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cris_bookreader 's review for:
Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Assignment: Junior Book Log
Category: Literature Circle 3
Recommending Source: Dr. Kimmel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Review: Taking us back into the Great Depression, Christopher Paul Curtis gives us a first-person narrative of life through the journey of a ten year old black orphan out on the lam and set on finding his father. All he takes along is a suitcase with a few flyers, some rocks, a photograph of his mother, among other things. Nothing can stop him along his expedition, not hunger, fatigue, or even fear. While en route, Bud catches the attention of Lefty Lewis and with some coaxing he enters his vehicle which leads to Herman Calloway. Stubborn personalities make it difficult for the two of them to hit it off right away, but soon they make a startling connection to one another.
Through the descriptions of jazz music, towns like Hooverville, the use of telegrams, and labor union strikes, the reader is transported to life during the Great Depression. Times were hard for everyone, but blacks had an even harder time finding jobs since segregation was very prevalent during those times. Curtis uses a variety of literary devices in this story such as flashbacks, cliffhangers, foreshadowing, irony, and allusions. Many themes can be found throughout this book such as family, coping with a loss of a loved one, survival, and hope. In the afterword, Curtis describes how his family members inspired him to create these characters and how research assisted him during the writing process. Stepping into Bud’s shoes, this book will challenge students in the fifth grade and above to think about what life would be like under similar circumstances. Children will also find humor through Bud’s personal rules in addition to developing empathy as they read stories like this one in which characters deal with situations different from their own.
Category: Literature Circle 3
Recommending Source: Dr. Kimmel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Review: Taking us back into the Great Depression, Christopher Paul Curtis gives us a first-person narrative of life through the journey of a ten year old black orphan out on the lam and set on finding his father. All he takes along is a suitcase with a few flyers, some rocks, a photograph of his mother, among other things. Nothing can stop him along his expedition, not hunger, fatigue, or even fear. While en route, Bud catches the attention of Lefty Lewis and with some coaxing he enters his vehicle which leads to Herman Calloway. Stubborn personalities make it difficult for the two of them to hit it off right away, but soon they make a startling connection to one another.
Through the descriptions of jazz music, towns like Hooverville, the use of telegrams, and labor union strikes, the reader is transported to life during the Great Depression. Times were hard for everyone, but blacks had an even harder time finding jobs since segregation was very prevalent during those times. Curtis uses a variety of literary devices in this story such as flashbacks, cliffhangers, foreshadowing, irony, and allusions. Many themes can be found throughout this book such as family, coping with a loss of a loved one, survival, and hope. In the afterword, Curtis describes how his family members inspired him to create these characters and how research assisted him during the writing process. Stepping into Bud’s shoes, this book will challenge students in the fifth grade and above to think about what life would be like under similar circumstances. Children will also find humor through Bud’s personal rules in addition to developing empathy as they read stories like this one in which characters deal with situations different from their own.