Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Reviewed by The Girl (age 10)
The train and my new pretend brother got farther and farther away, chugging to Chicago. Man, I’d found some family and he was gone before we could really get to know each other.
There were six or seven other people who didn’t make the train, so we all walked back toward Hooverville. They must’ve lit the big fire again, the sky in that direction was glowing orange.
The cop that first threw down his billy club walked over to us and said, “He wasn’t lying about the Flint police coming, but they’re coming to bust up the shantytown, you all should get out of here.” (page 85)
Bud, Not Buddy takes place during the Great Depression. A kid named Bud lives at a home, and he is transferred to the Anderson’s house. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson’s son is cruel. When Bud’s asleep, he sticks a “Ticonderoga” pencil up his nose all the way to the R!!! Bud doesn’t just sit there and take it; he starts to fight, but Mrs. Anderson catches him and makes him sleep in the shed. Bud gets away.
Bud’s mother always looked at a flyer with Herman E. Calloway’s picture on it. He thinks his mother was giving him a hint, that he was his father. Will Bud find Herman E. Calloway? Is Herman E. Calloway really his father? Find out in Bud, Not Buddy.
I absolutely loved Bud, Not Buddy. Right when you open the cover, it feels like you and Bud are friends. You set out on a stunning, suspenseful, and fabulous read. I give this book 5 out 5 stars because the author lets you feel what Bud feels, and what I really liked was the mystery about his father. I was so sad when I was finished reading, and I hated to have to put the book down to go to school. I think every kid, young adult, and adult would like this book.
Disclosure: I borrowed Bud, Not Buddy from my local library. My mom is an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Diary of an Eccentric 
I loved this book, too. I read it as an adult after my daughter read it. This is a five star book, and a five star review!
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Thanks, Suko! The Girl raved about this book, so I added it to my to-read list.
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Great review Girl. Buddy seems like a good guy to read about
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Thanks! I know The Girl really enjoyed reading about him.
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I’ve never heard of this one. Sounds like a captivating read.
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I hadn’t heard of this book either. The Girl’s class was split into two groups, and she was in the group reading Shiloh, but she thought the discussions about Bud, Not Buddy were more interesting and got the book out of the library to read on her own. 🙂
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Wow, what a fabulous review! I think The Girl is going to be ready for her own blog soon.
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That’s what she keeps saying, but I’m still resistant. I think she’s a bit young still. 🙂
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This was required reading for my son a few years back. I must say, though, that I read it and also enjoyed it. Great descriptions of the time periiod.
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It does sound really good, so I hope to read it myself at some point.
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I luv this author. I might have read this one.
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I’ll have do some research on this author and his work. I hadn’t heard of him until The Girl brought this book home.
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My goodness, this review is so good that it made me add this book to my list!
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Thanks, Beth! I know she will be pleased to read all the kind words about her review.
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You set the premise for my mind to roam… first it was at Mrs Anderson’s house, then it was a ‘search’ for Calloway. It is between these paragraphs that my mind wanders.
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It does sound like Bud goes on an amazing journey, doesn’t it?
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Great review — this is a new-to-me book and author but I love historical fic of all types, so I’ll have to look for this — I’ve got cousins who would probably like this. thanks!
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Thanks, Audra! I’m so glad The Girl seems to enjoy historical fiction as much as I do.
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Well, you’re right Girl…my sons and I both loved this one. We listened to it on audio and really got into it! Great review!
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Thanks, Staci! I really am going to have to read this one myself.
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Great review. Sounds like a book I should recommend to my daughter.
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Thanks, Carol! I’d love to hear what your daughter thinks if she reads it.
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Great review. I would love to read this with my daughter but she is sensitive and doesn’t like sad endings, but I might give it a try nonetheless because I think it’s worthy to read.
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I’m not sure whether it’s a sad or happy ending, as I didn’t ask The Girl. And if I did, she’d just tell me to read it for myself. LOL Hope you give it a try!
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Another title we’ve seen featured in the Scholastic book club. Your review has prompted me to put it on hold at the library, thanks!
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You’ll have to let us know what you think of it!
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As you know, I enjoyed this book a lot too. I agree the author does a good job in making us feel what Bud feels.
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That’s one of the reasons why I want to read this book, too. The Girl is very enthusiastic about it.
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