5 Great Christopher Paul Curtis Books About Family, Resilience and the Pursuit of Dreams

Christopher Paul Curtis is a Newbery award-winning author, who writes primarily for middle-grade and young adult readers.

Renowned for his storytelling and the emotional depth of the characters he creates, most of his books deal with themes of identity, family, historical events and complex social issues. His work often features African-American narrators, discussing the black experience and cultural heritage. However, his books deal with universal themes which can resonate with children of all backgrounds.

Here are 5 must-read Christopher Paul Curits books that deserve a place on your bookshelf.

The Watsons Visit Birmingham - 1963

This award-winning book is full of family, warmth and humour. I immediately felt drawn into the family dynamic, described by the ten-year old narrator. Kenny. His family members are clearly drawn, from the loveable "delinquent" older brother Byron, the younger sister Joyetta and the teasingly loveable relationship between his mother and father. Through Kenny's eyes, we eventually see the impact that the horrific events that happened in Birmingham 1963 has on one family and community, and although the ending feels rushed, I think readers will love the family relationships that have been created here.

The Mighty Miss Malone

In Mighty Miss Malone readers are transported to the heart of the Great Depression as 12-year-old Deza Malone starts a gripping journey to find her father who has been forced to leave the family in search of work.

 

Deza is sharp, resourceful and literary. This story of how her family bonds enable her to overcome  racism and poverty, in this wonderful journey of courage, hope and the pursuit of dreams against all the odds.

 

You can find more info here.

 

You can find it here on Amazon or Bookshop.

 

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Elijah of Buxton

 

 

Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah's the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that -- not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who's scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it's up to Elijah to track down the thief -- and his dangerous journey just might make 

 

Elijah is the first child born free in the Canadian town of Buxton, where his parents have escaped to start life after fleeing slavery in American. Elijah is considered to be a fragile child, yet as the story progresses we come to appreciate his kind heart and the strength he displays. The vernacular language might initially be hard to understand, but it is a captivating story about an 11-year old boy who runs away to try and correct a great wrong.

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The Madman of Piney Wood

 

Benji and Red couldn't be more different. They aren't friends. They don't even live in the same town. But their fates are entwined. A chance meeting leads the boys to discover that they have more in common than meets the eye. Both of them have encountered a strange presence in the forest, watching them, tracking them. Could the Madman of Piney Woods be real?

Bud Not Buddy

Follow the adventures of ten-year old orphan, Bud Caldwell during the Great Depression of the 1930s, as he takes his suitcase of secret things and runs away from his cruel foster family, in an effort to find his father.