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Bud, Not Buddy

By: Christopher Paul Curtis
Narrated by: James Avery
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Publisher's summary

Hit the road with Bud in this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic about a boy on a journey to find his father—from Christopher Paul Curtis, author of The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963, a Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree.

It’s 1936, in Flint Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud’s got a few things going for him:

1. He has his own suitcase full of special things.
2. He’s the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.
3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!

Bud’s got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.

“[A] powerfully felt novel.” —The New York Times

©1999 Christopher Paul Curtis (P)2000 Random House, Inc.; 1999 Ernie Norcia; 16 9
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Critic reviews

Newbery Medal Winner, 2000

Audie Award Nominee, Children's Titles for Ages 8+, 2001

AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

AN ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

AN IRA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD WINNER

NAMED TO 14 STATE AWARD LISTS

“The book is a gem, of value to all ages, not just the young people to whom it is aimed.” —The Christian Science Monitor

“Will keep readers engrossed from first page to last.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Curtis writes with a razor-sharp intelligence that grabs the reader by the heart and never lets go. . . . This highly recommended title [is] at the top of the list of books to be read again and again.” —Voice of Youth Advocates, starred review

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What listeners say about Bud, Not Buddy

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

This was a great book to listen to with the kids, funny and touching. We have listened to this one more than once. Definately worth a credit!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Appropriate family read

Aww Shucks is now part of our family vocabulary. Great family friendly story and enjoyed the narration.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This is the best I in enjoy listening to it ever

This is the best book I listen to in a very long time since Lesley Pearse books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rules to live by

Great book. I loved every minute of it. i wish there was a part two

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

DOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDSSSSSSSS🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤣😂🤣😄

AWESOMENESSSSSSSA DIS BOOK ISE HILARIOUS 😂 LOOOOOOVVVVEEEE ITTTT AMAZINGGGGG WOWZERS

DE ONLY THING I DIDNT LIKE WAS THE ANNOYING SCREEMING SAXOPHONE IN DE BACKGROUND REALLY ANNOYING AND WEIRD BUT OTHER THAN THAT AAAAAAWWWWWEEEESSSSSOOOOOOMMMMMMMMEEEEEE

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This is a great book!

My son and I have listened to it several times. Bud is a tough young man who has a dream of meeting his family and he does it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully Done ✔

Very engaging. I especially love the additional information after the book is completed. Great song too!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

And a great job from the narrator. You will enjoy this book! A wonderful listening experience anytime.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect

I loved this book and it reading it to me helped me so much for my school work

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Finally!

Bought this book as a kid at the book fair but never got to finish it! Great story! Wonderful to here James Avery’s voice. Sure do miss him!

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