Bud Not Buddy

Bud not buddy is a wonderful novel with laugh out loud moments about a ten year old boy named bud, " not buddy," who lives in flint, Michigan, during the great depression.

Bud Caldwell has been an orphan since he was six years old. Before his mother died, she left a blue flyer that reads: Herman e. Calloway and his famous band, the dusky devastators of the great depression!!!!!! Bud believes the flyer is a clue to his past and important to his future. After living with a cruel foster family for a night he travels to a "cardboard city", meets a kind stranger named "lefty" lewis, and finally meets mr. Calloway. The moment he sees Herman he is sure of a connection but what?

Christopher Paul Curtis's story has unforgettable characters, such as, Miss Thomas, sleepy la bone, doo-doo bug and steady Eddie. These characters are based on real people of the 1930s.

The author describes the struggles of the great depression. During this time, people were unemployed and had little or no money to support their families. Families sometimes went to charities that provided food, but occasionally they were turned down. There as little food and much suffering. Many people went hungry. These struggles brought out kindness and compassion in some, but meanness and cruelty in others.

The main character is bid Caldwell. Bud is observant. He watches people and describes them in the most hilarious way. He makes up a " rule book" for himself based on what people do , that way if they give a certain look or say a certain thing , he knows what it means.

On his travels, he overcomes hardships. He is brave by at times he feels that he cannot be strong any longer and he feels like crying. He perseveres and survives the hardships. Some of which are traveling on an unfamiliar road at night, going hungry, and being a homeless orphan.

His mother once told him, that in life, when one door closes ,another door opens. When he remembers this, he always feels better realizing the truth of her words thought the story.

Bud not buddy is an imaginative tale, with humor, adventures, and lovable characters. It is a book worth reading!!!