Bud is an orphan living during the Great Depression in Flint, Michigan. He believes his father is Herman E. Calloway, the leader of a famous jazz band. After facing mistreatment in foster care, Bud decides to travel to Grand Rapids to find his father. Along the way, he meets a kind man who gives him a ride. When Bud meets the band, they are skeptical but feed him and invite him to their show. However, the band leader Mr. Calloway remains distant. Bud hopes to convince Mr. Calloway that he is truly his son.

1. Bud, Not Buddy By: Christopher Paul Curtis

2. Bud lives in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression Lots of people are out of work in Flint and all across the country. Times are hard for everyone…

3. … but, they’re especially hard for Bud. Bud is an orphan. His mother died when he was 6, and he’s been living in orphanages and foster homes ever since.

4. Bud never knew his father, but his mom was always looking at flyers for the famous band, Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! So, Bud just knows that Herman E. Calloway is his dad.

5. Things have gotten pretty bad for Bud. Beat up by a foster brother…

6. Then forced to spend the night in the wood shed… With a hornet’s nest and fish heads with sharp teeth guarding the door, where he gets stung and cut all over…

7. Bud decides to hop the train to Grand Rapids to find his dad.

8. He doesn’t run fast enough to get on the train, though… So he starts his 24-hour walk that night.

9. In the middle of the night, a man pulls up alongside Bud… and offers him a ride to Grand Rapids and some food.

10. Bud’s about to get in when he sees a box of blood in the car! The man’s a vampire!!!

11. The man is not really a vampire. He’s just someone’s grandpa, and is delivering blood to a hospital. Bud gets in and tells him all about his dad, Herman E. Calloway.

12. The man knows just who Herman E. Calloway is, he’s famous! The man is surprised to hear that Mr. Calloway has a son, but drops Bud off at the hall where his band plays.

13. Bud sees the band and, right away, knows which one is Herman E. Calloway. He walks up and tells the band who he is, but they don’t believe him.

14. They all say Mr. Calloway’s way too old to have a son Bud’s age! But, they invite him to have dinner with them anyway, then to see the show that night.

15. The band is so friendly (except Mr. Calloway), and the singer, Miss Thomas, is so nice… That Bud feels like he is home. And he knows he LOVES jazz!

16. They invite Bud to stay until they can sort things out. He loves traveling with the band. But, Mr. Calloway still hasn’t warmed up to him.

17. Bud feels sad… He just knows Mr. Calloway is his dad. Why won’t he admit it? Why doesn’t he like Bud?

18. What can Bud do to convince Mr. Calloway of the truth? Is Mr. Calloway really Bud’s father after all?

19. The best way to find out about Bud… And to learn more about the Great Depression and Jazz…

20. Is to read Bud, Not Buddy , by Christopher Paul Curtis Get it at the library! (Look for it in the Newbery winners section.)