The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963

A Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honoree that has earned its place as a modern classic.

When the Watson family piles into their car for a road trip south to Birmingham, Alabama, ten-year-old Kenny has no idea he’s about to witness history. This isn’t just another summer adventure with his little sister Joetta, his parents, and his older brother Byron—it’s 1963, and Birmingham is about to become ground zero for one of the most pivotal moments of the civil rights movement.

Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, crafts an unforgettable story that balances warmth and humor with profound historical significance. The Watsons are a family you’ll instantly recognize—full of love, laughter, sibling rivalry, and the kind of everyday moments that make a house a home. But when their journey intersects with the darkest chapter of American history, Curtis shows us how family becomes our anchor in turbulent times.

NPR calls it “a modern classic,” while The New York Times praises it as “marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving.” Jacqueline Woodson, herself a Newbery Honor winner, declares it “one of the best novels EVER.”

This special edition includes a new foreword and afterword from Curtis, a map of the Watsons’ journey, original manuscript pages, and personal essays from celebrated authors including Kate DiCamillo, Jason Reynolds, and Rita Williams-Garcia—a testament to this book’s enduring impact on readers and writers alike.

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