Bud, Not Buddy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bud, Not Buddy

Front cover of Bud, Not Buddy.
Author	Christopher Paul Curtis
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Adult humor, Multicultural fiction, Historical fiction, Children's literature
Publisher	Delacorte Books for Adult Readers
Publication date	1999
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	245 pages
ISBN	0-385-32306-9
OCLC	40744296
LC Class	PZ7.C94137 Bu 1999

Bud, Not Buddy is a popular children's novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. It was his second book for young readers. This amazing book won two very important awards: the Newbery Medal for being an excellent American children's book, and the Coretta Scott King Award, which celebrates great African-American authors. It also won the William Allen White Children's Book Award for students in grades 6-8.

What the Story is About

The story takes place in Michigan, the author's home state. This is also where his first book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, was set. The main character, Bud Caldwell, travels from Flint to Grand Rapids. Readers get to see what life was like in Michigan in the late 1930s.

Bud meets a family without a home and a person who helps workers. He experiences life as a young orphan. The book also shows the unfair treatment of African Americans at that time. This included rules that stopped Black people from owning land in many places. It also shows the dangers they faced and how people were kept separate based on their race.

Life in a Sundown Town

One part of the story shows a "Sundown town." These were towns where Black people were not allowed to live. If they were found there after dark, they could be in danger. Bud meets a kind man named Lefty. Lefty warns Bud and helps him avoid entering such a dangerous town.

The Great Depression

The story also describes how the Great Depression affected Michigan. Bud spends a night in a "Hooverville" in Flint. This was a camp for people who had lost their homes. Bud notices that people of all races are living there together. The author shows how police were present and how there was tension with people trying to sneak onto trains. This shows the poverty and desperate travels common during the Great Depression. Bud's own journey and loss of home reflect what many families and orphaned children went through.

Music and Family

Jazz music and musicians are a big part of the book. The author was inspired by his own grandfather, who was a jazz musician during the Depression. The band Bud looks for is named after a band his other grandfather played with. It was called Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of The Depression. Bud connects with his new friends and family through music. It is a part of his history as an African American and shows the popular music of that time.

Story Plot

The story begins with Bud being placed with a new foster family, the Amoses. Bud soon meets Todd Amos, their 12-year-old son. Todd teases Bud a lot and calls him Buddy. After a fight with Todd, Bud has to spend the night in the garden shed. He mistakes a hornet nest for a vampire bat. He hits the nest with a rake, which makes the hornets angry, and he gets stung. In a rush of adrenaline, he breaks through the shed window.

After escaping, Bud gets back at Todd. He makes Todd wet his bed by pouring warm water on him. This makes the Amoses very angry. Bud leaves their home and sleeps under a Christmas tree for the night. His friend Bugs wakes him up. They plan to go to the West.

Bud runs away with Bugs. They try to jump onto a train, but Bud misses it and is left behind. Bud starts walking to Grand Rapids, Michigan. On his way, he meets Lefty Lewis. Lefty gives him a ride in his car to Grand Rapids. Bud wants to find his father, who he believes is Herman E. Calloway. He stays with Lefty for a short time, then leaves to find his father.

Bud meets Herman and his band. He tells Herman that he is his son. But Bud feels less sure when he sees that Herman is an older man. Bud becomes friends with the band members. They even give him a saxophone later in the book. However, Herman is not very kind to Bud at first. Bud soon has to share the sad news that his mother, Angela Janet, has passed away. This makes Herman very sad. It is then revealed that Herman is Angela's father, meaning he is Bud's grandfather.

The story ends with Herman saying sorry to Bud for how he acted. He allows Bud to stay with him and the band. Even after all his challenges and sadness, Bud finally finds a happy ending.

Stage Play

Bud, Not Buddy was turned into a play by Reginald Andre Jackson. It was created for Black History Month in Fremont, California. The play first opened in 2006 at the Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center. It has been performed many times since then. This includes shows at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis and Main Street Theatre in Houston. It was also performed at the University of Michigan-Flint and Children's Theatre of Charlotte. Jackson's play was published in 2009. It won an award for best adaptation in 2010.

In January 2017, a new version of the novel premiered. It was at the Eisenhower Theater in The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. This show was a mix of a Jazz concert and a play. The music was created by Terence Blanchard. The script was written by Kirsten Greenidge. Actors and musicians were on stage together, not separated. This play added live music made especially to show the Jazz world in Michigan. This is where Bud went to find the musician he thought was his father. The music was written so that high school bands could play it in future shows. It was designed to be a challenging piece for students.

Awards and Recognition

Bud, Not Buddy received the 2000 Newbery Medal. This award is for the best American children's literature. Christopher Paul Curtis was also given the 2000 Coretta Scott King Award. This award honors outstanding African-American authors. These national awards were given along with fourteen different state awards.