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Bud, Not Buddy

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 34,760 ratings · 2,016 reviews

It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him:

He has his own suitcase full of special things.

He's the author of Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.

His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clu...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published September 14th 2004 by Laurel Leaf (first published September 2nd 1999)

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Jul 13, 2011 Linda Lipko rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: newbery-winner, young-adult

Christopher Paul Curtis did it again! In writing this 2000 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King award-winning book, he wove another magical, enchanting, complex, well crafted and spell binding tale filled with poignancy, sadness and laughter while teaching history in a captivating way.

I've raved about this author before, so please indulge my obsession one more time in encouraging you to take a few hours of solitude to savor every word, phrase and nuance of this incredible writer.

What's in a name...more Christopher Paul Curtis did it again! In writing this 2000 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King award-winning book, he wove another magical, enchanting, complex, well crafted and spell binding tale filled with poignancy, sadness and laughter while teaching history in a captivating way.

I've raved about this author before, so please indulge my obsession one more time in encouraging you to take a few hours of solitude to savor every word, phrase and nuance of this incredible writer.

What's in a name? The answer is a tremendous asset and sole identity to Bud, NOT Buddy! As a ten year old orphan in 1936 hard-hit depression filled Flint, Michigan, Bud has little else. Four years ago his beloved mother died, leaving him is name and a few possessions he guards with his life.

The sum total of his existence is held in a raggle taggle suitcase he lugs from one orphanage or foster home to another. The string-bound cardboard container holds some rocks with dates painted upon them, a photo of his mama as a child riding a pony, and a few fliers listing a jazz group led by Herman E. Calloway.

When the last foster home experience culminated in a beating and fearful night of imprisonment in a back yard shack, Buddy knows he has had enough! Believing that his mother kept the fliers for a reason and that his unknown father must be Herman E. Calloway, Buddy runs away from Flint to Grand Rapids, seeking love and a home to call his own.

Christopher Paul Curtis masterfully writes about such complex issues as homelessness, poverty, racism, cruelty and poverty.

Living in a cardboard Hooverville community for a few days, Bud meets likable, down and out characters. Finally reaching his destination and claiming his identity to the great jazz artist Mr. Calloway and The Dusky Devastators of the Depression, leads to unexpected discoveries for all with quite a surprising ending.

I loved this book! I loved the spunky, determination of Bud, the complexity of the characters, the historical backdrop of the jazz age and the skillful depiction of a bleak period of time in American history.

Five Stars!!!!(less)

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Nov 30, 2009 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, middle-grade, scary

When Bud Caldwell decides to run away from his most recent foster family in Depression-era Michigan, he has no destination in mind. After a few days (and a failed attempt to hop a train), he realizes that the only place he knows to go is Grand Rapids, Michigan, to look up the man that he is convinced is his father. Unfortunately Herman E. Calloway, a famous jazz musician, has no interest in taking care of a 10-year-old orphan who could not possibly be his son. Bud lands on his feet, though, than...more

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Dec 02, 2008 Lstirl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

On an adventure to find a family, Bud charms and moves the reader with both his fortitude and wit.

Ages 9-12

This is a very moving and heartwarming book. The adventurous nature of the book will appeal to children, as will the optimistic and humorous protagonist, Bud. Along his journey to find a family, Bud meets many interesting and well-presented characters, such as the mouth organ playing man at "Hooverville," his friend, Bugs, and Miss Thomas. While the setting is bleak and sad, Bud remains fu...more

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Jun 25, 2008 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, historical-fiction, young-adult, read2008

This was no The Watsons Go to Birmingham. Just a little too predictable. But it's powerfully told, and Curtis has the rare ability to get inside the head of his young narrators. Especially smart, sassy, sensitive little boys... Bud is definitely a winner.

Audiobook minuses:
While younger readers might find them really funny, these two things drove me CRazy. Especially trapped in the car wishing my eyes could glaze over a line or two.
1)The slang seemed vaguely era-appropriate (see Rebecca's Fictio...more

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Mar 26, 2009 David Sof 2014 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, Not Buddy is a book by Christopher paul Curtis. It is about an lonely african boy who is a orphan looking for this dad with only a slight amount of clues to seek him. His mother was sick and she died. Bud was sent to a place called the Home. His mother gave him some of what hes father was and he learned he was in a jazz band and more. So he gets out of the place and the search had begun.

I can connect this to the world and other books of Orphans never knowing what their parents were or who s...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Lisa Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: children ages 9-14

Recommended to Lisa by: my librarian

Bud, Not Buddy is about a little boy who is growing up in a tough time of the Depression. Bud being black and motherless doesn’t help him during the story. All Bud had was his worldly possessions packed in a raggedy old suitcase. But the most important possession is a blue flyer that his mother got upset over and Bud was sure that, Herman E. Calloway, the man on it was his father. After running away from his abusive foster family, Bud decides to set out to find Herman E. Calloway. Bud has quite...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Ash R. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-sadelle

Bud, Not Buddy is a tense book that took place during the Great Depression. It is about an Orphan thats an African Boy looking for this father with only few clues of finding him. He use to live with his mother all his life, but after his mother got sick for awhile, she dies and Bud is sent to "The Home". His mother did tell him his father was in a jazz band and Bud escaped and was on his way to look for his dad.

I can make a text to world connection to Bud trying to find his dad because there ar...more

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Nov 20, 2008 Jacquelyn Higgins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Genre: Historical fiction Reading level: Ages 9-12
A young boy decides to run away from his foster home and travel across country in search of a man he believes to be his father. His only knowledge of this elusive figure lies in his most precious possessions, a handful of flyers that his mother held dear featuring a musician in a series of jazz bands. Bud uses his wit, humor, and his “Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself”. Food and jobs may be hard to...more

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May 12, 2013 Zach Greer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book Bud, Not Buddy, was probably my favorite book of all time. The book was set in Flint, Michigan. It was about a young african american kid named Bud. Bud was a very independent young man he was ten years old and his mother died and his father left when he was born. He lived in several different orphanages traveling place to place. In the book Bud had a mission his mission was to find his birth father.

I am really not sure if they made this in to a movie. i dont think that they did. but...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Ky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Christopher Paul Curtis's purpose of writing this book was to inform and give the reader a feel of how it was for a young, African american orphan during the Great depression. Also to teach readers to never give up even when life feels hard. Bud not buddy delivers confidence and emotion to the reader. This book is adventurous because of the journey that this young kid took. It really keeps the reader into the book. Chapter after chapter is interesting.
Christopher Paul Curtis created the chara...more Christopher Paul Curtis's purpose of writing this book was to inform and give the reader a feel of how it was for a young, African american orphan during the Great depression. Also to teach readers to never give up even when life feels hard. Bud not buddy delivers confidence and emotion to the reader. This book is adventurous because of the journey that this young kid took. It really keeps the reader into the book. Chapter after chapter is interesting.
Christopher Paul Curtis created the character, Bud in this book “Bud, Not Buddy” as a real life , well mannered ten year old boy that is filled up with knowledge and independence. He brought humor and an exciting way to experience survival in the eyes of this young boy. Using events of the 1920’s a as a backdrop. Bud experienced conflicts because he was growing up during the Great Depression, his mother died while he was young, he didn't know his father, and he had to live in an orphanage. Yet, Bud kept his spirits and he searched for the family he really wanted to be apart of no matter the cost. Curtis detailed a progressive plot with experiences in each chapter that would capture the reader’s interest.
Bud, Not buddy is very well written. It almost feels as if the reader can actually visualize themselves as a character at the third person point of view when reading. The story is very entertaining as well. For example, Bud lost his mother at a young age, and she died in his face. The author makes us feel somewhat sorrowful and emotional about that as we get info from the text on how Bud is emotional from that.
This book was very captivating. The thrills and chills you get from reading this book is outspoken. The reader will have fun thoughts reading this book. They will also have emotions too. If not happy emotions, they will feel some sad emotions too.
The strengths of this book is that the author keeps the story in different pieces. After one chapter, a different situation happens, and when you think it will continue, the next chapter will go back to what was previously read. I would strongly recommend this book to readers because it teaches readers about life. It is a very good book to show you that you should appreciate what you have in life. Lastly it is a book that has interesting, historical info on how life was during the Great Depression.
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Apr 02, 2013 Brittanyleatafoya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, Not Buddy is a story about a young African American boy whose mother dies and who has lived without a father his entire life. He is sent to an orphanage after his mother dies and has a terrible experience in his last foster home where he gets in a fight with his foster brother and is sent to the shed where hornets attack him. Bud breaks out, grabs his beloved suitcase with all of the belongings his mother gave him and decides to go find his father. He meets many interesting characters along...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Jessica Porte rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chapter-book, historical

Summary:
Bud, Not Buddy is about a orphaned boy who is in a bad foster home during the Great Depression. He decides to run away and go on the search for his unknown father. The only information that he has is the a few flyers that his mom left him. He carries with him a small suitcase with the flyers, a blanket, a picture of his mom and a few other items. The flyers are for a Jazz bad in Grand Rapids Michigan. Even though he faces hard challenges he doesn't give up on finding his father. When he...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Adrian Dahlquist rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is an award winning book about a ten year old boy. The story takes place in Flint, Michigan during The Great Depression. After Bud’s mother died when he was six he had nowhere else to go but to the orphanage. By the time he turned ten, Bud had already been in and out of orphanages and had already lived with three different families who were willing to adopt for payment. Although it would seem like a dream come true for Bud, every family seemed to be abus...more Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is an award winning book about a ten year old boy. The story takes place in Flint, Michigan during The Great Depression. After Bud’s mother died when he was six he had nowhere else to go but to the orphanage. By the time he turned ten, Bud had already been in and out of orphanages and had already lived with three different families who were willing to adopt for payment. Although it would seem like a dream come true for Bud, every family seemed to be abusive and unfit. Therefore, Bud learned to grow up quickly and designed his own code of rules “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself”. These rules or guidelines fostered Bud’s ability to be “street smart” as well as helped him deal with all of the tragedies he endured. Yet for Bud, one question has always remained unanswered. Bud has never met his father but he remembers his mother keeping flyers of his father’s band. And so, one night when he was forced to sleep in a shed at his last adoption he decides to runaway and embark on a journey in search of his father; the only ties to family he has.
Bud, Not Buddy is both historical fiction and multi-cultural. I really liked the book because it is realistic to a point but still allows the reader to speculate between reality and “far-fetched”. From this story, I was able to gain a perspective about how difficult the Great Depression was. And has encouraged me to gain a deeper perspective on American history and how it has formed many people’s outlook on life.
With that being said, I would recommend this book to students between the ages of fourteen to eighteen because of the intensity and because of the use of language. For instance, some of the words I didn’t even know and had to look them up such as “lam”. In the book, Bud had often said that he is on the “lam” which means to escape hastily or to run away. Thus, Bud, Not Buddy would be a great educational tool because it reinforces vocabulary skills. In addition too, the book also contains a reader’s guide containing questions for the reader to answer during and after reading the book. It also contains an interview with the author, Christopher Paul Curtis, which is also a great tool for the classroom and may spark student’s interest in the book. Examples of questions in the interview include: “Where did the idea of Bud, Not Buddy come from?” and “How has your life contributed to the characters you have created in the book?” These question would reinforce the students connection to the text and would also encourage and inspire students own writing. Thus, this book would be very beneficial to have in a classroom because of it versatility and usefulness.
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Feb 23, 2013 Carly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this story because I felt it would interesting to read about as it had a relationship to jazz music during the Great Depression and it came highly recommended. The story follows a ten year old orphaned boy who lost his mother at the age of six as he is on the run to find the man who he thinks is his father. Even though the story and the characters were fictional, they symbolized true events and people that took place during the Great Depression. I felt that the story was heartwarming as a...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of my husband's grandsons (the 5th grader) asked me if I'd read this book and when I said 'no' (I hadn't heard of it), he told me it was good. Well, if a boy, about to turn 11, takes the time to recommend a book to me, odds are I'm going to read it.

The voice of the 10-year-old, Bud (not Buddy), in this novel is irrepressible and the setting of Flint, Michigan, during the Depression comes to life with tons of details but not a one of them ponderous. While keeping its tone age-appropriate, the...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Book Concierge rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Audio book performed by James Avery.
5***** and a ❤

In Depression-era Flint, Michigan, 10-year-old Bud Caldwell (BUD, not Buddy) is plucked from the “home” to go to a foster family. This will be the third foster home he’s been in, and he’s not impressed. But he takes his worn, cardboard suitcase with his few but treasured possessions and tries to make the best of it. Before he knows it, he’s on the lam, determined to find his own way and sure that the things his Momma left him are clues to his fa...more Audio book performed by James Avery.
5***** and a ❤

In Depression-era Flint, Michigan, 10-year-old Bud Caldwell (BUD, not Buddy) is plucked from the “home” to go to a foster family. This will be the third foster home he’s been in, and he’s not impressed. But he takes his worn, cardboard suitcase with his few but treasured possessions and tries to make the best of it. Before he knows it, he’s on the lam, determined to find his own way and sure that the things his Momma left him are clues to his father’s identity and whereabouts.

I love Bud. He’s imaginative, intelligent, resourceful, well-mannered, curious, and ever-hopeful. Once he’s decided to find the man he is sure is his father, nothing will stop him. He endures hunger and fear, but also comes across kind-hearted men and women who help him (though he isn’t always forthcoming about his goal, and outright lies about his situation more than once). He’s also quite the philosopher – having compiled a list of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Thing for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Among my favorites: Rule # 83 - If a Adult Tells You Not to Worry, and You Weren’t Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start, ‘Cause You’re Already Running Late.

Curtis doesn’t gloss over the difficulties faced by many during the Great Depression, giving the reader a history lesson on the conditions in Hoovervilles across America. But he also shows that with determination, hard work, and compassion people survived the hardships and formed lasting bonds. As an adult, I really appreciated the afterword wherein Curtis explains some of his own family history and suggests, no orders, the reader to “Go talk to Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, and other relatives and friends.”

James Avery is marvelous performing the audio book. Heck, I was scared when Bud was in the shed with the “vampires” and fish-guards! And at the end, my eyes started that same “stingy-eyed blinking” right along Miss Thomas.
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Feb 10, 2013 Stephannestacey Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My daughter had to read this for school. This is the daughter that doesn't like to read. She loved it, and told me that I had to read it as well! Any one that knows me would know how weird and remarkable that is. So I borrowed the class addition and read it this weekend. Amazing! For a young adult book this should be a must read.

The story will make you laugh, cry, and hope that the protagonist will find what he is looking for. I even enjoyed the way it ended, resolved yet leaving you hoping tha...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Keyaira marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Bud not Buddy is an excellent book that I would recommend anyone to read young or old. This intense book was written by Christopher Paul Curtis and took place in 1936 during the Great Depression. It talks about a young boy named Bud who lost his mother when he was 6 years old. After being passed around from foster home to foster home, he decides to take matters into his own hands and sets out on a journey to find his father.
“My Name is Bud Not Budding”
This phrase continues to to be heard throug...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

This book was one of those books where the whole sweetness of the book stays in you for days, and I will never forget how sad I was when I had to finish this book and return it to the library. How I longed to enjoy this book more bu reading it more carefully, and more meaningfully.
This book was very interesting to me because it made me think of some of the times, when I think life is difficult, and just wan't to give up but you can't because you just worked so hard on it and you just can't le...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Wayne S. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, and ten-year-old Bud Caldwell lives in Flint, MI. His mother, who always said that his name is Bud, not Buddy, never told him anything about his father, but she kept a bunch of fliers about a musician and band-leader named Herman E. Calloway of Grand Rapids, MI, and Bud fantasizes that Calloway must be his father. Unfortunately, Bud’s mother died four years earlier, and Bud has been in and out of the orphanage and various foster homes, the latest...more It is 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, and ten-year-old Bud Caldwell lives in Flint, MI. His mother, who always said that his name is Bud, not Buddy, never told him anything about his father, but she kept a bunch of fliers about a musician and band-leader named Herman E. Calloway of Grand Rapids, MI, and Bud fantasizes that Calloway must be his father. Unfortunately, Bud’s mother died four years earlier, and Bud has been in and out of the orphanage and various foster homes, the latest being the Amoses. Then when Todd Amos beats him up and Mrs. Amos decides to send him back to the orphanage for defending himself, Bud decides to run away to Grand Rapids to find his father. Will he make it? And what will he find if he gets there?

Author Christopher Paul Curtis, who had received a Newbery honor in 1996 for The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and later gained another in 2007 for Elijah of Buxton, said that while Bud, Not Buddy, which won the Newbery Medal in 2000, is fictional, many of the situations which Bud encounters are based on events which occurred during the 1930s and a couple of the characters are drawn from real people. Thus, the reader will learn about life for African-Americans in the Great Depression, including Hoovervilles, hobos, racism, the KKK, and jazz music. The book certainly has a charm about it and finds its way to a happy ending. However, there are some questionable aspects to the story which need at least to be noted. Though it is never mentioned out in the open, there is a constant underlying suggestion that Bud is an illegitimate child. And some people may not care for the pencil-up-the-nose and the shotgun-fantasy scenes.

Also there are a few language issues. In addition to some common euphemisms and childish slang (dang, darn, gee, and pee), Bud says “doggoned” a lot—and I mean A LOT!—as well as “kiss my wrist” several times. And others use such “polite” profane interjections as sweet baby Jesus, Lord knows, for God’s sake, my Lord, by God, and Lord have mercy. But most troubling is the fact that deception is accepted as a means of survival with little consequence. In other words, Bud lies—again, A LOT! In fact, throughout the book are found several of “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.” Some of these are funny and harmless, but rule number 3 is “If you got to tell a lie, make sure it’s simple and easy to remember.” One might argue that Bud doesn’t have parents to reinforce right from wrong, but many parents will cringe at a book which appears to endorse lying. As one friend noted, “I’m sure leaving that controversial content in helped it win the coveted Newbery Award.” So caution is recommended, and those who parent from a Biblical worldview will want to pre-read the book and discuss the objectionable elements with their children. For these reasons, I would not suggest it for anyone younger than ages twelve and up.(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Christi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Bud is a ten year old little boy whose mother and only known family member passes away leaving him to the care of an orphanage. After some bad experiences with foster homes Bud decides to run away and find his dad. He ends up learning more than he thought along his journey.

Critique:
A. Setting
B. The setting was a big part of the story. The fact that this story takes place in or around the more urban areas during the great depression compounds Bud's problems. I...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Brit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, Not Buddy is a charming, humorous, appealing book for young readers. Children around 7th- 9th grade would love this book, and be able to relate to the character as well as understand the story. The book is about an orphan who ran away from his foster parents who did not treat him very well, to go find his family. The setting is during the Depression, which sets the background history of how rough life was for people during that time. There are many humorous scenes in the storyline and the j...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Carly Allen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud is my new Buddy!: Bud not Buddy is a poignant, inspiring historical fiction read full of hope. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry all at the same time. Children who love music and children who are in foster homes will really connect with this book and be able to relate to it. Christopher Paul Curtis does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life for the reader. There are somewhat complex themes and some intense depictions of situations during the Great Depression that so...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Lena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grade/Interest Level: Upper Elementary/ Middle School (5th-8th)
Reading Level: 950L
Genre: Historical Fiction

Main Characters: Bud, the Amoses Family, Herman E. Calloway, Lefty, Bugs
Setting: Flint and Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1936 during the Great Depression
POV: First Person

Summary: This is story of a ten year old boy named Bud Caldwell. He was an orphan child because his mother had died, which led him to go to several foster homes. The novel starts off when Bud finally gets adopted by the Amoses....more

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Nov 18, 2012 Emily Mateos rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grade/interest level: Middle School
Reading level: Lexile Level 950L
Genre: Historical fiction

Main Characters: Bud Caldwell, Herman Calloway, Bugs, Lefty Lewis
Setting: 1936 during the Great Depression in Flint Michigan then later on to Grand Rapids Michigan
POV: from Bud

This story is about an recently orphaned boy who has nothing left of his mother except for a bag of old stones and a poster of a jazz band. After a bad encounter with a foster family who returned him to the orphanage, Bud decides h...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Summary: This was a wonderful historical fiction novel about a ten year old boy named Buddy. Buddy was a ten year old orphan child, because his mother had died. The story takes place during the Great Depression. The novel starts off when Bud finally gets adopted by the Amoses. But, But does not get along with their twelve year old son who tortures him. The family makes Bud sleep in the garden shed one night. Bud makes Todd, the twelve year old son pee his bed. The next day, they bring him back t...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Mitchell M rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, not buddy.
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary (4th to 5th)
Reading level: Fountas and Pinnell, S
Genre: Historical Fiction

Main Characters: Bud
Setting: Flint, Michigan. 1936.
POV: from Bud

This is a story about a ten-year-old kid named Bud. He’s living in Flint, Michigan. It is the year 1936 and it’s the Great Depression. Bud is an orphan. Bud is adopted to a new home, but after a few fights with the Amos family’s real son, Bud is taken back to the orphanage. So Bud decides that Herman E. Cal...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Bridgit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grade/interest level: Middle School
Reading level: 950L
Genre: historical fiction
Main Characters: Bud
Setting: Flint, Michigan, 1936
POV: first person

Set in the Great Depression, Bud is a young boy who hops from foster homes to orphanages after the death of his mother. The only remaining objects he has from her are rocks with dates on them, a picture of his mother, and an old flier features the "Dusty Devastators of the Depression". After a bad experience with one home, Bud decides to leave and s...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Rosalinda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Main Character/s: Bud
Setting: 1936 in Flint, Michigan
POV: Bud (1st person)

Summary: Bud is a ten-year-old orphan living during the Great Depression in 1936. His mother passed away when he was six-years-old and she left very few things behind. However those little things are treasured and held tightly by Bud. Since his mother’s passing, Bud has traveled from foster home to foster home. Unfortunately the very last home he was placed treated him very poorly by beating and imprisoning him. Bud made a...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Lacey Luce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bud, Not Buddy
By Christopher Paul Curtis
Curtis, C. (1999). Bud, not buddy. Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

1. Historical Fiction

2. This is a story about a young orphan boy, whose mother has died and he is now on the search for his father. After escaping from his mean foster family, Bud decides to flee to Grand Rapids, Michigan in search of his Jazz Band playing father. Bud finally finds his father and the rest of his Jazz Band where they decided to take him in for the time being. Then after b...more

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About Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books. One such example is Bucking the Sarge, which is about a fifteen year old boy named Luther T. Ferrel, who is in a running battle with his slum-lord mother. Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Mic...more

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Quotes from Bud, Not Buddy

“...that was Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things to Have a Funner LIfe and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself Number 83...If a Adult Tells You Not to Worry, and You Weren't Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start 'Cause You're Already Running Late.” — 22 people liked it

“Rules and Things Number 63: Never, Ever Say Something Bad About Someone You Don't Know--Especially When You're Around a Bunch of Strangers. You Never Can Tell Who Might Be Kin to That Person or Who Might Be a Lip-Flapping, Big-Mouth Spy.” — 18 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10415.Bud_Not_Buddy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320521453l/10415.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10415.Bud_Not_Buddy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis[/url]

Bud, Not Buddy

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