Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Winner, 2000 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
Ten-year-old Bud runs away from an abusive foster home in Flint, Michigan in 1936 and searches for his birth father, who he believes is a musician in Grand Rapids.
Favorite Quote
Shucks, this is one of the bad things about talking to librarians, I asked one question and already she had us digging through three different books.
About the Author
Christopher Paul Curtis grew up in Flint, Michigan and currently lives in Detroit. Bud, Not Buddy was his second book. A number of interviews are available on his website, including an appearance on The Today Show.
My Project
I created a layered background with paint, ink, rubber stamps, and paper tape. I wanted to use blue, since that's the color of one of the music flyers in the book. There's a mix of partial words from the flyers, too, such as blues, jazz, band, and of course, some exclamation points and music notes. The front features Bud's battered suitcase that he carries throughout his journey. The "2000" represents the year of the Newbery award.
I worked on this piece without a lot of planning ahead; it felt very improvisational to grab random supplies and work in a quick manner instead of letting days pass between each stage of creation. It wasn't until I was finished that I made the connection of my method of working to the type of music played in the book.
Final Thoughts
Given the Depression-era setting and orphan narrator, this proved a happier read than I expected. The narrator takes charge of his own life and his future instead of just blindly obeying whatever the adults in his life say. The book includes a number of "Rules and Things" that show the difference between what adults say and what they really mean. For example, "If a Adult Tells You Not to Worry, and You Weren't Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Star 'Cause You're Already Running Late." The book has also been adapted in play form. (The Coterie Theatre describes it as a "comic Oliver Twist.")
I like that the author wrote a spin-off novel titled The Mighty Miss Malone which features a minor character from Bud, Not Buddy. It seems like a fun way to provide a sequel without feeling like you have to continue the exact same story line.
Your Turn
Readers: If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.
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