Once a year my book club includes our kids in our book club book, and this was our choice for this year. The book is really touching, and we had great conversation. ( )

Completed for work.

It was fine, there were parts that were funny (hello vampire bat and fishhead guards, nor will I look at a Ticonderoga pencil the same way again), and plenty of passages that were heartfelt, but the middle seemed so draggy, and the ending was predictable.
I appreciate the historical points-the Depression era food lines, the racism, men trying to ride the rails of trains to travel the country, families living in "Hoovervilles", workers trying to bring unions into their area. I think the author may have attempted to cram too many historical facts into the story. It was a bit scattered and there was no driving factor to the plot.
I liked how this was told from the perspective of Bud, even some of the spelling throughout the book reflects that perspective. However, Bud doesn't seems to just float through the first half of the story--the foster home to sleeping under a tree, to trying to ride the trains. I found it to be a slightly frustrating read as I was left wondering, "So what?" ( )

The book “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Curtis is a good read because of its social and emotional themes of poverty, family perseverance, and hope. It’s about a 10 year old orphan and his family’s journey to find somewhere to call home. The intended audience for this book is grades 5-7 ( )

"Afterward" author tells about connections between his life and this book.

Great story -- Bud is a wonderful kid, making his way in the Depression in Michigan. He goes on a quest to find his father and finds much more than that. His rules for life are funny, and his irrepressible spirit is inspiring. ( )