6465 Fiction review form

Your name
Carroll, Tasia

Title of book being reviewed

Bud, Not Buddy

Author of book being reviewed

Christopher Paul Curtis

Publisher, Publication date

Random House, 1999

ALA or other award list on which this title was found (if applicable)
Coretta Scott King Award
John Newberry Medal

Plot: type of story (fantasy, mystery, adventure, etc.)

Adventure an orphaned foster boy travels the state of Michigan to find his dad.

Plot: setting
In various points within the cities and towns of Michigan (Flint, Ossawa, Grand Rapids)

Plot: period
During the latter part of the Depression era.

Plot development

/ Excellent Good Fair Poor

/ As Bud, the main character, commences going to yet another foster home, the author
takes this previously usual occurrence, along with the teachings of Buds deceased
mother - and even Buds own made up rules, to propel Bud through a series of
unexpected events, leading him to his final destination.
Character development
/
/ Excellent Good Fair Poor
/ Through the eyes of a 10-year old, the author does a wonderful job of conveying Buds
character traits as well as what supportive characters were like through Buds
explanation of them.
Integration of background and any other factual material
/
/ Excellent Good Fair Poor
/ The author was able to provide sufficient information in a seamless way through the
sequential elements rendered in the story. For example, when finding a Shantytown, the
author, through the elements of Buds narration, is able to educate the young reader
about the concepts behind these types of towns during this era.
/
Language and writing style
/
/ Excellent Good Fair Poor
/ Grammatical structure is characterized by Buds regional and cultural differences that
divert from Standard American English (SAE). Even some words, such as human bean,
are spelled in a manner equivalent to how the character would pronounce them, if heard
in real life, which further personifies the main characters.
/
Creation and sustaining of mood

/ Yes No
/ Because the tone is set primarily through the eyes of a 10-year-old, there are not many
moments where the character puts the reader into an emotional upheaval, even during
harsh events that occur. The character is able to sustain the mood of the story, with a
few upheavals during climactic moments, in a light-hearted, here-and-now, no-nonsense
way.

If the story has a dominant theme, is it too obviously superimposed on the plot
/
/ Excellent Good Fair Poor
/ The dominant theme, Buds attempt to find his father, is not overly superimposed on the
plot. The author does not begin the story with the theme explicitly apparent, however
through a progression of events, the author is able to develop the theme through the
main characters introspection and the events that led up to the decision to find his
unknown relative.
/
How does the story compare with others?
/
/ Distinguished
/ Above average
- Average
/ Below average
This novel reminds me of a novel with a similar theme, portraying the struggles of a child
during the tumultuous Depression, as in Sounder. In Sounder, David experiences the
temporary departure of his father and dog while remaining at home with his mother and
siblings. David does not resign to an extended departure from his familiar home life,
unlike Bud who sets his mind on a quest to find his home where he belongs, with the
only family he thinks he has left.

Grade level at which most children will read this book or enjoy hearing it
4th 6th grade

Is this interesting enough to recommend to reluctant/slow readers?

Yes. This book is narrated through the eyes of a 10-year-old. There are not many
words/vocabulary that are difficult to decipher, and with the repeated figures of speech
he uses, students only need a base understanding of contextual inferential skills.

Note in the review the quality and type of illustrations, any unusual format or print,
etc. (optional)
Illustrations are only on the front cover, but its image (a boy holding a suitcase with
simple clothing appropriate for that timeframe) remains true to the theme. Buds rules
were separated from the main text centered on the page, in bold font, to provide
 emphasis to Buds words of wisdom.

Recommendations

- First purchase
/ For general purchase
/ Strictly additional
/ Not recommended (this should be implicit in your review so that the words "not
recommended" are not necessary.)

Do you feel this book is outstanding?

/
/ Yes No
/

Additional comments related to "How does the story compare with others of its
general type." Give specific comparisons, if possible, including author, title, and
publication date.

Comparison: Armstrong, W. (1969). Sounder. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and

Winston.

Both set during the Depression era, two African American boys relay their experiences,
triumphs, and setbacks in an attempt to achieve their goal. David, the main character in
Sounder, seeks the desire to learn to read, and works to achieve this goal although the
demands of his home life, the absence of his father, and the loss of his dogs love,
makes this goal seemingly unachievable. In Bud, Not Buddy, however, Bud also narrates
his experiences from his viewpoint while setting out on an unpredictable quest alone.

In the Authors afterward, Chris Curtis uses his reflections of his familial experience and
heritage to create the novel. Sounder, developed in 1969, was created during a time
where more firsthand experience was available, both nonetheless, exceptional pieces of
work.

Additional comments related to "Do you feel this book is outstanding?"

The authors use of embedded cultural aspects, setting climate, and character
development filter the audiences perspective through the main character, Bud, while
seamlessly developing supportive character roles and motivation all through the in-the-
moment reflection and observations of Buds unfortunate events, in a mostly lighthearted
child-like, way.

Review text:
 From the eyes of a 10-year old, the author successfully takes the reader through

the trials of a young black-boy on a quest to find his long-lost father. Curtis sets the

scene in an earlier time, the latter part of the Depression, and despite the lack of

resources the main character Bud, Not Buddy has in accomplishing his goal, the author

successfully creates a seamless sequence of captivating events. Curtis offers an

illuminating experience as the central character, Bud, provides a snippet of foster life in

this era, struggles with everyday needs (e.g. food, shelter, etc.), and the trials that

present themselves on his quest, through culturally dependent English and child-like

pronunciations (e.g. human bean).

This novel provides sufficient information via the seamless way sequential

elements in the story unfold. Filtered through Buds here-and-now explanations, the

perspectives and motivations of supportive character-roles shine through. Basic

vocabulary, simple sentences, an easy-to-follow dialogue exchange support the readers

comprehension capability. The reader is further motivated to follow along as the

elements unfold while learning about Bud Caldwells Rules and Things to Have a

Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself, which impart some hysterical truth

to them. The author also embeds several repeated simplistic elements of figures of

speech, such as being on the lam, allowing the upper elementary reader to foster

his/her contextual inferential skills.

This novel reminds me of the novel Sounder, with a similar theme, that portrays

the struggles of a black-boy around the same depicted era. David, who experiences the

temporary departure of his father and dog while recounting his struggles while at home

with his mother and siblings contrasts with the character Curtis builds, as Bud, who sets

his sights on a quest arising from his deceased mothers calling, experiences struggles

outside of his 4-year foster life, to find the only family he believes he has left - to find his

home. With colorful language rated for general audiences, Bud, Not Buddy has a
significant appeal to the general population and is an essential addition to your historical

fiction repertoire.