Bud, Not Buddy

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
Bud, Not Buddy

Written by Christopher Paul Curtis

Published by Yearling

Publication Date: (Reprint Edition, 2002)

ISBN: 0-4404-1328-1

2. PLOT SUMMARY
When orphan Bud gets the opportunity to go (as he refers to it) "on the lam," an adventure begins. Determined to track down the man he believes to be his father, Bud encounters several setbacks, but perseveres until he makes to Grand Rapids, finding that man. A discovery about that man will allow Bud to have something he has longed for...a permanent home.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
If you want to expose children to several important historical events, give them this book. Not only do we learn how the Great Depression impacted Flint, Michigan, we also learn about Civil Rights and labor unions. This fantastic novel is full of historical topics waiting to be learned about and explored even further. Christopher Paul Curtis has created a strong, loveable character in Bud (who refuses to be called Buddy). The reader is immediately drawn to Bud and feels his pain as he experiences joy and sadness. Even when Bud is upset, he is able to hide it from most, telling the reader, "I don't know why, but my eyes don't cry anymore." He also had me laughing outloud many times, especially when he got even with Toddy by making him "pee the bed" before he runs away from the foster home. Bud as well as all the descriptive characters in this book work together to give the reader an idea of how the depression was a struggle for so many. I felt like Bud, as well as all the characters were believable and reacted the way I would have expected someone to act if they were living through/experiencing the same situation the characters faced.

The story takes place in several settings, but no matter where Bud is, the scene is described with such detail, that the reader is taken to that same spot. While I had read in textbooks about the "Hooverville's" that were constructed during the depression, I don't think I had ever "seen" one until Bud described the one outside Flint. I could feel the desperation in the characters when the police showed up to destroy the "cardboard jungle" taking away the only hope many of these characters had. The shelter where Bud is able to get breakfast a couple of mornings, reminded me of the soup lines of the depression. Characters wait to get fed only to have to be reminded of how unfair life is by having to pass a bilboard of a wealthy white family to get their food. The anger many feel about this is expressed by one character, "...you wouldn't expect that they'd have the nerve to come down here and tell the truth." I could feel the frustration as characters tried to work to make a better life for themselves.

The style of this novel reflected the time period, and dialects used by the characters reflected the area the novel was set in. The details regarding the time period were woven in throughout the story so carefully, that many times I felt these were actual people who lived through the depression. It is easy to see that Curtis researched his setting and background for this novel thoroughly. I also liked his afterword when he shared with the reader how he had based two characters on his grandfathers and had even included pictures of them. That made the story much more real and personable to me. Again, I feel this is another book everyone she read!

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From School Library Journal--"...readers will be so caught in the adventure..."
*From Booklist--"Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people...so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore"

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read this book and then another book set during the depression in a different area (such as A YEAR DOWN YONDER). Use the two books to challenge students to think about how people were affected differently by the depression depending upon where they lived.
*Bring in Jazz recordings so students can be exposed to the kind of music Bud's grandfather played.
*Research labor unions. Why did they pose a threat to businesses?