The book that I choose is Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis. I decided to read this book because this is the type of story that gets my attention; I like to see how a writer can develop a strong character who is just ten years old. The characters basic conflict and themes of the book are worthy of critical review. The author presents strong and affective characters, a deep plot and spiritual themes. The book Bud, Not Buddy is a story about a 10-year-old African American boy, whose name is Bud.
He has been an orphan since he was six years old. Bud, is looking for his father who he believes is Herman E. Caldwell, a local band leader. In the process of trying to escape the foster home system and find his father, Bud learns all about life and people. Also, he has many adventures along the way and learns many lessons that he can take with him.
Eventually Bud finds the place where he is meant to be. He found the Caldway family and was eventually fully accepted into their home, and even into his grandfather’s band.
The protagonist of the book is Bud, the absolute soul of the book. I love this character because I feel affection for him and also make me reflect of what a wonderful childhood I have had. Bud is a boy who has seen and suffered through a great deal in his short ten years, but he is definitely a survivor.
Bud’s determination to find his father and his ability to use his survival skills, make Bud a heroic character for the reader. I think the author did a fabulous job describing and developmenting Bud’s character.
This novel has many antagonists, the first being the families involved in the foster home system which takes care of children like Bud in unsuitable homes, warehouses or overly-full orphanages. The second set of antagonists is the Amoses. This family tortures Bud for no reason other than because they like to bully the foster children they bring into their home. The last antagonist is Mr. Calloway who is an unhappy man and has a hard time being nice to himself. However, Bud was patient and learned how to break down his defenses so they could be a family.
One of the most important themes of the novel is that when God closes one door for Bud he always opens another one. For example, when he was with the Amoses’s family, they tortured him by locking him in a dark shed by himself. “It didn’t take too long for my eyes to get used to the dark. Halfway up the door were three little flat monster heads guarding the doorknob.” (Curtis 22). Even though he went through this miserable experience and other similar experiences as well, Bud finds every time that after bad things happen, good ones follow. I found the themes more spiritual because the novel involves the idea of fate or destiny. All through the story, events occur that keep Bud walking a continual path to Herman Calloway.
Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis is a enjoyable novel in terms of it characters, conflict and themes. The characters are well developed the conflict involves the reader. The themes are certainly spiritual in nature.
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