2. Summary In 1936, during the Great Depression, 10-year-old Budd Caldwell lives in the orphanage in Flint, Michigan that has been his home since his mother died when he was six. Because of his mother's death, Bud had no family members near to him, and was sent to live in the local orphanage, which he calls "The Home". He hates the orphanage, but his life does not improve when he is sent to live with a foster family, the Amoses, who prove to be abusive. Todd Amos, the Amos' twelve year old son, abuses Bud harshly, including shoving a Ticonderoga pencil up Bud's nose all the way to the R (that’s about 2.5 inches), and accusing him of bed wetting, which Mrs. Amos, the leader of discipline in the family, hates. To punish him, the Amoses lock Bud up in a shed, which is filled with many terrors including Vampire Bats and a hornets nest, giving him a night full of frights and injuries. Eventually, Bud escapes the shed by smashing a window and goes back to the house to gather his precious suitcase full of his mothers old flyers containing clues about Herman E Calloway. Before he leaves, however, Bud attempts to make Todd wet his bed to get even. After unsuccessfully trying to put Todd's hand in a glass of warm water that was just a bit too small, Bud just pours the glass of water over Todd's pajama pants, finally resulting in Todd wetting the bed. Later, Bud sets off in search of his father, who he has never met. He decides to hitch hike from Flint to Grand Rapids. Only about 30 miles into his hike he gets picked up outside town of Owosso by "Lefty Lewis”, a baseball player from Grand Rapids. He he tricks Lefty into taking him to Grand Rapids instead of Flint to continue his journey to find Herman E Calloway, who he believes to be his father, and is currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His only clue is a flyer advertising a jazz band that used to belong to Bud's mother, Angela Janet Caldwell. Bud aims for "Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression", to be convinced that Herman is Bud’s long lost father. Will Bud find his dad, or will he get sent back to Flint to live a harsh, lonely life in an orphanage? Read Bud not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis to find out.

3. R Researching other books by Christopher Paul Curtis The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963 The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963 is a family living in the town of Flint, Michigan in 1963. When the oldest son begins to get into a bit of trouble, the parents decide he should spend some time with his strict grandmother (Mrs. Watson's mother) in Birmingham, Alabama. The entire family travels there together by car, and during their visit, tragic events take place that affect them collectively.

4. R (Continued) The Mighty Miss Malone When the Great Depression hits Deza's hometown of Gary, Indiana, Deza’s father loses his job and must travel abroad in order to find work. Her mother uproots the family and goes out in search of Deza's father, with Deza and her brother ending up in Hooverville, a town outside Flint, Michigan. As life continues to go on, Deza's brother Jimmie leaves the camp in the hopes of becoming a performer while Deza and her mother try to carry on in the hopes of finding Deza's father.

5. E Letter To Author Dear Christopher Paul Curtis, My name is Ross. I am 6 th Grader at Birmingham Covington School and I would like to ask you a few questions about your book, Bud Not Buddy. What inspired you to write the book Were any of the characters based on real people? If so, did s/he have an impact on you're life? Why did the story take place in flint and not another city in Michigan? Thank you for you're time, Ross Sauter