Curtis, C. (2004). Bud not buddy. United States: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.
Summary
Bud Caldwell is an orphan living in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression. When his mother dies, he is placed into different foster homes and orphanages and he only has a bag of stones, a photograph of his mother when she was a child and five concert posters for Herman C. Callaway and band that he can call his own.
The story begins with Bud being placed with a foster family that is cruel and abusive and after being tormented and locked up in a shed overnight with an angry swarm of hornets, he runs away determined to find Herman C. Callaway who Bud believes is his father. Readers will be encouraged by Bud's determination and heart as he makes it to Grand Rapids, Michigan and where he meets his "father" Herman Callaway and his jazz band.
Review
This is a great story about a young African American boy who does not let the circumstances of his race or the time of the Great Depression get in the way of his determination to find where he belongs. Author Christopher Curtis balances heartbreak, meanness, and racism with love, family, and humor and readers will want to read this book over and over again. It is hard for kids to get into reading historical fiction but this book, tweens will love because it generates a young boy's powerful fight to get what he wants, even if it means breaking a few rules.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Reading Age/Interest Level
9-12 years old/Tweens
Similar Books
Because of Winn Dixie- Kate Di.Camillo
Hatchet- Gary Paulsen
The Watsons go to Birmingham- Christopher Paul Curtis
Characters
Buddy Caldwell - Bud is a ten-year old African-American orphan boy who has seen and suffered through a great deal in his short ten years, but who is definitely a survivor. His determination to find his father and his ability to use his survival skills to do so make him a heroic character for the reader.
Mr. Herman E. Calloway - He is the band leader of a Depression Era Negro Band whom Bud believes is his father. He turns out to be a rather cranky old man who doesn’t trust Bud and acts mean to nearly everyone. He is actually a very sad man who yearns for the daughter he drove away with his need for her to be what he wanted her to be.
Angela Janet Caldwell - Although she has died before the story begins, her character is a very real presence for most of the other characters in the story.
Todd Amos and his parents - This is the foster family from whom Bud runs away after he is abused. They are typical of some foster families who would take in children just for the money the state would pay.
Awards
Newbery Award Winner- 2000
William Allen White Children's Book Award-2002
Coretta Scott King Award- 2000
Readers Annotation
Bud Caldwell has no mom, dad, or home and definitely has nothing to lose as he uses his only possessions to guide him to a place called home.
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