Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, not Buddy was my second Christopher Paul Curtis book.  (I have also read Elijah of Buxton, an engaging story set during the Civil War.)  The book takes place during the Depression of the 1930's and is, therefore, historical fiction.  Bud, the main character, is a 10-year-old boy who has been on his own since his mother died when he was 6.  He has spent four years either living in an orphanage or in various foster homes.  Early in the story, he decides to follow the few precious clues left by his mother and "go on the lam" to find the father he has never known.

This book would make a great compliment to a study of the Great Depression.  Curtis did much research on the time period and even based the characters Lefty Lewis and Herman E. Calloway on his grandfathers who lived during this time.  If you are an upper elementary student who enjoys a little history and happy endings, you will like Bud, not Buddy!
By Mrs. Norton