Bud, Not Buddy

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Reading Level: 5th and up
Pages: 245
Genre: Historical Fiction











Summary:

Bud Caldwell is a 10 year old orphan. All he has left of his mother is a bag of rocks, a picture and tickets to Herman E Calloway, who he thinks is his father. At the beginning he goes off to live with the Amos', and he meets their son Todd who is abusive. When Bud retaliates he is sent to spend the night in the garden shed. He gets out and runs away, but he doesn't go back to the orphanage. He decides to go and find his father. Herman E Calloway is in Grand Rapids, 120 miles away, so he starts walking. Along the way he is picked up by a man named Left Lewis who gives him a ride to Grand Rapids. He meets the band and tells Herman that he is his dad. They don't believe him and they are even rude. However, they take pity on him and they take him in and he goes to their concerts. One day he sees Herman pick up a rock and date it. He goes up to him and shows him the collection he had from his mother. At frist Herman says that he stole those from his house, but Bud explains where they came from. They find out that his mother was Herman's daughter who had run away 10 years ago. So instead of finding his father, Bud found his gradfather.

My Reaction:

This was a sweet book. There wasn't a whole bunch of action, but it was still pretty exciting. I usually don't read this genre, but I think it was a good read.

Potential Problems:

When Bud is with the Amos' they are rude to him and even send him to spend the night in the garden shed. Children might question this, especially where Bud is a little black boy. Also when the band is rude to him at first. Children might not like that the adults were mean to a child.

Recommendations:

I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. It's a great adventure of a little boy and I think everyone would love it. It's also a simple read, so younger children would be able to read it and enjoy it.