Bud, Not Buddy - Historical Fiction

     Bud, Not Buddy is a book by Christopher Paul Curtis about a 10 year old orphan from Flint, MI. It takes place in 1936 when Bud is placed with the Amoses, his third foster family. Unfortunately his new brother bullies him and Bud runs away to find a perfect family. This book is in the historical fiction genre. Historical fiction consists of imaginative narratives grounded in the facts if our past. This book fits that genre because though a fictional story there are real events and the story sticks through to the same atmosphere one would experiences in the early 1900s. This book is without illustrations, however the front cover shows a picture of Bud Caldwell with a neutral background and enhances the books quality. The setting is in an old city, and eventually many cities as Bud makes his journey to find a perfect home. Over the course of the story Bud learns more about himself and his history, a characteristic of historical fiction characters. The theme is about pursuing what's important and finding yourself along the journey. 

     A classroom could use Bud, Not Buddy to do a minilesson on bullying. Bud is bullied when he is adopted into the Amoses family, by his new brother. A teacher could address the effects of bullying and have students change the course of events to find a solution. Students could write out a new ending that would  help Bud to overcome the bullying he experiences.

     Another activity for the classroom could be used during Black History Month to teach children about the experiences African American children faced in the early 1900s. Children could create a book of what their life would be like if they lived in that time. 

     Reader Response:

1. Why is Buddy so self-conscious and protective of his name? What is special about his name?
2. What was your impression of the Amoses family, through Bud's description? What did they think of Bud?

     Personally I think Bud, Not Buddy is a great book for children. It's structure and word choice is a great example of quality literature. I would suggest this book to be a part of a typical classroom's library.

References:

"Bud, Not Buddy Summary."GradeSaver. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Villafana, David. "Bud, Not Buddy Reading Responses." Prezi.com. N.p., 10 May 2012. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, (2010). Literature and the child. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.