THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM

Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963. New York: Delacorte Press.

Kenneth lives with his family "the weird Watsons" in Flint, Michigan. Despite the nickname, they are a pretty average family.  Mom, dad, older brother, and younger sister all live together.  When Bryon, the older brother begins getting into too much trouble, the family packs up to visit their very strict grandmother in Birmingham.  The kids are then exposed to situations that will change them forever.

The Watson family is very easy to relate to. The children fight with and pick on each other, but will protect each other from outsiders.  Kenny, the middle child gets bullied both by his brother and at school.  His sister tries to protect him in one scene.  Byron, is the typical big brother who picks on his siblings and tries showing off at school, not always with good results.  He gets his tongue stuck on a mirror in one scene.
The characters go through a major change after the bombing.  They are no longer happy and fun loving, they are now worried, afraid, and even ashamed for being black. 
The setting of Birmingham and the church bombings ties in history to the book.  Readers can see and feel how children and others felt after that scary moment, such as when one of the children can't be found.