Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud (not Buddy!) Caldwell is an orphan during the Great Depression. He is intelligent and well-mannered, but that doesn’t matter. It’s simply hard to find a decent foster home for a young black boy. When he is taken in by the Amos family, their son, Todd, gives Buddy a hard time — but then plays the victim when his mother finds the two boys fighting. They decide to send Bud back to the home and lock him in the shed until they can return him the next morning. Bud breaks out of the Amos’ shed and runs away to avoid being sent back to the home. He is convinced that going “on the lam” is his only real choice. Bud carries an old suitcase everywhere he goes, and inside are some items that have him convinced that Herman E. Calloway (the famous bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression) is his father. Will he even be able to find Mr. Calloway? Then what? Where will he eat? Or sleep? How will he keep himself safe? Find out when you read (or listen) for yourself!

NOTE: One important thing to point out is that the end of this audiobook has a message from the author, Christopher Paul Curtis. I almost ejected the CD as soon as the story ended, and I am just glad I was too slow! If you have already read the book, I think it would at least be worth listening to just that part of the audiobook. It has both historical information and a personal note about how he based some of the characters on people in his own life. Plus, there is a surprise musical performance!

Happy Reading!