THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963

Written in 1995, Christopher Paul Curtis captures the Watson family in 1963 as a timepiece. Curtis’s story is a strong one with humor, tragedy and family life finely interwoven. Portraying the African-American family living in Flint, Michigan, Levar Burton needs to recreate an era more than 30 years ago. Burton doesn’t quite manage to make us believe this is a family of the ’60’s. The epilogue directed to a young audience has an important message for listeners putting the story of the Watsons in historic perspective. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB 97]