The Recalibrated Lexile Grade Bands, 6-8, 955-1155

This is a book that has been on the shelf of my classroom library for years and I'm embarrassed to say that I hadn't read it until now! I actually listened to the audiobook version, which was lovely as it was read by Lavar Burton!

The author writes in way that is relatable and makes you feel like you are having a conversation with the narrator, Kenny! The title of chapter 1 drew me right in--"And You Wonder Why We Get Called the Weird Watsons" and the stories of Kenny kept me reading! The narrator's humor connected the reader to him and his stories were entertaining. I was laughing as I heard about the whirlpool (Wool Pooh)! The anecdotes connect us to Kenny and his family and starts with lighthearted fun, then gets to more serious topics towards the end. As the family visits their grandma in Birmingham, they witness an atrocity, the Birmingham Church Bombing. The author does a great job of capturing how a kid would react to a serious situation, especially since Kenny initially thought his sister might be involved. This book opens the door for further conversations about the Civil Rights Movement and key historical events of that era. ( )

Great story that deals with the racial problems of Birmingham and growing up in Flint Michigan ( )

This book was easy to read, but not terribly exciting. The main character is a 4th grade boy. It teaches friendship and kindness, making mistakes, and dealing with grief and feelings of inadequacy. ( )

A well- written book for students grades 4-6. The book deals with difficult topics with characters students can relate to. This book is an excellent selection to read aloud and discuss as a class. ( )