Will Bud, Not Buddy Find his Dad?

It is 1936 and Bud is alone moving from one foster home to another. Unfortunately, none of the homes he goes to last for very long. Something always goes wrong! He tries to learn from each mistake and creates Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. These rules are filled with a variety of facts that Bud believes to be true and many of them will have you laughing out loud. Moving around a lot means that Bud doesn’t own much. What he does own he carries around in a suitcase that he guards with his life. The contents of the suitcase are a bit of a mystery that the reader will find out more about as the story goes on. Bud’s mom is gone, and after a terrible incident at one of his foster homes he decides it is time to try to find his father. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know who is father is, but he does have a few clues. His mom was looking at some flyers right before she died, which were of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. Bud decides this is the best lead to follow. Will Bud be able to find his dad? Are any of the clues he carries around in his suitcase of any use? Along the way Bud will have adventures that you never saw coming! You must read this book to find out how everything turns out!

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is a delightful historical fiction book about a unique boy who will capture your heart. Bud had me laughing with his rules and his sense of humor. The author did an amazing job creating Bud’s voice, so much so that I can hear Bud commenting in my head using his favorite phrases, “shucks” and “doggone it”. It is a super book for people of all ages and I think kids in fourth through eighth grade will especially relate to Bud. The book touches on issues in history and allows us to look at life during the mid 1930s. We also get to understand how tough Bud’s life was without a mom or a dad. I found myself hoping Bud would find his dad and that good things would come his way. I could easily relate to the characters and their emotions. I think Bud would be an excellent friend because he has many qualities that make him stand out. I love that he is funny, he doesn’t let other people talk down to him and make fun of him, and he is kind to others. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend it. Who knows- you may come up with a rule or two to add to Bud’s list!

Has anyone else read Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis? Or have you read another book by Christopher Paul Curtis?

Happy Reading! ~L