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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Fantastic middle-grade book. Such sweet storytelling that includes very topical information on the Great Depression - especially the difficulty of this time period for African-Americans, as well as the need for labor organizing. I loved Bud and all of the characters were terrific. The afterword by the author made me cry, and was amazing. Please read this book!
Bud, not Buddy is for my Book Report (or Home Reading Report) Review to come once I finish my HRR. :>
SUMMARY!!
Ten year old Bud, not Buddy, Caldwell, is on a search for his father. Four years ago, his mother passed away, and Bud was sent to the Home, an orphanage, bringing his only belongings, a suitcase of his precious things that includes rocks with numbers and their states, flyers about his suspected father, Herman E. Calloway where he plays a big fiddle with his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of Depression, and Grand Rapids!
When the Home sent Bud to a foster home, taken cared by the Amoses, the couple’s child Todd threw a fight against him and Bud fought back to defend himself. When the Amoses arrived, Todd lied about the situation and as punishment Bud is locked up in the shed of the house and was told that they will take him back to the Home. Bud tried to escape after seeing a shotgun, and to his horror he was attacked by hornets hiding in the shed. Fortunately, he was able to escape, and Bud decided that it would not be the best idea to go to the Home now.
The next day Bud received breakfast from the Mission through the help of kind strangers. He visited the library and discovers the Mrs. Hill, the librarian, is on a matrimonial leave and is in Chicago. Bud found out that it takes fifty-five hours to travel to Chicago. The next day Bud is awoken by a fellow mate, Bugs, who is named Bugs because once a cockroach went inside his ear. Bugs told him that he is going to the West, and the two swore to be brothers forever. After receiving breakfast from the Mission, both learned that you have to go to Hooperville which is outside Flint to get into the train to Chicago. When they reached their destination they realized that it is actually Hooverville, and it is a cardboard jungle. Both were given food and both washed the dishes with other kids. Bud attracted Deza Malone, a girl waiting for her father to come home, and the two share a kiss.
The next day the cops appeared and told the people that they are not allowed to go on board the train; however, a lot of people managed to ride on the train. The friendship of Bud and Bugs was broken apart when Bugs left Bud and went to the train by himself.
The next day Bud decided to search for his father. He went to the library to calculate the distance of Flint and Grand Rapids, which is twenty-four hours. While walking to his destination he is spotted by a man who decided to help Bud. He is Mister Lefty Lewis, an old man. When Bud told Lewis that Herman is his father, he sent a telegram to Herman, which made Bud nervous.
Bud woke up the next day in Mrs. Sleet’s house, the daughter of Lewis. He was given a delicious breakfast (the best one) and Lewis and he went off to Log Cabin in Grand Rapids where Herman plays the fiddle. For the first time Bud finally saw his father however Herman gives the opposite feedback Bud expected. The members of the band warmly greeted him, and they treated him to dinner at the Sweat Pea, the finest restaurant in town. Bud met Miss Thomas, the vocal stylist of the band, and together with the band members, all of them share a bond.
While listening to the music produced Bud helps the band by cleaning the Log Cabin. Herman still gave negative attitude to him. Bud decided that this attitude needed to stop and to prove Herman that he is his father Bud showed him the rocks he kept after seeing Herman’s belongings which included the same types of rocks. Miss Thomas asked the name of Bud’s mother and Bud told her that his mother’s name is Angela Janett Caldwell. This shocked everyone, including Herman, who cried after. It has come to the conclusion that Herman is not Bud’s father but grandfather. Because of Herman’s parental habits Angela ran away from home more than ten years ago. Herman is in despair that Angela has died.
The band invited him join the band and since everybody in the band has a codename the band came up with the idea of Sleepy LaBone. The band also gives him a saxophone. It is a happy ending for Bud.
SUMMARY!!
Ten year old Bud, not Buddy, Caldwell, is on a search for his father. Four years ago, his mother passed away, and Bud was sent to the Home, an orphanage, bringing his only belongings, a suitcase of his precious things that includes rocks with numbers and their states, flyers about his suspected father, Herman E. Calloway where he plays a big fiddle with his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of Depression, and Grand Rapids!
When the Home sent Bud to a foster home, taken cared by the Amoses, the couple’s child Todd threw a fight against him and Bud fought back to defend himself. When the Amoses arrived, Todd lied about the situation and as punishment Bud is locked up in the shed of the house and was told that they will take him back to the Home. Bud tried to escape after seeing a shotgun, and to his horror he was attacked by hornets hiding in the shed. Fortunately, he was able to escape, and Bud decided that it would not be the best idea to go to the Home now.
The next day Bud received breakfast from the Mission through the help of kind strangers. He visited the library and discovers the Mrs. Hill, the librarian, is on a matrimonial leave and is in Chicago. Bud found out that it takes fifty-five hours to travel to Chicago. The next day Bud is awoken by a fellow mate, Bugs, who is named Bugs because once a cockroach went inside his ear. Bugs told him that he is going to the West, and the two swore to be brothers forever. After receiving breakfast from the Mission, both learned that you have to go to Hooperville which is outside Flint to get into the train to Chicago. When they reached their destination they realized that it is actually Hooverville, and it is a cardboard jungle. Both were given food and both washed the dishes with other kids. Bud attracted Deza Malone, a girl waiting for her father to come home, and the two share a kiss.
The next day the cops appeared and told the people that they are not allowed to go on board the train; however, a lot of people managed to ride on the train. The friendship of Bud and Bugs was broken apart when Bugs left Bud and went to the train by himself.
The next day Bud decided to search for his father. He went to the library to calculate the distance of Flint and Grand Rapids, which is twenty-four hours. While walking to his destination he is spotted by a man who decided to help Bud. He is Mister Lefty Lewis, an old man. When Bud told Lewis that Herman is his father, he sent a telegram to Herman, which made Bud nervous.
Bud woke up the next day in Mrs. Sleet’s house, the daughter of Lewis. He was given a delicious breakfast (the best one) and Lewis and he went off to Log Cabin in Grand Rapids where Herman plays the fiddle. For the first time Bud finally saw his father however Herman gives the opposite feedback Bud expected. The members of the band warmly greeted him, and they treated him to dinner at the Sweat Pea, the finest restaurant in town. Bud met Miss Thomas, the vocal stylist of the band, and together with the band members, all of them share a bond.
While listening to the music produced Bud helps the band by cleaning the Log Cabin. Herman still gave negative attitude to him. Bud decided that this attitude needed to stop and to prove Herman that he is his father Bud showed him the rocks he kept after seeing Herman’s belongings which included the same types of rocks. Miss Thomas asked the name of Bud’s mother and Bud told her that his mother’s name is Angela Janett Caldwell. This shocked everyone, including Herman, who cried after. It has come to the conclusion that Herman is not Bud’s father but grandfather. Because of Herman’s parental habits Angela ran away from home more than ten years ago. Herman is in despair that Angela has died.
The band invited him join the band and since everybody in the band has a codename the band came up with the idea of Sleepy LaBone. The band also gives him a saxophone. It is a happy ending for Bud.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My 3rd grade teacher read some of this book to my class, but left it up to us to read the rest. It was stuck in my mind for years before I remembered the name, but only one day to finally finish it. It was worth the wait! It had a great message to talk to your parents and grandparents to learn your family history. Thanks Ms. O’Connor.
I'm sure I read this as a kid, but now read it as our new ELA curriculum requires it. The students really enjoyed it and we had a good time discussing it together. There were a lot of important lessons in the story and I'm glad it helped expose my students to a time period and lifestyle that so many of them are unfamiliar with.
Forever my favorite book to read with my fifth graders. It never gets old!
I loved this book. I read it to Abbey because it was on her summer reading list but she was not very excited about it. She ended up loving it too though. I think the vocabulary and the 1930s setting were just a little difficult for her to wrap her mind around. The main character Bud is so wonderful and the ending is perfect.
1999 Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
(Delacorte Press)
Newberry Award Winner
Multicultural Literature
If you don't fall in love with Bud, not Buddy and his Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself well that's fine with him you can kiss his wrist.
Buddy has been orphaned and shipped around too many times. It's set in the middle of the depression and he's a young black child looking for his dad. He is a charming, polite child and it breaks a person's heart to read how he is mistreated by the system. He is street smart and incredibly naive rolled into one and his journey between Flint and Grand Rapids is filled with adventure.
(Delacorte Press)
Newberry Award Winner
Multicultural Literature
If you don't fall in love with Bud, not Buddy and his Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself well that's fine with him you can kiss his wrist.
Buddy has been orphaned and shipped around too many times. It's set in the middle of the depression and he's a young black child looking for his dad. He is a charming, polite child and it breaks a person's heart to read how he is mistreated by the system. He is street smart and incredibly naive rolled into one and his journey between Flint and Grand Rapids is filled with adventure.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes