an only child. Has it ever happened to you? Do you think that it is okay to tell on siblings or have them tell on you? Send comments to Karen!
From: Shannon Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Author What made you decide to make this book so humorous? And why did you decide to write this book?
From: Travis Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Bob from stillwater Have you ever feared being an adult? I thought it was right to send Byron to Alabama because he is nothing but a troublemaker!
From: Whitney Grade 7th Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Anyone My favorite part in the book so far is when the family stops at the Rest Stop and Kenneth and Byron have to go to the Bathroom and the flies are in the toilets and they just take toilet paper and they walk outside of the toilet areas and they go to the bathroom in the woods. What is your favorite part?
From: Karen Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Christopher Paul Curtis Hello. I am enjoying your book so far. I am wondering what made you put the Tennessee Mountains? I thought that was a good and interesting part of the book. I like the way that you explained it like when you said that it was like a black blanket with the Weird Watsons in the middle! Why do you call them the Weird Watsons anyway? Write back to Karen please!!!
From: emily Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Stacy When dad tries to to explain to Kenny why the are sendingByron to Alabama because to learn a lesson .
From: Shane Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Plum Point Schools What did you think when the kids and mom and dad had there hands out the window and thought it was amazing. I do that all the time. Do you think Byron is Daddy cool? I don't, Ithink he thinks highly of himself.
From: Craig Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Author I think that it was a good idea to send by to Alabama.
From: Shannon Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Anyone I think Byron should of change his choices. But I think it would be funny with Byron in Birmingham. To see what he will do.
From: Alan Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Krista- Plum Point Middle School Why do you think Byron has to be such a jerk? I think he does it for the fame and the attention. What do you think of this book so far?
From: Alan Grade 7 Marshall Middle School Marshall, WI	To: Christopher Paul Curtis- Author How did you come up with the settings of this book? You must have done a good job at it because you won some awards for it. How does it feel to be a writer and knowing that you are helping people read better or get a bigger imagination. I think it is a great book.