User:Cjkennedy15/Bud, Not Buddy

(This is my draft for additions to Bud, Not Buddy)

Bud, Not Buddy is the second children's novel written by Christopher Paul Curtis. It was published in 1999, and received multiple state and national awards. The historic setting, plot, and characters have been used in classrooms for analysis since the novel was first published. An audio book version, and more than one version of stage adaptation have been created after the original print novel was published.

Bud Caldwell is a ten-year-old orphan, living in Flint, Michigan, in 1936. Since the death of his mother four years earlier, Bud has been living in an orphanage and had short stints in several foster homes. The few items he has left of his mother include a blanket, a bag of rocks, a photograph of his mother as a child, and flyers that show Herman E. Calloway and his jazz band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.

Setting and Historic Significance
'''The novel is set in Michigan, the home state of author Christopher Paul Curtis. This is also the setting of his first award winning, novel, The Watson's Go to Birmingham. Bud travels from Flint to Grand Rapids, giving readers a glimpse of the midwestern state in this particular era; he meets a homeless family, a labor organizer, and experiences the racism that existed in the late 30’s. As Bud travels, we learn about laws that prohibited African American's from becoming land owners in areas, the dangers facing African Americans, life as an orphaned youth, and segregation.'''

'''One element to the historic setting is the incorporation of a Sundown town, places that prohibits African American's from living there through racist laws, as well as threatening the lives of any African Americans found there after dark. Bud meets Lefty, a well meaning passerby that becomes a good friend, when Lewis stops Bud as is about to head into a Sundown town. The ball player, Lefty Lewis' character was based on one of Curtis' grandfathers.'''

'''The effects of The Depression on this area are described throughout Bud's journey across the state. Bud spends an evening in the Flint Hooverville where he comments on the mix of races. Hooverville's were a unique result of The Depression where transient and homeless people created temporary camps in large groups and varying degrees of semi-permanence. Curtis includes the police presence around the homeless individuals and the tension between police and those attempting to hop trains. The Depression era is defined by specific aspects like, extreme poverty, migration, and ‘hobos’ riding the rails. The uncertainty of the era is reflected in Bud's own life, and his transience and loss of home are experienced by many migrant families and orphaned children.'''

'''Jazz music and musicians are a central part of the narrative; Curtis was inspired to create the story by his own grandfather, who was a Jazz musician during The Depression. The band Bud searches for is names for a band Curtis’ other grandfather played with, called Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of The Depression. Bud connects to his new friends and family through the music. Jazz music is part of Bud's history as an African American and a Calloway, as well as being exemplary of the popular music of the era.  '''

Plot[edit]
The story opens with Bud being placed with a new foster family, the Amoses'. Bud soon meets Todd Amos, their 12-year-old son, who teases him mercilessly and calls him Buddy. After a fight with Todd, Bud is forced to spend the night in the garden shed. In the shed, he mistakes a hornet nest for a vampire bat and hits the nest with a rake. This upsets the hornets and Bud gets stung. During his adrenaline rush, he breaks through the window of the shed.

After escaping the shed, Bud takes revenge on Todd by making him wet his bed by pouring warm water on Todd. He escapes and sleeps under a Christmas tree for the night. His friend Bugs wakes him up so they can go to the West.

Bud runs away with Bugs, and the two friends sleep in a Flint Hooverville. They try to hop on a train, but Bud fails to make it and is left behind. Bud starts walking to Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the way, he meets Lefty Lewis, who gives him a ride in his car to Grand Rapids to find his father, who he believes is Herman E. Calloway. He stays with Lefty for a short while, then leaves to find his father.

Bud meets Herman and his band and declares himself to be Herman's son, though his confidence is shaken when he sees that Herman is elderly. The band treats Bud with kindness, but Herman treats Bud with great animosity. Bud delivers the news that his mom, Angela, is dead. This brings great grief to Herman, who is revealed to in fact be Bud's grandfather and Angela's estranged father.

The story ends with Bud becoming friends with the band members and receives a horn. Herman apologizes to Bud for his animosity and allows him to stay with him and the band. Despite all of his dilemmas and all of his grief, Bud may finally have a happy ending.

Reception and Analysis
'''Curtis' novel was received well and referenced as a children’s fiction source for learning about the Depression era and Jazz, as well as social issues like violence and racism. Points of discussion have focused on parallels between Bud's journey to find his father, and the common experience of many people during the Great Depression as they had to move around looking for work and new homes. The child narrator and historic context have made Curtis’ book a choice for teachers, the audiobook has also been used as part of teaching curriculums.'''

The novel was praised for its historical context as well as its humorous narrator. Bud has various rules to live by called, “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Our of Yourself.” Throughout his story, these rules are part of the humor and cleverness expressed by the main character as he encounters different people and situations.

Bud’s innocence as a young narrator is repeatedly cited by reviewers and academics studying how Bud experiences, but does not deeply examine, world issues as a child. '''His belief in vampires and other supernatural ideas are also used as discussion point by educators. The simple ways Curtis has Bud describe forms of racism are quoted and highlighted. He is mistreated or helped by other characters in the novel; the former actions coming from his foster family and the latter coming from the friends he makes on the road. Bud's insistence on being addressed by his name and not some alternative nickname is also looked at closely when analyzing the impact of the main character and his personal strength. These are all elements that have been analyzed in academic writing, reviewed and used in classrooms for teaching history, and social justice issues. '''

'''The Jazz music in the novel is also used as a point of entry for connecting to the story and for expanding on the learning experience, by adding an audio element to the novel. This is noted as a way to recommend students who might be music fans to the story. Jazz music is part of the audio book and discussed as a learning tool on educators resource sites; students who might not have heard Jazz are introduced through the audio books inclusion of Jazz at the end of chapters. '''

Awards
Bud, Not Buddy received the 2000 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, over twenty years after the first African American author had received the honor. Christopher Paul Curtis was also recognized with the 2000 Coretta Scott King Award, an award given to outstanding African-American authors.  These national honors were given in addition to fourteen different state awards.

(Moved this from the Lead to it's own section, added information and citation)

Stage adaptations
Bud, Not Buddy was adapted for the stage by Reginald Andre Jackson for Black History Month, in Fremont, California. The production premiered in 2006 at the Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center. It has been produced several times, including at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Main Street Theatre in Houston, the University of Michigan-Flint and Children's Theatre of Charlotte. Jackson's adaptation was published by Dramatic Publishing in 2009, it won the Distinguished Play Award (Adaptation) from The American Alliance for Theatre and Education in 2010. (The citation from the original did not copy into the sandbox)

(Citations shown above were added by me)

'''In January 2017, an adaptation of the novel premiered at Eisenhower Theater in The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts; it was a blend of Jazz concert and theater. The music was composed by Terence Blanchard and the script was written by Kirsten Greenidge. Actors and musicians shared the stage instead of being separated by a stage and orchestra pit. The adaptation added live music written specifically to highlight the Jazz world in Michigan where Bud went to find the musician he thought was his father. The score was composed to be played by high school bands in future productions, and it was written to be a challenging score for students. '''