The realistic fiction novel, Bud, Not Buddy apprises the life of a ten year old orphan boy living during the Great Depression. Bud Caldwell, who faces numerous hardships along his journey in order to unveil the true identity of his father, treks across Michigan without losing sight of his beloved flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his band. The story takes place in 1936, four years after Bud’s mother’s death. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is an enjoyable read for not only sixth grade students, but for children and adults of various ages. For instance, the novel conveys many factors that make it such a recommendable book. Such as, compelling characters, superior use of symbolism, and extraordinary themes.
To begin with, the characters in Bud, Not Buddy also make the novel such an engaging read for students of multiple ages. The dynamic characters are what create such an elaborate and entertaining story filled with personality. For example, Bud Caldwell, the main character, serves as a relatable, funny, good natured, and realistic character that easily grasps the reader's interest. Throughout the entire novel, Bud’s extensive imagination provides students with great imagery and a very descriptive plot. Bud displays this trait when he is locked in an dilapidated shed overnight by an abusive family who offered to foster him. During the sinister night, Bud imagines several ominous sights, “Right in the middle of the floor there was a big black stain in the dirt! They were really going to make me sleep in a shed with a patch of blood from that kid who disappeared out here a couple of weeks ago”(20)..”Halfway up the door were three little flat monster heads guarding the door knob”(22). This quote reveals one of the many events where Bud uses his imaginative traits to ensure that the reader is completely intrigued. Also, not only does Bud leave the readers wanting to read more, other characters such as Mr. Calloway, Bugs, Miss Thomas, and the band members all contribute to the suspense of the story. In particular, Calloway’s gruff and disagreeable traits and Miss Thomas’s nurturing personality both allow the reader have different opinions and thoughts about the characters during the novel. Furthermore, the author’s exceptional use of symbolism throughout the course of the novel also makes it such a delightful book for multitudinous …show more content…
As an example, when Bud heads for Flint Hooverville in order to catch a train out west he sits near a campfire that illuminates the skin of people of multiple races making them all appear orange near the fire. Bud notes that, “They were all the colors you could think of, black, white and brown, but the fire made everyone look like they were different shades of orange. Their were dark orange folks sitting next to medium orange folks sitting next to light orange folks”(68). The author symbolizes the campfire as a melting pot of diversity that unites the people by erasing their skin color. This use of symbolism established the idea that everyone in Hooperville is in the same situation; they’re all hungry, poor, homeless, and struggling to survive. Symbolism makes Bud, Not Buddy great for students because it engages the reader’s own imagination and adds complexity and multiple layers of meaning to a single
To begin with, the characters in Bud, Not Buddy also make the novel such an engaging read for students of multiple ages. The dynamic characters are what create such an elaborate and entertaining story filled with personality. For example, Bud Caldwell, the main character, serves as a relatable, funny, good natured, and realistic character that easily grasps the reader's interest. Throughout the entire novel, Bud’s extensive imagination provides students with great imagery and a very descriptive plot. Bud displays this trait when he is locked in an dilapidated shed overnight by an abusive family who offered to foster him. During the sinister night, Bud imagines several ominous sights, “Right in the middle of the floor there was a big black stain in the dirt! They were really going to make me sleep in a shed with a patch of blood from that kid who disappeared out here a couple of weeks ago”(20)..”Halfway up the door were three little flat monster heads guarding the door knob”(22). This quote reveals one of the many events where Bud uses his imaginative traits to ensure that the reader is completely intrigued. Also, not only does Bud leave the readers wanting to read more, other characters such as Mr. Calloway, Bugs, Miss Thomas, and the band members all contribute to the suspense of the story. In particular, Calloway’s gruff and disagreeable traits and Miss Thomas’s nurturing personality both allow the reader have different opinions and thoughts about the characters during the novel. Furthermore, the author’s exceptional use of symbolism throughout the course of the novel also makes it such a delightful book for multitudinous …show more content…
As an example, when Bud heads for Flint Hooverville in order to catch a train out west he sits near a campfire that illuminates the skin of people of multiple races making them all appear orange near the fire. Bud notes that, “They were all the colors you could think of, black, white and brown, but the fire made everyone look like they were different shades of orange. Their were dark orange folks sitting next to medium orange folks sitting next to light orange folks”(68). The author symbolizes the campfire as a melting pot of diversity that unites the people by erasing their skin color. This use of symbolism established the idea that everyone in Hooperville is in the same situation; they’re all hungry, poor, homeless, and struggling to survive. Symbolism makes Bud, Not Buddy great for students because it engages the reader’s own imagination and adds complexity and multiple layers of meaning to a single