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Audiobooks >  > The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963
The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Christopher Paul Curtis Play Audiobook Sample

The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 Audiobook (Unabridged)

By: Christopher Paul Curtis
The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Christopher Paul Curtis Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: LeVar Burton Publisher: Listening Library Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2003 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:
3.00145087604799 out of 53.00145087604799 out of 53.00145087604799 out of 53.00145087604799 out of 53.00145087604799 out of 5 (3.00) - 19,919 listener ratings
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Publisher Description

Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, Kenny, and Byron, Kenny's older brother, who at thirteen is an official juvenile delinquent.

When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. Heading south, they're going to Birmingham, Alabama, and toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.

By turns comic, tragic and touching, this remarkable Newbery Honor work, delightfully performed by LeVar Burton in this unabridged production, will delight listeners young and old as they meet Christopher Paul Curtis, a storyteller of bold ambition and a true and original voice, and his inimitable Watsons.

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"Love books from a child's point of view and love of within a family. It helps me to remember what I felt when I was a young child. I love the thoughts of special showings of family to help protect us from evil. It also reminds me of a time when people in the United States did horrible things to our fellow brothers and sisters because of the color of their skin. May we never see such discrimination of any kind again."

— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)

The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.84848484848485 out of 53.84848484848485 out of 53.84848484848485 out of 53.84848484848485 out of 53.84848484848485 out of 5 (3.85)
5 Stars: 11
4 Stars: 12
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 2
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is a great book. I read it a long time ago, but there are still parts that I remember, both funny and super sad. "

    — Bernini, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Loved it, again. Tried to keep track of all the teaching points, but there's just too many. Can hardly wait to expose my kids to this great voice. "

    — Cindy, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the second time I have read this book with 7th grade English classes and I have to say I enjoyed it more than when I read it as a middle school student. It is funny and lighthearted, peppered with strikingly profound thoughts on race, hate, friendship, and family. "

    — Christa, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny yet poignant book about the Civil Rights movement through a ten year old boys perspective. also learn a lot about family life in flint Michigan in the 1960's. A great book to read aloud. "

    — Tabitha, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I laughed; I cried. What more can you ask for? "

    — Carla474, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I've read this soooo many times! "

    — Jeremy, 12/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " it was awesome! I loved the part with the whool pool. I really liked it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

    — Ryan, 12/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A wonderful account of a black families journey to visit relatives in Birmingham during the time that a church was bombed and little girls dies. "

    — Jenne, 12/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " This book is just downright awful. "

    — Zaira, 12/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Way too low and it didn't keep my interest. "

    — Wendi, 11/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " thx "

    — josef, 10/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Cute and funny book. I laughed out loud several times. It is also very sad as it portrays the racial tensions of the 60's through a child's eyes. "

    — Jennifer, 9/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good YA read (Middle School age). Had wit, humor, well written. "

    — Deb, 1/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Some great characters and interesting history. Not my favorite of his books. "

    — Chris, 1/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Prettttty funny! Had to reead this for school "

    — Lacee, 8/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book was a little bit confusing but I really enjoyed it! "

    — Kyra, 5/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " the watsons go to birmingham - 1963 is a reallly good book it has comedy and a detailed look at the struggle the Wtasons face in Alabama. "

    — Chase, 2/10/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " After many years of saying I am going to read this book, it finally happened. And I am glad it did. Mr. Curtis is a gifted story teller that not only tells you about the characters, but shows you. I am certain we can all find a little bit of the Weird Watson's in all of our families. "

    — Theron, 8/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Confusing what happened to the little sister when she went to church, but overall, I loved this book!! "

    — Kieryn, 6/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Parts of this book were funny and I liked the growth of the relationship between the brothers, but I couldn't get past my annoyance at some of the writing and pieced together feeling of the first half of the book. There are better written books about similar experiences and events out there. "

    — Julie, 6/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really liked this book. However I thought that the material was a little intense for middle school ages students. "

    — Amanda, 6/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fun and serious, Kenny is a wonderful narrator. "

    — Mandy, 6/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " it is a humorous, well plotted book that is one to remember. "

    — Mana, 6/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved it! Another great book, from a new point of view, and with awesome historical tidbits! "

    — Christina, 6/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I love it! Thankyou ms.wright to introducing this book to me! :) "

    — Rose, 6/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I loved the voice in this book. Would make a great anchor/mentor text to teach voice. Presents a child's point of view of the civil rights movement in the late 50's early 60's. Might be a good read for reluctant boys. "

    — Teresa, 6/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Very good story line. It could do without the unnecessary cursing but other than that I loved the Weird Watsons :) "

    — Kerry, 6/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is a awesome book. We did it for read aloud in 5 grade and I read it again by my self. It's about the family going to birmingham when a a church bombing takes place. "

    — Andrew, 6/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book was a pretty goodread. It was very confusing though. I still don't really understand what happened in the book. If you really want to understand the book you will have to read it a couple times. "

    — Chanel, 6/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " it was ok, not the best book. it was really short and not much happened until the end "

    — Mary, 6/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I thought the book was a bit of a slow read not as exciting or funny as the reviews stated. "

    — Lindsey, 5/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It's been 4 years since of read this book. But, I do remember highly enjoying it. I remember the scene where the main character's brother gets his lips frozen to the car mirror because he was kissing his reflection. I would definately read this again. "

    — Veronica, 5/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The book is 5-star! the characters seemed real and the comparisons where hilarious! :D "

    — Naomi, 5/27/2011

About Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis made an outstanding debut in children’s literature with The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. His second novel, Bud, Not Buddy, is the first book ever to receive both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.

About LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton is an Emmy Award–winning actor, presenter, director, author, and Earphones Award–winning narrator. He is best known for his roles as the host of the long-running PBS children’s series Reading Rainbow, as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as the young Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots. He has also directed a number of television episodes for various iterations of Star Trek, among other programs. He was named 2017’s Best Male Literary Citizen by Literary Hub and is a 2020 recipient of the Ember Award for unsung contributions to literature.