Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
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Book Summary Information
Author: Christopher Paul CurtisBrand: Laurel Leaf
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-09-14
ISBN: 0553494104
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Book Reviews of Bud, Not Buddy
Book Review: Great Depression through the eyes of a ten year old boy
Summary: 5 Stars
Bud - "not Buddy" - Caldwell is a ten year old African-American orphan in Depression-era Michigan. After being locked up for the night in a shed with a swarm of angry hornets by one of his many foster parents, Bud decides to run away in search of his biological father he has never seen. Bud is "armed" by an old suitcase that has some dear things to remind him of his mother, and some "clues" - like a couple of small blue posters. The poster has writing about Herman E. Calloway, standup-bass player for the "Dusky Devastators of the Depression" jazz band. This poster seemed to mysteriously upset Bud's mother shortly before she died. Somehow, an idea firmly planted in Bud's head that Herman E. Calloway must be his father: "It's funny how ideas are, in a lot of ways they're just like seeds. Both of them start real, real small and then... woop, zoop, sloop... before you can say Jack Robinson, they've gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could."
So Bud sets off to track down his supposed dad, a man he's never laid eyes on. Along the way he gets into all sorts of trouble - sometimes serious, sometimes hilarious. Relying on his own ingenuity and good luck, Bud finally makes it to Grand Rapids, where his "father" owns a club. But the book is far from over yet, in fact, the most intriguing discoveries are about to be made.
Christopher Paul Curtis used his own grandfathers as inspiration for a couple of the characters. Bud's voice is very authentic and realistic, presenting the Great Depression through the eyes of a ten year old boy. He is a one-step-ahead of the grownups kid, the type that is always aware of adults' "tricks".
Life has been hard on Bud after his mother died, but he is not giving up, in fact he has his own book of "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself". He states his rules whenever he has to think through something. It helps the reader to get a better sense of how smart Bud really is. Kids will be entertained by his rules for a happy life, and will root for Bud with as much enthusiasm as they did for Stanley in Holes, Jeffrey in Maniac Magee, and Jonas in The Giver.
Besides the harshness of Bud's circumstances and grim conditions of Great Depression, the book radiates an aura of hope and optimism. Bud himself always stays optimistic, remembering the words of his mom: "And Bud, I want you always to remember, no matter how bad things look to you, no matter how dark the night, when one door closes, don't worry, because another door opens."
The story ends on a a comforting, positive note, making it clear for the readers where the things are heading for Bud.
Julia Shpak
Author of "Power of Plentiful Wisdom". Available on Amazon.
For more reviews on children's books visit my blog "Julia's Library" at: ForwardQuoteDOTcom
Summary of Bud, Not Buddy
It?s 1936, in Flint, Michigan, and when 10-year-old Bud decides to hit the road to find his father, nothing can stop him.From the Trade Paperback edition.
"It's funny how ideas are, in a lot of ways they're just like seeds. Both of them start real, real small and then... woop, zoop, sloop... before you can say Jack Robinson, they've gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could." So figures scrappy 10-year-old philosopher Bud--"not Buddy"--Caldwell, an orphan on the run from abusive foster homes and Hoovervilles in 1930s Michigan. And the idea that's planted itself in his head is that Herman E. Calloway, standup-bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, is his father.
Guided only by a flier for one of Calloway's shows--a small, blue poster that had mysteriously upset his mother shortly before she died--Bud sets off to track down his supposed dad, a man he's never laid eyes on. And, being 10, Bud-not-Buddy gets into all sorts of trouble along the way, barely escaping a monster-infested woodshed, stealing a vampire's car, and even getting tricked into "busting slob with a real live girl." Christopher Paul Curtis, author of The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, once again exhibits his skill for capturing the language and feel of an era and creates an authentic, touching, often hilarious voice in little Bud. (Ages 8 to 12) --Paul Hughes
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