Author’s note: In this essay I am writing about what I think would happen if Bud found his real father in the book “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis.
If you were on the search to find your father, how close would you get to finding him? The main character Bud, from “Bud, Not Buddy” went on the adventure of a lifetime, looking for his father. Bud never really knew who his real father was, but four years after the death of his mother, Bud was determined to find his dad. Following the flyers his momma gave him before she passed, Bud finds himself in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Before Bud’s mother died, she gave him a couple of clues that would lead to him finding his father- flyers for a band called “The Dusky Devastators of the Depression!” Although constantly switching orphanages wasn’t enough, Bud decided to run away. On his journey from Flint, Michigan, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bud had met some really interesting people along the way, such as Herman E. Calloway. Herman was in the band that Bud had flyers for and when he noticed Bud’s talent for music, Herman wanted but in his band and was willing to do anything to get him in his band but when Bud found the missing piece to himself was he wanted to be in a circus, Bud joined a circus event and he participated as a clown. Because Bud needed to find his father, he figured he needed some money, and he discovered it was fate how there was a circus that he could become a part of, just around the same time he arrived in Grand Rapids.
Though Herman was angry that Bud took the road of a clown, and not a musician, he still let Bud live with him.
“I have an extra room in my house. I live with the rest of the Dusky Devastators of the Depression! If you want you can always tag along with us to performances.” Said Herman. He kept insisting on Bud coming with for a performance on stage when the truth finally came out.
“Okay, Bud. Listen, and you better listen well because what I’m about to tell you will change your life. I know all about your search to find your father, and I know who he is.”
Bud was so shocked, all he could say was
“That’s great! Who is my father? Oh but one more thing, how did you know I was looking for him?”
“Because one thing lead to another and I knew about the flyers and your momma guiding you here with little clues, and Bud, I know one thing and that you are looking at him.” Bud was speechless. He had finally found his father. This was a great moment for him and both Bud and Herman started hugging and crying. Out of excitement Bud said to his dad
“Why? Why for all these years not come visit me or at least let me know that you’re okay? I have gone my whole life not knowing who my father was and knowing now that you knew about me, it hurts. I am very happy but it has just been a mixed up day.”
All Herman could do was stare into the heart broken child’s glossy eyes and question himself in regret.
“It was a… complicated time between your mother and I. I know you wouldn’t understand and in the time, forgive me. I know you are angry, and have mixed emotions, but Bud one thing I know is I love you and never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me it was a terrible mistake. You are such a great kid from what I’ve seen from you these past couple of weeks.” But had forgiven him and decided to look past the mistake that his dad made, being really happy that he finally has a place to call home.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bud Caldwell- Dynamic Character
Authors note: I am writing about how Bud from “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis, is a dynamic character and how he changes throughout the entire story. The purpose of my writing is to understand how Bud is a dynamic character.
What’s the difference between a static character, and a dynamic character? A static character is a character in a book that doesn’t really change at all through the entire time that you are reading. A dynamic character changes, in such as your view on people, realizing more information, and so on. The main character of “Bud, Not Buddy” is Bud Caldwell- a ten year old boy who has his life ahead of him, all by himself. Bud is a dynamic character. Throughout the novel, Bud makes an impact on the people in his life. Bud is a dynamic character because he constantly changes his personality, he found a lot out about himself and his judgment on his surroundings.
Although some of Bud’s new friends are static characters, he changes so much from cover to cover. One reason why Bud is a dynamic character is because he changes his personality. He just matured and it was noticeable throughout the book. In the beginning Bud was very immature but he is just a kid. Being on his own I think is what matured him the most because he didn’t have anyone to protect him so he had to face his fears. When Bud joins The Dusky Devastators of the Depression that’s when you notice a big step in the level of his maturity. At first, he was scared of sleeping in the little girl’s room he thought was dead, and because of that he thought there were monsters in the closet, but in the end he realizes that it was just his mother’s old room and had nothing to be afraid of.
Through Bud’s journey to find his father, he realized some things about himself that he never really knew. He found out that he is a strong young boy, when his newly discovered grandfather Herman was crying; he found that he has been strong for the past four years after the death of his mother. Another thing is he is amazing at playing the recorder but not so good with the saxophone, but with practice he will be perfect.
“I’ll let you hear me in three weeks when we’re all on the stage” said by Bud (p.231) to his band mates who had just bought him a baby saxophone.
Lastly, Bud changes his judgment on the people around him because at first when he met Lefty Lewis, he thought he was a vampire. What Bud learned is to not so quick to judge people and a lesson is to not judge a book by its cover. Since Bud is black in the time of 1936, he could relate to being judged and he didn’t like it and realized he needed to stop.
Furthermore, a connection I made is that I see people get judged all the time. New kids are constantly to my school and a lot of people judge them. I think that this is wrong because there is a big chance they could be really nice but when you judge them you never get to know them.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why Bud is a dynamic character.
What’s the difference between a static character, and a dynamic character? A static character is a character in a book that doesn’t really change at all through the entire time that you are reading. A dynamic character changes, in such as your view on people, realizing more information, and so on. The main character of “Bud, Not Buddy” is Bud Caldwell- a ten year old boy who has his life ahead of him, all by himself. Bud is a dynamic character. Throughout the novel, Bud makes an impact on the people in his life. Bud is a dynamic character because he constantly changes his personality, he found a lot out about himself and his judgment on his surroundings.
Although some of Bud’s new friends are static characters, he changes so much from cover to cover. One reason why Bud is a dynamic character is because he changes his personality. He just matured and it was noticeable throughout the book. In the beginning Bud was very immature but he is just a kid. Being on his own I think is what matured him the most because he didn’t have anyone to protect him so he had to face his fears. When Bud joins The Dusky Devastators of the Depression that’s when you notice a big step in the level of his maturity. At first, he was scared of sleeping in the little girl’s room he thought was dead, and because of that he thought there were monsters in the closet, but in the end he realizes that it was just his mother’s old room and had nothing to be afraid of.
Through Bud’s journey to find his father, he realized some things about himself that he never really knew. He found out that he is a strong young boy, when his newly discovered grandfather Herman was crying; he found that he has been strong for the past four years after the death of his mother. Another thing is he is amazing at playing the recorder but not so good with the saxophone, but with practice he will be perfect.
“I’ll let you hear me in three weeks when we’re all on the stage” said by Bud (p.231) to his band mates who had just bought him a baby saxophone.
Lastly, Bud changes his judgment on the people around him because at first when he met Lefty Lewis, he thought he was a vampire. What Bud learned is to not so quick to judge people and a lesson is to not judge a book by its cover. Since Bud is black in the time of 1936, he could relate to being judged and he didn’t like it and realized he needed to stop.
Furthermore, a connection I made is that I see people get judged all the time. New kids are constantly to my school and a lot of people judge them. I think that this is wrong because there is a big chance they could be really nice but when you judge them you never get to know them.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why Bud is a dynamic character.
Monday, February 20, 2012
"When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens"
“Bud, I want you to always remember, no matter how dark the night, when one door closes, don’t worry, because another door opens.” The main character Buddy Caldwell- a 10 year old boy in 1963 got this advice from his mother on (p. 43) of the novel “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis. I think this quote is important because it is really inspiring.
The part of that quote that I find the most interesting is when she said “when one door closes, another door opens.” It shows that no matter how hard something is, there is always faith is other opportunities. This reminds me of another quote- “When you’re in the dark, follow the Son” I really like that quote as well, because it’s not referring to the sun in the sky, but the son of God. Both quotes have powerful meanings that are great for motivation, even in the darkest of times.
What Bud’s mom said really stuck in my head. It really revealed that Bud didn’t understand what she meant about doors opening and closing, but as well, it stuck in his head too. A few years down the road, he remembered exactly what she said to him. He also remembered she said “Bud is your name, and don’t you ever let anyone call you anything outside of that either. Especially don’t you ever let anyone call you Buddy.” This was also found on page 43, but this is also very important just like the quote “When one door closes, another opens” because throughout the entire book, whenever someone asks what his name was he’d say “Bud, not Buddy.”
Both these quotes have really strong meanings and I think the novel has many great quotes and that’s what makes it a book worth reading.
The part of that quote that I find the most interesting is when she said “when one door closes, another door opens.” It shows that no matter how hard something is, there is always faith is other opportunities. This reminds me of another quote- “When you’re in the dark, follow the Son” I really like that quote as well, because it’s not referring to the sun in the sky, but the son of God. Both quotes have powerful meanings that are great for motivation, even in the darkest of times.
What Bud’s mom said really stuck in my head. It really revealed that Bud didn’t understand what she meant about doors opening and closing, but as well, it stuck in his head too. A few years down the road, he remembered exactly what she said to him. He also remembered she said “Bud is your name, and don’t you ever let anyone call you anything outside of that either. Especially don’t you ever let anyone call you Buddy.” This was also found on page 43, but this is also very important just like the quote “When one door closes, another opens” because throughout the entire book, whenever someone asks what his name was he’d say “Bud, not Buddy.”
Both these quotes have really strong meanings and I think the novel has many great quotes and that’s what makes it a book worth reading.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Predicting "Bud, Not Buddy" Speech
When troubled Buddy Caldwell is determined to find his father, he has a journey ahead of him. Being a motherless 10 year old boy, it was hard to be happy at his bad foster home, because everyone thought he was a bad kid, when really in his eyes, all he wanted was to see his father so he escaped. He carried all his belongings in a suitcase and headed off from Flint, Michigan, to Great Rapids, Michigan. I Predict that on his search to find his father he will get kidnapped and forced to become a slave being African- American in the times of the "Great Depression".
I think Bud is going to be kidnapped because, in those times, slavery wasn’t illegal, and it is a realistic thing to happen.
I think Bud is going to be kidnapped because, in those times, slavery wasn’t illegal, and it is a realistic thing to happen.
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