<P> The novel is a first - person account narrarated by Kenny Watson , who lives in Flint , Michigan with his parents , Daniel and Wilona Watson , his older brother Byron , and younger sister Joetta . The opening chapters establish Kenny as a very bright and shy 4th grader who has difficulty making true friends until Rufus Fry arrives in town from Arkansas . Rufus is also bullied by the students at Clark Elementary for his `` country '' clothes and accent , making Kenny reluctant to befriend him at first , but they are soon inseparable . Kenny is alternatively bullied and protected by his 13 year old brother Byron , whom he calls `` an official teenage juvenile delinquent '' . Byron has been retained twice because he often skips school and is still in 6th grade . He invents a series of `` fantastic adventures '' which constantly get him into trouble and include playing with matches in the house , abusing his parent 's credit at the corner grocery store to buy himself treats , and getting a `` conk '' hairstyle against his parents ' orders . </P>
<P> The novel is a first - person account narrarated by Kenny Watson , who lives in Flint , Michigan with his parents , Daniel and Wilona Watson , his older brother Byron , and younger sister Joetta . The opening chapters establish Kenny as a very bright and shy 4th grader who has difficulty making true friends until Rufus Fry arrives in town from Arkansas . Rufus is also bullied by the students at Clark Elementary for his `` country '' clothes and accent , making Kenny reluctant to befriend him at first , but they are soon inseparable . Kenny is alternatively bullied and protected by his 13 year old brother Byron , whom he calls `` an official teenage juvenile delinquent '' . Byron has been retained twice because he often skips school and is still in 6th grade . He invents a series of `` fantastic adventures '' which constantly get him into trouble and include playing with matches in the house , abusing his parent 's credit at the corner grocery store to buy himself treats , and getting a `` conk '' hairstyle against his parents ' orders . </P>
where is rufus from in the watsons go to birmingham
where is rufus from in the watsons go to birmingham
Arkansas
Arkansas