What do you think?
Rate this book
Bud, Not Buddy
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:
1. He has his own suitcase full of special things.
2. He’s the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.
3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!
Bud’s got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.
1. He has his own suitcase full of special things.
2. He’s the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.
3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!
Bud’s got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
3106 people are currently reading
27407 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Paul Curtis
45 books1,245 followersCurtis 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 Michigan-Flint.
Curtis is the father of two children, Steven, an ensign in the United States Navy, and Cydney, a college student and accomplished pianist. His third child is expected to make an appearance in 2011. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.
Curtis moved to Detroit, Michigan in January, 2009
Curtis is the father of two children, Steven, an ensign in the United States Navy, and Cydney, a college student and accomplished pianist. His third child is expected to make an appearance in 2011. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.
Curtis moved to Detroit, Michigan in January, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,616 reviews
November 29, 2011
I will never look at a 'ticonderoga' pencil the same again!
February 6, 2025
4.5
One of the 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, there's no talking down to the reader or even the tying-up in a pretty bow of all the loose ends.
There's sadness (reality), of course, (one scene brought tears to my eyes, but that's from an adult's perspective) but most of it is just fun, and even funny. (There's one gross (to me) description of soda-backwash that I almost couldn't read, the kind of thing many boys seem to love.)
And though there's lots of heart to the story, there's no moralizing. As Bud says:
I'd learned that it was best to be asleep before Momma finished the story because if she got done and I was still awake, she'd always tell me what the story was about. I never told Momma, but that always ruint the fun of the story. Shucks, here I was thinking I was just hearing something funny about a fox or a dog and Momma spoilt it by telling me they were really lessons about not being greedy or wishing for things you couldn't have.
It was interesting to this adult to learn in the Afterword that two of the older characters were based on the author's grandfathers, one of whom pitched in the minors of the Negro Baseball Leagues, one of my interests.
One of the 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, there's no talking down to the reader or even the tying-up in a pretty bow of all the loose ends.
There's sadness (reality), of course, (one scene brought tears to my eyes, but that's from an adult's perspective) but most of it is just fun, and even funny. (There's one gross (to me) description of soda-backwash that I almost couldn't read, the kind of thing many boys seem to love.)
And though there's lots of heart to the story, there's no moralizing. As Bud says:
I'd learned that it was best to be asleep before Momma finished the story because if she got done and I was still awake, she'd always tell me what the story was about. I never told Momma, but that always ruint the fun of the story. Shucks, here I was thinking I was just hearing something funny about a fox or a dog and Momma spoilt it by telling me they were really lessons about not being greedy or wishing for things you couldn't have.
It was interesting to this adult to learn in the Afterword that two of the older characters were based on the author's grandfathers, one of whom pitched in the minors of the Negro Baseball Leagues, one of my interests.
June 17, 2020
I took a class on "archetypes" several years ago (this is where I learned to love Joseph Campbell). The class began with the teacher reading us a story aloud. At the end of the story, she asked us to write down which one of the 5 characters in the story represented us best. I wrote down “the prince.”
When the teacher came over to collect my paper, she read what I had written and chuckled. She said something like, “Women almost never write down 'the prince.' It's unusual.”
Why unusual? Don't most people relate to the hero in the story?
According to her. . . no. Statistically speaking, as a woman, I was far more likely to relate to one of the other characters. (The mouse? Give me a freaking break). I know I've always loved a story with a single hero. Yes, the hero is often a young male, but world lit has been dominated for centuries by men. Just because the hero's a male doesn't mean that I don't relate to him, or he doesn't represent me. To me, the hero represents the determination to achieve the maximum of what we have to offer, our full potential as human beings.
World lit is peppered with these young heros: Huckleberry Finn, Jim Hawkins, Pippi Longstocking, Mowgli, Anne of Green Gables, Tarzan, Pip.
I didn't realize, until I started writing down the names of some of my favorite young heroes, that they were all orphans (or might as well be).
Yes, the young orphan is often a hero, especially during the difficult times in which they lived, and Bud Caldwell, in 1936, in Flint, Michigan, is no exception.
Bud Caldwell, Christopher Paul Curtis's creation, is a new hero for me to add to the list. This Newbery medal winner from the year 2000 has been sitting on my shelf for almost 20 years and I had no idea it would contain such an inspiring young hero.
Bud is trying to navigate his small corner of the world, being moved around in the American foster care system during the Great Depression, dragging his pathetic suitcase, held together with twine, from one abusive household to the next.
His face, even at 10 years old, has lost the capacity to express emotion, and yet this is not a sad story. It is, in fact, incredibly humorous at times.
Wow. A new hero for me. I can't help but celebrate.
A bud is a flower-to-be. A flower-in-waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It's a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world.
When the teacher came over to collect my paper, she read what I had written and chuckled. She said something like, “Women almost never write down 'the prince.' It's unusual.”
Why unusual? Don't most people relate to the hero in the story?
According to her. . . no. Statistically speaking, as a woman, I was far more likely to relate to one of the other characters. (The mouse? Give me a freaking break). I know I've always loved a story with a single hero. Yes, the hero is often a young male, but world lit has been dominated for centuries by men. Just because the hero's a male doesn't mean that I don't relate to him, or he doesn't represent me. To me, the hero represents the determination to achieve the maximum of what we have to offer, our full potential as human beings.
World lit is peppered with these young heros: Huckleberry Finn, Jim Hawkins, Pippi Longstocking, Mowgli, Anne of Green Gables, Tarzan, Pip.
I didn't realize, until I started writing down the names of some of my favorite young heroes, that they were all orphans (or might as well be).
Yes, the young orphan is often a hero, especially during the difficult times in which they lived, and Bud Caldwell, in 1936, in Flint, Michigan, is no exception.
Bud Caldwell, Christopher Paul Curtis's creation, is a new hero for me to add to the list. This Newbery medal winner from the year 2000 has been sitting on my shelf for almost 20 years and I had no idea it would contain such an inspiring young hero.
Bud is trying to navigate his small corner of the world, being moved around in the American foster care system during the Great Depression, dragging his pathetic suitcase, held together with twine, from one abusive household to the next.
His face, even at 10 years old, has lost the capacity to express emotion, and yet this is not a sad story. It is, in fact, incredibly humorous at times.
Wow. A new hero for me. I can't help but celebrate.
A bud is a flower-to-be. A flower-in-waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It's a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world.
June 12, 2019
3.5 stars
I think Curtis's voice was spectacular, but the plot fell a little bit flat for me. I laughed out loud at all the parts when Bud described librarians, and enjoyed all of his antics. Listening to the audiobook was a lot of fun, but overall I felt a bit lost for the majority of the book on where it was going. Great characters and a great job describing the time it takes place, but overall it wasn't a huge win for me.
Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥
I think Curtis's voice was spectacular, but the plot fell a little bit flat for me. I laughed out loud at all the parts when Bud described librarians, and enjoyed all of his antics. Listening to the audiobook was a lot of fun, but overall I felt a bit lost for the majority of the book on where it was going. Great characters and a great job describing the time it takes place, but overall it wasn't a huge win for me.
Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥
March 4, 2024
✰ 4 stars ✰
“And do you know what a bud is? A bud is a flower-to-be. A flower-in-waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It’s a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world.
And that’s you.”
One of my fondest memories of middle school is of when my 6th grade English teacher asked me to stay behind after the bell had rung signalling the end of class - which was also the last period of the day, hence everyone rushing to their lockers to avoid any last minute homework assignments - and asked me if I would be interesting in writing a book review for one of the books from the latest batch of newly released books the school library had recently received - 'the next thing about the air in the library is that no other place smells anything like it.' 📚📚 As assistant librarian, Mr.David thought it would be helpful for potential readers to have a fellow student's perspective on a book that they might be interested in reading. Being the diligent student and voracious reader that I was - and c'mon, who's going to refuse a teacher - I said yes.
I still remember holding the hardcover edition of Bud, Not Buddy in my hands in its mint condition and that extra jacket that gave its extra oomph. I remember feeling so honored and dare I say it, a little smug that Mr. David had chosen me to write a student review. 😏 And then, I remember panicking at my desk at home - staring at my computer screen - thinking 'what have I got myself into? I don't know how to write a review. Book reports are hard enough as it is!' 😄 But, as it was, I figured it out - after all, words have to come from the heart.
It's been rough pickings for ten-year-old Bud, Not Buddy; bouncing through the foster care system since he was orphaned at six years old, all he has to call his own is a suitcase full of precious memorabilia that is his only connection to the memory of his beloved mother and the name she blessed him with - 'Bud is your name and don’t you ever let anyone call you anything outside of that either --- Your name is Bud, period.' And after a disastrous turn at one of the chosen foster families for him leaves him broken and bruised - rather than re-enter the system, he starts off on the intrepid journey to 'walk clean across the state of Michigan' on the lam in the pursuit for his supposed father.
“There comes a time when you’re losing a fight that it just doesn’t make sense to keep on fighting. It’s not that you’re being a quitter, it’s just that you’ve got the sense to know when enough is enough.”
Children are so fearlessly honest - it's something so very admirable. And Bud definitely was. Full of determination and kindness and a heart full of conviction, he never faltered in the face of fear. It was a wonder to see the ways of the world through his eyes after being kept cooped up for so long. Independence offers a whole other door to experiences previously closed to him. He had loved his mother fiercely and it was her memory and keepsakes that led him on that determined path to seek out his father. 🥺 He knew no one nor did he have anyone who would care for him or be concerned for his well-being and that really broke my heart at how lonely he felt in life - how he didn't fight for anything, simply a place to belong. 'But the tears coming out doesn’t happen to me anymore, I don’t know when it first happened, but it seems like my eyes don’t cry no more.' There was that youthful spirit to him that was still mired by that loneliness of being alone for so long and having to look after yourself without anyone having anyone caring for you - or loving you. And to find that again - he braved dangers and met interesting companions and risked his life simply for the chance to stake his claim in what was his. 😟
His personality shined in the way he spoke to the audience - in the way he knew he had to abide by certain rules to survive, those 'Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things to Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself', which earned a chuckle out of me - while also knowing and understanding the signs of what to look out for when trouble is on the rise. 😞 'Being unhappy about it is one thing, but torturing the kids who are there even though they don’t want to be is another.' His life as a foster child has been so rough on him, my heart hurt for him and all that he had to put up with - for silence in acceptance is the only means for survival - and how he was so concerned for the wellbeing of others. 🤍
The start was a bit of an alarm to me - as I couldn't help but wonder what my first reaction had been back then, followed by that unsuspecting ending; although, as a much older reader now, I did kinda figure out what to expect. There were still surprises a-plenty that he stumbled upon along his search, and the author captured it with such a candid feel to it that I appreciated. 👌🏻 It's this very heart-warming and quietly resilient coming-of-age story for a young boy who grows up amidst discovering where the heart of his family truly lies after being wayward for so very long. It's that soft reminder to appreciate the little things in life that we take for granted - from family to the basic necessities of life, from the love and the pain - to the time that we are blessed with and the opportunities of living well - that help make us who we are and we should not forget who we are. Bud never let anyone take away his identity; so fiercely protective of his name, for that defined him. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Writ about their car in fancy letters it said, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY!
My pretend daddy read it and said, “Uh-uh-uh, well, you got to give them credit, you wouldn’t expect that they’d have the nerve to come down here and tell the truth.”
With the right balance of humor and heart, the author also did a commendable job of portraying what life was like during the Great Depression - regardless of the color of your skin. I appreciated the dialogue and the various unique characters the author introduced to depict the time period, as well as how even in a short few moments, he captured the resilience of the people and their loyalty towards one another. 😥 Through Bud's wistful and searching eyes, we get glimpses of the struggles of everyone affected by the gripping economy and how, despite the seriousness of the moment, everyone was searching for any possible means to alleviate their grievances in any small way - turning to entertainment and music to reassure them that out of one of the bleakest moments in their history, there is still a hopeful glimmer for them to cling on to. 🫂
A funny coincidence is that before I chose to re-read this, a few months ago I read another book by this same author - which surprisingly I enjoyed a lot more; his name felt so very familiar to me, yet I couldn't recall where I had seen it before. When I checked out his bio and other works and saw Bud, Not Buddy featured in his list, I let out a small laugh. Well, wonders never cease? Guess I had a way of picking the good stuff right from the start. 😌 I'm also getting a better understanding of what the Newbery Selection tends to gravitate towards upon choosing their winners - a book that carries not only an emotional pull to it that resonates with its young readers, but also has a certain historical gravitas to it - one that skillfully incorporates fiction and fact together - without it being cumbersome or tedious. One that enlightens but is still engaging, too. 👍🏻
“There’s another thing that’s strange about the library, it seems like time flies when you’re in one.”
I don't remember exactly what my first initial thoughts were after I first completed it those twenty-something years ago. What I do remember is a couple of weeks later, standing at the library displays featuring all new releases and turning the book over to look at the back cover where Mr.David had paper clipped my 10 font size column printed review - and feeling a little bit proud when I read Review By Amina. 🥹 We may have teased Mr.David for being a hippie from the 70s, but I have always been forever grateful to him for asking me for this. He may always be remembered as that one and only teacher who taught me that there are other adjectives other than nice that can be used to describe something, but he's also the one who saw in me how much I loved reading and trusted me as a voice to speak honestly about a book. Maybe that is a part of me that feels somewhat cathartic and comfortable expressing myself as openly and respectfully as I can in my reviews, here. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“And do you know what a bud is? A bud is a flower-to-be. A flower-in-waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It’s a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world.
And that’s you.”
One of my fondest memories of middle school is of when my 6th grade English teacher asked me to stay behind after the bell had rung signalling the end of class - which was also the last period of the day, hence everyone rushing to their lockers to avoid any last minute homework assignments - and asked me if I would be interesting in writing a book review for one of the books from the latest batch of newly released books the school library had recently received - 'the next thing about the air in the library is that no other place smells anything like it.' 📚📚 As assistant librarian, Mr.David thought it would be helpful for potential readers to have a fellow student's perspective on a book that they might be interested in reading. Being the diligent student and voracious reader that I was - and c'mon, who's going to refuse a teacher - I said yes.
I still remember holding the hardcover edition of Bud, Not Buddy in my hands in its mint condition and that extra jacket that gave its extra oomph. I remember feeling so honored and dare I say it, a little smug that Mr. David had chosen me to write a student review. 😏 And then, I remember panicking at my desk at home - staring at my computer screen - thinking 'what have I got myself into? I don't know how to write a review. Book reports are hard enough as it is!' 😄 But, as it was, I figured it out - after all, words have to come from the heart.
It's been rough pickings for ten-year-old Bud, Not Buddy; bouncing through the foster care system since he was orphaned at six years old, all he has to call his own is a suitcase full of precious memorabilia that is his only connection to the memory of his beloved mother and the name she blessed him with - 'Bud is your name and don’t you ever let anyone call you anything outside of that either --- Your name is Bud, period.' And after a disastrous turn at one of the chosen foster families for him leaves him broken and bruised - rather than re-enter the system, he starts off on the intrepid journey to 'walk clean across the state of Michigan' on the lam in the pursuit for his supposed father.
“There comes a time when you’re losing a fight that it just doesn’t make sense to keep on fighting. It’s not that you’re being a quitter, it’s just that you’ve got the sense to know when enough is enough.”
Children are so fearlessly honest - it's something so very admirable. And Bud definitely was. Full of determination and kindness and a heart full of conviction, he never faltered in the face of fear. It was a wonder to see the ways of the world through his eyes after being kept cooped up for so long. Independence offers a whole other door to experiences previously closed to him. He had loved his mother fiercely and it was her memory and keepsakes that led him on that determined path to seek out his father. 🥺 He knew no one nor did he have anyone who would care for him or be concerned for his well-being and that really broke my heart at how lonely he felt in life - how he didn't fight for anything, simply a place to belong. 'But the tears coming out doesn’t happen to me anymore, I don’t know when it first happened, but it seems like my eyes don’t cry no more.' There was that youthful spirit to him that was still mired by that loneliness of being alone for so long and having to look after yourself without anyone having anyone caring for you - or loving you. And to find that again - he braved dangers and met interesting companions and risked his life simply for the chance to stake his claim in what was his. 😟
His personality shined in the way he spoke to the audience - in the way he knew he had to abide by certain rules to survive, those 'Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things to Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself', which earned a chuckle out of me - while also knowing and understanding the signs of what to look out for when trouble is on the rise. 😞 'Being unhappy about it is one thing, but torturing the kids who are there even though they don’t want to be is another.' His life as a foster child has been so rough on him, my heart hurt for him and all that he had to put up with - for silence in acceptance is the only means for survival - and how he was so concerned for the wellbeing of others. 🤍
The start was a bit of an alarm to me - as I couldn't help but wonder what my first reaction had been back then, followed by that unsuspecting ending; although, as a much older reader now, I did kinda figure out what to expect. There were still surprises a-plenty that he stumbled upon along his search, and the author captured it with such a candid feel to it that I appreciated. 👌🏻 It's this very heart-warming and quietly resilient coming-of-age story for a young boy who grows up amidst discovering where the heart of his family truly lies after being wayward for so very long. It's that soft reminder to appreciate the little things in life that we take for granted - from family to the basic necessities of life, from the love and the pain - to the time that we are blessed with and the opportunities of living well - that help make us who we are and we should not forget who we are. Bud never let anyone take away his identity; so fiercely protective of his name, for that defined him. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Writ about their car in fancy letters it said, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY!
My pretend daddy read it and said, “Uh-uh-uh, well, you got to give them credit, you wouldn’t expect that they’d have the nerve to come down here and tell the truth.”
With the right balance of humor and heart, the author also did a commendable job of portraying what life was like during the Great Depression - regardless of the color of your skin. I appreciated the dialogue and the various unique characters the author introduced to depict the time period, as well as how even in a short few moments, he captured the resilience of the people and their loyalty towards one another. 😥 Through Bud's wistful and searching eyes, we get glimpses of the struggles of everyone affected by the gripping economy and how, despite the seriousness of the moment, everyone was searching for any possible means to alleviate their grievances in any small way - turning to entertainment and music to reassure them that out of one of the bleakest moments in their history, there is still a hopeful glimmer for them to cling on to. 🫂
A funny coincidence is that before I chose to re-read this, a few months ago I read another book by this same author - which surprisingly I enjoyed a lot more; his name felt so very familiar to me, yet I couldn't recall where I had seen it before. When I checked out his bio and other works and saw Bud, Not Buddy featured in his list, I let out a small laugh. Well, wonders never cease? Guess I had a way of picking the good stuff right from the start. 😌 I'm also getting a better understanding of what the Newbery Selection tends to gravitate towards upon choosing their winners - a book that carries not only an emotional pull to it that resonates with its young readers, but also has a certain historical gravitas to it - one that skillfully incorporates fiction and fact together - without it being cumbersome or tedious. One that enlightens but is still engaging, too. 👍🏻
“There’s another thing that’s strange about the library, it seems like time flies when you’re in one.”
I don't remember exactly what my first initial thoughts were after I first completed it those twenty-something years ago. What I do remember is a couple of weeks later, standing at the library displays featuring all new releases and turning the book over to look at the back cover where Mr.David had paper clipped my 10 font size column printed review - and feeling a little bit proud when I read Review By Amina. 🥹 We may have teased Mr.David for being a hippie from the 70s, but I have always been forever grateful to him for asking me for this. He may always be remembered as that one and only teacher who taught me that there are other adjectives other than nice that can be used to describe something, but he's also the one who saw in me how much I loved reading and trusted me as a voice to speak honestly about a book. Maybe that is a part of me that feels somewhat cathartic and comfortable expressing myself as openly and respectfully as I can in my reviews, here. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
October 22, 2016
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” that afflicted Miss Thomas.
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” that afflicted Miss Thomas.
May 25, 2020
I have been meaning to read this for years, in my quest to read all the Newbery books, but I haven't super been in the mood for it until now. When I kind of had to be in the mood for it, because my daughter brought it home to read for Battle of the Books, and then the schools shut down and here we were with a copy! And then the school scheduled us to bring back any books or school materials this week, and I thought, Welp, if not now, when?
I was pleasantly surprised: one of the reasons I've put this off is because I thought it looked too sad. An orphan during the Depression? Not exactly a feel good story, usually. But Bud has such a clear voice, and I liked the fact that this was sort of a fairy tale. It has a happy ending, there are kind people who help him, rather than him stumbling repeatedly into trouble. And for extra bonus points: two of the characters are based on Curtis' grandfather's, with photos and an author's note at the end, which I always love.
I was pleasantly surprised: one of the reasons I've put this off is because I thought it looked too sad. An orphan during the Depression? Not exactly a feel good story, usually. But Bud has such a clear voice, and I liked the fact that this was sort of a fairy tale. It has a happy ending, there are kind people who help him, rather than him stumbling repeatedly into trouble. And for extra bonus points: two of the characters are based on Curtis' grandfather's, with photos and an author's note at the end, which I always love.
October 7, 2019
What does an adult do when a nine-year-old boy that hates reading recommends this book to you? YOU READ IT!!! And so glad I did! Took me a few hours and I enjoyed every chapter.
"When I'd jerked up in my bed and opened my eyes Todd was standing next to me with a yellow pencil in his hand. He was looking at it like it was a thermometer and said 'Wow! You got all the way up to R!'
He turned the pencil toward me, crunched up against the headboard. I saw TICONDEROGA printed on the yellow wood." (PAGE 12)
Curtis set this book during the Depression Era in Flint, Michigan (where he is originally from). Ten- year- old Bud's mom is dead and he is in and out of Orphanages and in and out of Foster homes. He finally ends up being locked in a disgusting shack by a disgruntled family. Bud tries to kill a vampire bat before he gets bit up. That's when the hornets start attacking Bud. He makes it out and gets his revenge on the older boy that gets him in trouble and sets out into hiding. This gives Bud the idea of looking for his father. Before his mother died she left Bud a bunch of clues and carries them around in his famous suitcase.
I was so glad he found good people to help him along the way. My heart was hoping he didn't get caught up with the KKK. While it is not a book on racism it does give kids a subtle way of telling them blacks and whites were not in the same league. Such a good, funny YA book. This one did not gloss over death, hopelessness, starvation or love. (BASED ON TRUE CHARACTERS but not true events)
"When I'd jerked up in my bed and opened my eyes Todd was standing next to me with a yellow pencil in his hand. He was looking at it like it was a thermometer and said 'Wow! You got all the way up to R!'
He turned the pencil toward me, crunched up against the headboard. I saw TICONDEROGA printed on the yellow wood." (PAGE 12)
Curtis set this book during the Depression Era in Flint, Michigan (where he is originally from). Ten- year- old Bud's mom is dead and he is in and out of Orphanages and in and out of Foster homes. He finally ends up being locked in a disgusting shack by a disgruntled family. Bud tries to kill a vampire bat before he gets bit up. That's when the hornets start attacking Bud. He makes it out and gets his revenge on the older boy that gets him in trouble and sets out into hiding. This gives Bud the idea of looking for his father. Before his mother died she left Bud a bunch of clues and carries them around in his famous suitcase.
I was so glad he found good people to help him along the way. My heart was hoping he didn't get caught up with the KKK. While it is not a book on racism it does give kids a subtle way of telling them blacks and whites were not in the same league. Such a good, funny YA book. This one did not gloss over death, hopelessness, starvation or love. (BASED ON TRUE CHARACTERS but not true events)
April 5, 2016
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!!!!
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!!!!
Read
July 7, 2016Dnf at around 80%.
It's not that book wasn't good. The writing was fun to read, the main character Bud not Buddy was adorable and his determination to make his life better was so uplifting.
But I just kept it under my bed for so long that I'm no longer interested in finishing it. That, and it was overdue at my library so I had to return it today.
So I doubt I'll be reviewing this properly. Looks like I'm just as lazy trying to type words to describe this book now as I was reading the book.
I won't be rating this because had I actually finished it I might have loved it... but I guess I'll never know. I don't re-read books I DNF.
It's not that book wasn't good. The writing was fun to read, the main character Bud not Buddy was adorable and his determination to make his life better was so uplifting.
But I just kept it under my bed for so long that I'm no longer interested in finishing it. That, and it was overdue at my library so I had to return it today.
So I doubt I'll be reviewing this properly. Looks like I'm just as lazy trying to type words to describe this book now as I was reading the book.
I won't be rating this because had I actually finished it I might have loved it... but I guess I'll never know. I don't re-read books I DNF.
September 25, 2008
I really liked this sweet kid's voice. The author does it perfectly--his own voice never intrudes. I liked the way racism is touched on several times, because it's an inescapable part of Bud's life, but not dwelt on, because that isn't what the story's about.
It has something of a fantasy ending, but that's maybe not such a bad thing here.
It has something of a fantasy ending, but that's maybe not such a bad thing here.
September 16, 2022
**4.5 stars**
When I tell you the end had my chest HURTING!! Excellent middle grade (skewing older) story, it’s sitting between 4 or 5 stars for me.
Christopher Paul Curtis is one of those classic children’s lit authors. I did have a hard time being convinced that Bud was 10 years old in the front half of the book, but his decisions later made him more believable. I loved the (literal) found family story in this, it melted part of my freezer burned heart :)
When I tell you the end had my chest HURTING!! Excellent middle grade (skewing older) story, it’s sitting between 4 or 5 stars for me.
Christopher Paul Curtis is one of those classic children’s lit authors. I did have a hard time being convinced that Bud was 10 years old in the front half of the book, but his decisions later made him more believable. I loved the (literal) found family story in this, it melted part of my freezer burned heart :)
June 14, 2024
This was a novel I’ve been looking to read since I was 8 years old, and now I’ve finally finished it. I was not disappointed.
October 29, 2021
This is a wonderful little story about a depression era black orphan in Flint Michigan. Bud is only 6 years old when his single mother dies without ever telling him who his father is. After being shuffled around foster homes for a few years he decided to run away and look for his father who he decides must be the musician that his mother kept a poster of.
This story will warm your heart and the edition I have had a wonderful afterward where the author talks about how many of the characters are based on people in his family. He also gives more context to how black people were treated during the depression.
This story will warm your heart and the edition I have had a wonderful afterward where the author talks about how many of the characters are based on people in his family. He also gives more context to how black people were treated during the depression.
May 7, 2023
“Here we go again.” Bud (not Buddy) Caldwell is growing up during the Great Depression in Flint, Michigan. He is ten-years old, currently on his third foster home, and presently being rightly pummeled by his current foster family’s son. But Bud is determined that this will be his last foster family, as well as his last night in Flint because woop, zoop, sloop, just 120 miles away in Grand Rapids is his father, the famous jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. At least he THINKS this is his father. His mother wasn’t very specific about his father’s identity before she passed away, but he does have a cardboard suitcase full of clues and a heart full of hope. But before he reaches his destination, Bud will have to confront a vampire, closet monsters, fear, and hunger. Woop, zoop, sloop! This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!
Christopher Paul Curtis delights and engages readers with a charming boy who is not only an aspiring musician, but also the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Bud’s many rules give readers practical and humorous pointers on how to navigate life’s unexpected twists and turns. For example, Rules and Things Number 3: “If You Got to Tell a Lie, Make Sure It’s Simple and Easy to Remember.” or Number 83: “If a Adult Tell You Not to Worry, and You Weren’t Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start ‘Cause You’re Already Running Late.” Although Bud was orphaned at the age of six, his mother would have been proud at the young man he has become: always saying “sir” and “ma’am”, “please” and “thank you”, and lying ONLY when absolutely necessary. He’s brave, determined, resourceful, and fiercely optimistic during a time when hope and promise are a scarcity.
Throughout the book, Bud is always reminding people that his name is Bud, not Buddy. His mother named him Bud after a flower bud…a flower-in-waiting. “Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It’s a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world,” his mother would often say to him. We’ll never know if the name made the boy or the boy made the name, but one thing we can be sure about is that Bud, not Buddy, has plenty of love to share and enough spirit and pride to make his own warmth and to shine his own light. Woop, zoop, sloop.
Christopher Paul Curtis delights and engages readers with a charming boy who is not only an aspiring musician, but also the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Bud’s many rules give readers practical and humorous pointers on how to navigate life’s unexpected twists and turns. For example, Rules and Things Number 3: “If You Got to Tell a Lie, Make Sure It’s Simple and Easy to Remember.” or Number 83: “If a Adult Tell You Not to Worry, and You Weren’t Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start ‘Cause You’re Already Running Late.” Although Bud was orphaned at the age of six, his mother would have been proud at the young man he has become: always saying “sir” and “ma’am”, “please” and “thank you”, and lying ONLY when absolutely necessary. He’s brave, determined, resourceful, and fiercely optimistic during a time when hope and promise are a scarcity.
Throughout the book, Bud is always reminding people that his name is Bud, not Buddy. His mother named him Bud after a flower bud…a flower-in-waiting. “Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up. It’s a little fist of love waiting to unfold and be seen by the world,” his mother would often say to him. We’ll never know if the name made the boy or the boy made the name, but one thing we can be sure about is that Bud, not Buddy, has plenty of love to share and enough spirit and pride to make his own warmth and to shine his own light. Woop, zoop, sloop.
July 2, 2025
Bud, Not Buddy absolutely charmed me.
Adding this to the TBR for me in my grandkids. . .they will love Bud, too.
Adding this to the TBR for me in my grandkids. . .they will love Bud, too.
June 25, 2008
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 Fictional Pet Peeve #10) but was super overused, and not really cute the first time - "woop, zoop, sloop." This was slightly redeemed by slipping "dollars to donuts" in there a few times.
2) I started to cringe every time he launched into another of the "Bud Caldwell Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself." (Characters who make precocious lists? That's Rebecca's Fictional Pet Peeve #29)
Audiobook plusses:
1) It's read by James Avery, aka Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince!
2)Author's note read by author. Y'all know if there's anything I like better than historical fiction, it's the real history lesson at the end. Curtis talks about how he modeled the two important male influences in the book on his two grandfathers, who both managed to be successful black businessmen in Michigan during the depression.
AND his little daughter sings her own composition featured in one of the scenes... I knew it was too awesome for an adult to come up with!
Mommy says no
Mommy says no
I listen you don't
Wha-ha-ha-ha
The building falls down
The building falls down
You get crushed I don't
Wha-ha-ha-ha
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 Fictional Pet Peeve #10) but was super overused, and not really cute the first time - "woop, zoop, sloop." This was slightly redeemed by slipping "dollars to donuts" in there a few times.
2) I started to cringe every time he launched into another of the "Bud Caldwell Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself." (Characters who make precocious lists? That's Rebecca's Fictional Pet Peeve #29)
Audiobook plusses:
1) It's read by James Avery, aka Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince!
2)Author's note read by author. Y'all know if there's anything I like better than historical fiction, it's the real history lesson at the end. Curtis talks about how he modeled the two important male influences in the book on his two grandfathers, who both managed to be successful black businessmen in Michigan during the depression.
AND his little daughter sings her own composition featured in one of the scenes... I knew it was too awesome for an adult to come up with!
Mommy says no
Mommy says no
I listen you don't
Wha-ha-ha-ha
The building falls down
The building falls down
You get crushed I don't
Wha-ha-ha-ha
January 16, 2009
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 are many people who don't grow up with their dad and hopes to find them one day. Their are people who are so serious about finding a family member they search for along time! Bud and some kids want a dad and want to have the opportunity to have one and see how its like.
This is a very good book because it makes you not want to put it down. It is so interesting how a boy so young is so determined to find his father that he didn't grow up with. He is a very brave and courageous boy thats what makes this story so good. I would rate his book a 4 because it was very good for a history book. You learn a lesson and have fun reading it!
I can make a text to world connection to Bud trying to find his dad because there are many people who don't grow up with their dad and hopes to find them one day. Their are people who are so serious about finding a family member they search for along time! Bud and some kids want a dad and want to have the opportunity to have one and see how its like.
This is a very good book because it makes you not want to put it down. It is so interesting how a boy so young is so determined to find his father that he didn't grow up with. He is a very brave and courageous boy thats what makes this story so good. I would rate his book a 4 because it was very good for a history book. You learn a lesson and have fun reading it!
December 1, 2009
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, thanks to the interest of the other members of Calloway's band.
Bud is an endearingly naive narrator who has collected all of the things he knows about life into "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself." Regardless of what kind of situation is in front of him, Bud looks for wisdom in his rules about how the world works. I listened to this as an audio book narrated by James Avery. The inclusion of jazz music throughout the story added an extra dimension to an already enjoyable book. Bud, Not Buddy is a funny, tender, ultimately positive book that illustrates the difficulties in growing up as an African-American orphan in the 1930s. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Bud is an endearingly naive narrator who has collected all of the things he knows about life into "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself." Regardless of what kind of situation is in front of him, Bud looks for wisdom in his rules about how the world works. I listened to this as an audio book narrated by James Avery. The inclusion of jazz music throughout the story added an extra dimension to an already enjoyable book. Bud, Not Buddy is a funny, tender, ultimately positive book that illustrates the difficulties in growing up as an African-American orphan in the 1930s. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.
September 25, 2015
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 that the future will be special for everyone. You will figure out who H.E.B. turns out to be long before everyone else in the book does. But that's okay because you end up hoping and rooting for the truth to be exposed.
Chris's writing style is nicely periodesk and flows so well that you don't focus on how things are said, just that they were said. The vocabulary is appropriate for the story, protagonist, and young adult readers. A parent will not have to worry about the context or language of this book.
It's easy to see why this is an award winning book. What is truly remarkable is that Chris's first book is also award winning and he only has the two books written as of yet. I will be looking forward to reading his first book and any others that will come.
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 that the future will be special for everyone. You will figure out who H.E.B. turns out to be long before everyone else in the book does. But that's okay because you end up hoping and rooting for the truth to be exposed.
Chris's writing style is nicely periodesk and flows so well that you don't focus on how things are said, just that they were said. The vocabulary is appropriate for the story, protagonist, and young adult readers. A parent will not have to worry about the context or language of this book.
It's easy to see why this is an award winning book. What is truly remarkable is that Chris's first book is also award winning and he only has the two books written as of yet. I will be looking forward to reading his first book and any others that will come.
January 9, 2022
This was a real pleasure to read! I got totally swept up into the world of the Great Depression in Flint, Michigan and the life of Bud. He was having a very tough time (darn right awful at times and so unfair too) but he never gave up and for a ten year old he was very brave indeed. If only more kids these days could be like Bud the world would be a much better place. While he is not perfect (as no one is) and he has many misadventures I think he actually makes a good role model.. The world in this book is also much simpler too than it is today. I don't know if Bud would have fared as well if he would be in today's fast paced modern society?
The thing is I actually like Bud. I can't say that about most of the characters I meet in books.. He is an honest boy even if he is a liar. Now isn't that mighty strange? The things should contradict each other but it's true. He is so super polite, he doesn't take things that are not his (even though he may need it) and I just love the child like innocence he has about so many things! He made me laugh a few times. And he certainly has surprised me too! I think the biggest surprise was that thing he found in that shed! I certainly never saw that coming! Ouch! Plus he believes monsters are real - that makes him perfect. He is also cautious too when he should be. I think that is good. A child in his situation needs to be.
But this is the story of a boy searching for his roots, his father. Will he find him with the few clues he has? One can hope.
And the Great Depression really comes to life in this book: the long lines at the soup kitchens, living on an orphanage, hobos and riding boxcars, the fact that cars are not so common yet...
And I do love these old fashioned adventure types stories. I always have. In many ways there are superior to today's modern ones. Lots of great stuff in here including running away, hobos, trains and so much more. And jazz!
I had a good time reading this today. And yes, I had figured out a few things before they were revealed at the end.
The thing is I actually like Bud. I can't say that about most of the characters I meet in books.. He is an honest boy even if he is a liar. Now isn't that mighty strange? The things should contradict each other but it's true. He is so super polite, he doesn't take things that are not his (even though he may need it) and I just love the child like innocence he has about so many things! He made me laugh a few times. And he certainly has surprised me too! I think the biggest surprise was that thing he found in that shed! I certainly never saw that coming! Ouch! Plus he believes monsters are real - that makes him perfect. He is also cautious too when he should be. I think that is good. A child in his situation needs to be.
But this is the story of a boy searching for his roots, his father. Will he find him with the few clues he has? One can hope.
And the Great Depression really comes to life in this book: the long lines at the soup kitchens, living on an orphanage, hobos and riding boxcars, the fact that cars are not so common yet...
And I do love these old fashioned adventure types stories. I always have. In many ways there are superior to today's modern ones. Lots of great stuff in here including running away, hobos, trains and so much more. And jazz!
I had a good time reading this today. And yes, I had figured out a few things before they were revealed at the end.
October 26, 2020
I found this treasure, of a book, while walking through our Portland neighborhood. The book’s cover called to me from inside a Book Nook. My boyfriend George, and I took turns reading the short story.
The author took us on an unexpected emotional journey.
I loved the way the author had us right in the Home (orphanage), shed, library, under the tree, trying to catch the train, in the suitcase, driving a car, listening to the band, on stage, holding the rocks, believing in family, saxophone, and more.
Throughout this book we found ourselves crying, laughing and pondering life‘s bigger questions. Great read!!!!!!
The author took us on an unexpected emotional journey.
I loved the way the author had us right in the Home (orphanage), shed, library, under the tree, trying to catch the train, in the suitcase, driving a car, listening to the band, on stage, holding the rocks, believing in family, saxophone, and more.
Throughout this book we found ourselves crying, laughing and pondering life‘s bigger questions. Great read!!!!!!
December 9, 2021
4/5stars
I read this with my fifth graders and they REALLY enjoyed it. They thought it was very funny but also intense and exciting. I remember reading this when I was in about fourth or fifth grade and I wasn't the biggest fan, and this time around I definitely enjoyed it more than when I was a kid. but this was just overall a very fun time and a great novel to read with my classes.
I read this with my fifth graders and they REALLY enjoyed it. They thought it was very funny but also intense and exciting. I remember reading this when I was in about fourth or fifth grade and I wasn't the biggest fan, and this time around I definitely enjoyed it more than when I was a kid. but this was just overall a very fun time and a great novel to read with my classes.
May 30, 2020
This was a reread of a childhood favorite! I enjoyed this story and can't wait to read it with my kids someday.
December 2, 2008
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 funny and hopeful, popping up with bits of his "Rules and Things To Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of You."
This book is richly layered with complex characters and numerous themes. A great book for children to begin to analyze literature with, as it is rich enough to contain many subject topics to discuss. However, it is not lacking in the 'fun' factor either. There are also lots of historical elements to open up discussions. This is a magical mix of education and entertainment. An all around winner. A well deserved award winner.
Publishers Weekly
As in his Newbery Honor-winning debut, The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Curtis draws on a remarkable and disarming mix of comedy and pathos, this time to describe the travails and adventures of a 10-year-old African-American orphan in Depression-era Michigan. Bud is fed up with the cruel treatment he has received at various foster homes, and after being locked up for the night in a shed with a swarm of angry hornets, he decides to run away. His goal: to reach the man he--on the flimsiest of evidence--believes to be his father, jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Relying on his own ingenuity and good luck, Bud makes it to Grand Rapids, where his "father" owns a club. Calloway, who is much older and grouchier than Bud imagined, is none too thrilled to meet a boy claiming to be his long-lost son. It is the other members of his band--Steady Eddie, Mr. Jimmy, Doug the Thug, Doo-Doo Bug Cross, Dirty Deed Breed and motherly Miss Thomas--who make Bud feel like he has finally arrived home. While the grim conditions of the times and the harshness of Bud's circumstances are authentically depicted, Curtis shines on them an aura of hope and optimism. And even when he sets up a daunting scenario, he makes readers laugh--for example, mopping floors for the rejecting Calloway, Bud pretends the mop is "that underwater boat in the book Momma read to me, Twenty Thousand Leaks Under the Sea." Bud's journey, punctuated by Dickensian twists in plot and enlivened by a host of memorable personalities, will keep readers engrossed from first page to last. Ages 9-12. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature
A great review that keys into the magic of the book. I agree and was "engrossed from the first page to last." I read this aloud to my 10 and 11 year old, and they would beg me to keep reading. This is in indicator of a sure winner. It also had us talking about issues like the depression, being an orphan, being African American and other topics introduced in this book.
It has really been hard for Bud since his Mama died--one foster home after another. When he runs away from a family that really mistreats him, all he knows is that his long lost father must be the famed jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Otherwise, why would his Mama have kept the posters? Good luck and friendly folk help Bud reach Mr. Calloway, but his supposed daddy is none too welcoming. The band members and vocalist are just the opposite. Bud is a spunky and likable kid, and this book has a fairy tale ending--it all works out for Bud and readers are left with a truly warm and happy feeling. However, the hard times during the Depression and especially the difficulties faced by African Americans are not ignored. A fast read for individual readers and a great book to read aloud.
I really like the tone of this review. It is light and incites the reader to read more.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-When 10-year-old Bud Caldwell runs away from his new foster home, he realizes he has nowhere to go but to search for the father he has never known: a legendary jazz musician advertised on some old posters his deceased mother had kept. A friendly stranger picks him up on the road in the middle of the night and deposits him in Grand Rapids, MI, with Herman E. Calloway and his jazz band, but the man Bud was convinced was his father turns out to be old, cold, and cantankerous. Luckily, the band members are more welcoming; they take him in, put him to work, and begin to teach him to play an instrument. In a Victorian ending, Bud uses the rocks he has treasured from his childhood to prove his surprising relationship with Mr. Calloway. The lively humor contrasts with the grim details of the Depression-era setting and the particular difficulties faced by African Americans at that time. Bud is a plucky, engaging protagonist. Other characters are exaggerations: the good ones (the librarian and Pullman car porter who help him on his journey and the band members who embrace him) are totally open and supportive, while the villainous foster family finds particularly imaginative ways to torture their charge. However, readers will be so caught up in the adventure that they won't mind. Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
A little to much plot description here, without keying into what makes this a great book. I feel that the reviewer liked the book, however, I'm left wondering what was so great.
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 funny and hopeful, popping up with bits of his "Rules and Things To Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of You."
This book is richly layered with complex characters and numerous themes. A great book for children to begin to analyze literature with, as it is rich enough to contain many subject topics to discuss. However, it is not lacking in the 'fun' factor either. There are also lots of historical elements to open up discussions. This is a magical mix of education and entertainment. An all around winner. A well deserved award winner.
Publishers Weekly
As in his Newbery Honor-winning debut, The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Curtis draws on a remarkable and disarming mix of comedy and pathos, this time to describe the travails and adventures of a 10-year-old African-American orphan in Depression-era Michigan. Bud is fed up with the cruel treatment he has received at various foster homes, and after being locked up for the night in a shed with a swarm of angry hornets, he decides to run away. His goal: to reach the man he--on the flimsiest of evidence--believes to be his father, jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Relying on his own ingenuity and good luck, Bud makes it to Grand Rapids, where his "father" owns a club. Calloway, who is much older and grouchier than Bud imagined, is none too thrilled to meet a boy claiming to be his long-lost son. It is the other members of his band--Steady Eddie, Mr. Jimmy, Doug the Thug, Doo-Doo Bug Cross, Dirty Deed Breed and motherly Miss Thomas--who make Bud feel like he has finally arrived home. While the grim conditions of the times and the harshness of Bud's circumstances are authentically depicted, Curtis shines on them an aura of hope and optimism. And even when he sets up a daunting scenario, he makes readers laugh--for example, mopping floors for the rejecting Calloway, Bud pretends the mop is "that underwater boat in the book Momma read to me, Twenty Thousand Leaks Under the Sea." Bud's journey, punctuated by Dickensian twists in plot and enlivened by a host of memorable personalities, will keep readers engrossed from first page to last. Ages 9-12. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature
A great review that keys into the magic of the book. I agree and was "engrossed from the first page to last." I read this aloud to my 10 and 11 year old, and they would beg me to keep reading. This is in indicator of a sure winner. It also had us talking about issues like the depression, being an orphan, being African American and other topics introduced in this book.
It has really been hard for Bud since his Mama died--one foster home after another. When he runs away from a family that really mistreats him, all he knows is that his long lost father must be the famed jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Otherwise, why would his Mama have kept the posters? Good luck and friendly folk help Bud reach Mr. Calloway, but his supposed daddy is none too welcoming. The band members and vocalist are just the opposite. Bud is a spunky and likable kid, and this book has a fairy tale ending--it all works out for Bud and readers are left with a truly warm and happy feeling. However, the hard times during the Depression and especially the difficulties faced by African Americans are not ignored. A fast read for individual readers and a great book to read aloud.
I really like the tone of this review. It is light and incites the reader to read more.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-When 10-year-old Bud Caldwell runs away from his new foster home, he realizes he has nowhere to go but to search for the father he has never known: a legendary jazz musician advertised on some old posters his deceased mother had kept. A friendly stranger picks him up on the road in the middle of the night and deposits him in Grand Rapids, MI, with Herman E. Calloway and his jazz band, but the man Bud was convinced was his father turns out to be old, cold, and cantankerous. Luckily, the band members are more welcoming; they take him in, put him to work, and begin to teach him to play an instrument. In a Victorian ending, Bud uses the rocks he has treasured from his childhood to prove his surprising relationship with Mr. Calloway. The lively humor contrasts with the grim details of the Depression-era setting and the particular difficulties faced by African Americans at that time. Bud is a plucky, engaging protagonist. Other characters are exaggerations: the good ones (the librarian and Pullman car porter who help him on his journey and the band members who embrace him) are totally open and supportive, while the villainous foster family finds particularly imaginative ways to torture their charge. However, readers will be so caught up in the adventure that they won't mind. Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
A little to much plot description here, without keying into what makes this a great book. I feel that the reviewer liked the book, however, I'm left wondering what was so great.
July 25, 2021
The story of Bud, Not Buddy takes place during the Great Depression. We come to know and love the tenacious ten-year-old Bud for his strength of character, his humor, and his determination to find his true place in the world no matter the obstacle. Bud’s mother died when he was younger, and after years of orphanages and unhappy foster-family situations, Bud sets out on his own in search of the man he believes to be his father. His only clue is a flyer left behind by his mother featuring a jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. Bud feels in his heart that this is the man he must find.
Bud takes a few things along with him. Within a beat-up, broken down suitcase (that he is ever vigilant of) Bud carries his entire life and treasure; the musician flyer, his blanket, a picture of his mom, and other indispensable tokens of his life. He also carries a set of life-rules he devised throughout his years as an orphan. “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.” Bud refers to these hilarious rules throughout the book when he finds himself in the applicable situation. For example, Rules and Things 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.” Or Rules and Things Number 16: “If a grown-up ever starts a sentence by saying, ‘Haven’t you heard,’ get ready, ’cause what’s about to come out of their mouth is gonna drop you headfirst into a boiling tragedy.”
Though there is a lot of laugh-out-loud humor as Bud’s journey unfolds. He often struggles to find a place to sleep or eat. It is his character that pulls him through, along with the aid and kindness of strangers along the way – though these strangers are suffering economically during the Great Depression, they are always welcoming as Bud makes his way from one temporary pit-stop to the next. Bud has ideas of jumping a train bound for California where he plans to get a job. That idea falls through but he makes his way through “Hooverville” and finds a friendly welcome – picking up more courage along the way. His imagination often runs wild (and gives readers laughs) in the dead of night, all alone and on his own when he thinks a vampire might be after him!
Bud reaches his destination and the jazz band becomes almost like a family for him, though for some reason they laugh at his story of Herman E. Calloway being his father. Herman keeps his distance and Bud continues to push his case and present his arguments. He knows that Herman must be his father. As the story winds up, Herman is faced with a heart-wrenching discovery, and Bud sees the pieces finally fit together. Bud’s quest has ended.
Bud takes a few things along with him. Within a beat-up, broken down suitcase (that he is ever vigilant of) Bud carries his entire life and treasure; the musician flyer, his blanket, a picture of his mom, and other indispensable tokens of his life. He also carries a set of life-rules he devised throughout his years as an orphan. “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.” Bud refers to these hilarious rules throughout the book when he finds himself in the applicable situation. For example, Rules and Things 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.” Or Rules and Things Number 16: “If a grown-up ever starts a sentence by saying, ‘Haven’t you heard,’ get ready, ’cause what’s about to come out of their mouth is gonna drop you headfirst into a boiling tragedy.”
Though there is a lot of laugh-out-loud humor as Bud’s journey unfolds. He often struggles to find a place to sleep or eat. It is his character that pulls him through, along with the aid and kindness of strangers along the way – though these strangers are suffering economically during the Great Depression, they are always welcoming as Bud makes his way from one temporary pit-stop to the next. Bud has ideas of jumping a train bound for California where he plans to get a job. That idea falls through but he makes his way through “Hooverville” and finds a friendly welcome – picking up more courage along the way. His imagination often runs wild (and gives readers laughs) in the dead of night, all alone and on his own when he thinks a vampire might be after him!
Bud reaches his destination and the jazz band becomes almost like a family for him, though for some reason they laugh at his story of Herman E. Calloway being his father. Herman keeps his distance and Bud continues to push his case and present his arguments. He knows that Herman must be his father. As the story winds up, Herman is faced with a heart-wrenching discovery, and Bud sees the pieces finally fit together. Bud’s quest has ended.
January 4, 2024
I didn’t see the ending coming until it was virtually happening and that’s surprising for a “children’s” novel. I found the characters lovable and relatable and the story a very fun read!
November 6, 2009
I need to learn to stop reading the last pages of books for my Children's Materials class in coffee shops. It always sounds like such a good idea, but ends in my crying, surreptitiously wiping tears away, while the people in the shop look away from me in embarrassment. And Bud, Not Buddy was no exception to this rule. I am an overwrought, emotional sucker.
I loved this book. I laughed out loud in several places--most notably when Bud would tell his "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things to have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself." I think my favorite was "If an adult tells you not to worry, and you weren't worried before, you better hurry up and start 'cause you're already running late." He also has great quotes about libraries and librarians, which of course made me happy.
I don't know how to sell Christopher Paul Curtis stories to kids. I think they'd like them--he really gets kids, and talks authentically from their viewpoint. Although his books deal with issues such as class, racism, and child abuse they never feel like "issue" books. They are funny, smart, and interesting. But how do you give a kid a book, tell them it's about the Great Depression, and expect them to be interested in reading it? I didn't even want to read this book. It's a problem. But I'm going to try to play up the fact that it's a funny adventure story and see if I can get some kids at my library to want to read it. We shall see.
I highly, highly recommend this book.
I loved this book. I laughed out loud in several places--most notably when Bud would tell his "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things to have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself." I think my favorite was "If an adult tells you not to worry, and you weren't worried before, you better hurry up and start 'cause you're already running late." He also has great quotes about libraries and librarians, which of course made me happy.
I don't know how to sell Christopher Paul Curtis stories to kids. I think they'd like them--he really gets kids, and talks authentically from their viewpoint. Although his books deal with issues such as class, racism, and child abuse they never feel like "issue" books. They are funny, smart, and interesting. But how do you give a kid a book, tell them it's about the Great Depression, and expect them to be interested in reading it? I didn't even want to read this book. It's a problem. But I'm going to try to play up the fact that it's a funny adventure story and see if I can get some kids at my library to want to read it. We shall see.
I highly, highly recommend this book.
May 21, 2020
دوستش داشتم، خیلی زیاد. آن هم زمانی که فکر می کردم همه ی کتاب های نوجوان جهان را مغلوب کرده ام و دیگر چیزی پیدا نمی شود که نظر من را جلب کند و حالا من به همه ی کتاب های نوجوان دید نقادانه دارم و نمی توانم از هیچ کدام التذاذ ادبی ببرم. وقتی با لبخند کتاب را بستم دیدم این بار «باد نه بادی» من را مغلوب کرده است.
باد پسر ده ساله ای ست که در شش سالگی مادرش را از دست داده و از او جز یک عکس و چند تکه سنگ و چند کاغذ یادگاری ندارد، چند سالی در پرورشگاه بزرگ شده و چندین خانه متفاوت را تجربه کرده است و دست آخر تصمیم می گیرد از آخرین خانه فرار کند و دنبال پدرش برود. باد سیاهپوست است و در دوره ی رکود بزرگ آمریکا زندگی می کند، و زندگی اش به عنوان یک سیاهپوست در جامعه آمریکا نه آن چنان پذیرفته شده است نه آن قدر ها ساده. و ما در این کتاب هم با یک نوجوان یتیم همراه می شویم هم سرکی در آمریکای روزگار رکود می کشیم و علاوه بر آن می توانیم با لطافت و ظرافت شخصیت «باد» عمیقاً لبخند بزنیم و لحظات خوبی را بگذرانیم. لطافت باد از تاکیدش بر روی اینکه اسمش «بادی» نیست شروع می شود تا تعلق خاطرش به یادگاری های مادرش ادامه می یابد و با جست و جویش برای پیدا کردن پدرش به اوج می رسد.
باد نه بادی برای نوجوان ها قطعا کتاب دوست داشتنی ای خواهد بود. و احتمالا بزرگسالان نوجوان خوان هم دوستش خواهند داشت. و در کنار همه ی این ها نمونه ی خوبی از یک کتاب تاریخی اجتماعی مخصوص نوجوانان است
باد پسر ده ساله ای ست که در شش سالگی مادرش را از دست داده و از او جز یک عکس و چند تکه سنگ و چند کاغذ یادگاری ندارد، چند سالی در پرورشگاه بزرگ شده و چندین خانه متفاوت را تجربه کرده است و دست آخر تصمیم می گیرد از آخرین خانه فرار کند و دنبال پدرش برود. باد سیاهپوست است و در دوره ی رکود بزرگ آمریکا زندگی می کند، و زندگی اش به عنوان یک سیاهپوست در جامعه آمریکا نه آن چنان پذیرفته شده است نه آن قدر ها ساده. و ما در این کتاب هم با یک نوجوان یتیم همراه می شویم هم سرکی در آمریکای روزگار رکود می کشیم و علاوه بر آن می توانیم با لطافت و ظرافت شخصیت «باد» عمیقاً لبخند بزنیم و لحظات خوبی را بگذرانیم. لطافت باد از تاکیدش بر روی اینکه اسمش «بادی» نیست شروع می شود تا تعلق خاطرش به یادگاری های مادرش ادامه می یابد و با جست و جویش برای پیدا کردن پدرش به اوج می رسد.
باد نه بادی برای نوجوان ها قطعا کتاب دوست داشتنی ای خواهد بود. و احتمالا بزرگسالان نوجوان خوان هم دوستش خواهند داشت. و در کنار همه ی این ها نمونه ی خوبی از یک کتاب تاریخی اجتماعی مخصوص نوجوانان است
November 5, 2009
I listened to this audio book and found that it was well read, but something about the book made me drift at times that I think I might have been able to stay more focused if I were reading. This novel takes place in the 1930's and is about a boy named Bud who is an orphan. The book chronicles the struggles Bud faces as he runs away from a foster home in search of a better life. He has no mother and never met his father, but is on a journey to find him. He decides his father must be a famous man that he has seen fliers for in his mom's old bag. Bud has comical and sad adventures througout the country as he attempts to find his father.
I liked this book, but did not feel extremely entertained. I felt like his sense of a need to belong is a common theme that children can relate to, but the story felt like it was dragging a bit for me. I enjoyed that the man reading the book used accents to help me paint a better picture of Bud, but I just was not as into the book as I would have liked. I would recommend this book for upper elementary-middle school aged children.
I liked this book, but did not feel extremely entertained. I felt like his sense of a need to belong is a common theme that children can relate to, but the story felt like it was dragging a bit for me. I enjoyed that the man reading the book used accents to help me paint a better picture of Bud, but I just was not as into the book as I would have liked. I would recommend this book for upper elementary-middle school aged children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,616 reviews