By: Gwyneth Lietz

Maturity In the Watsons go to Birmingham

In literature the big idea of maturity In literature the big idea of maturity really attracts attention. Everyone can relate really attracts attention. Everyone can relate to ways they have matured. In to ways they have matured. In ““The WatsonThe Watson’’s s go to Birminghamgo to Birmingham”” Byron grows and matures Byron grows and matures in massive ways when he realizes he needs to in massive ways when he realizes he needs to set a good example for his brother. CPC uses set a good example for his brother. CPC uses metaphors in ways that really make the reader metaphors in ways that really make the reader want to read on. want to read on.

On page 13 Byron's very cocky and bratty On page 13 Byron's very cocky and bratty because he kissed himself in the mirror. In this because he kissed himself in the mirror. In this example Byron’s not mature at all. He’s not caring example Byron’s not mature at all. He’s not caring about anyone but himself because he kissed himself. So about anyone but himself because he kissed himself. So he is very self centered because he loving himself by he is very self centered because he loving himself by thinking he’s handsome and attractive. thinking he’s handsome and attractive.

On page 57 Byron has grown up a little because On page 57 Byron has grown up a little because he’s protecting his brother from Larry Dunn. He’s he’s protecting his brother from Larry Dunn. He’s growing a lot in just a little amount of time. On page growing a lot in just a little amount of time. On page 200 he gets really mature and tells Kenny all of the 200 he gets really mature and tells Kenny all of the great things Kenny did for Joey. He’s not totally mature great things Kenny did for Joey. He’s not totally mature yet but he’s acting more grown-up than when he yet but he’s acting more grown-up than when he kissed himself in the mirror.kissed himself in the mirror.

Kids tend to grow up fast when more serious Kids tend to grow up fast when more serious issues come around. Like when Kenny almost drowns, issues come around. Like when Kenny almost drowns, By comes to the rescue, and thatBy comes to the rescue, and that’’s mature because he s mature because he follows Kenny to make sure hefollows Kenny to make sure he’’s not getting in trouble. s not getting in trouble. Byron risked his life to make sure Kenny didn'tByron risked his life to make sure Kenny didn't’’t die. t die. ThatThat’’s very responsible to take care of a little brother s very responsible to take care of a little brother they way Byron did. Byronthey way Byron did. Byron’’s behavior is becoming s behavior is becoming more responsible. more responsible.

Their are a lot of good metaphors in the Watson's got to Birmingham. For example on page 5 he says “flint is like an igloo.” Another good one is on 13 when he says “ he was stuck like a fly on flypaper.” A good one that was when his lips got stuck to the car, that was on page 18 he says “ I bet By’s lips stretched a mile.” I like CPC’s metaphors because they are all unique.

I think that everyone believes that people grow in maturity after time. One of the reasons I think this is because as you grow you learn more things, become smarter and then learn that’s it’s not okay to be immature. Also Byron was really mature at the end of the book when everything gets serious when Kenny is shocked from the deaths at the church (when it got bombed), and when he saw the wool pooh. He would have never been that mature at the beginning of the book.