Bud, Not Buddy

What’s the setting at the beginning of this story?

In an orphanage during the depression in Flint, Michigan

Describe Bud.

10 years old, living in an orphanage because his mom died, has lived in foster homes, but always comes back, can’t cry anymore, thinks his dad is a musician

How was Bud a good friend to Jerry?

He comforted him and helped him feel better about going to his foster home

What provoked Bud to punch Todd?

Todd had woken him up in the night sticking a pencil up his nose

Why is Todd’s mother calling Bud ungrateful and sending him back to the Home?

It looked like he was picking on Todd

What’s the name of the book Bud is writing?

Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself

How did Bugs get his nickname?

He’d gotten a bug stuck in his ear

What was the “vampire bat” hanging on the ceiling of the shed?

A hornet’s nest

Why was Bud angry after he got out of the shed?

He was angry at the Amos’s for treating him the way they had; and himself for believing Todd when he said there was a vampire bat in the shed; for being in a situation where there wasn’t anyone who cared what happened to him

Why didn’t Bud want to use the gun as revenge?

Guns are too dangerous

Where did Bud put the gun?

Out on the porch

How did Bud get his revenge with Todd?

Made him wet the bed

After seeing he couldn’t sleep in the library basement, where did Bud find shelter?

Under the Christmas trees by the library

Why did his mom name him Bud and not Buddy?

Buddy is a dog’s name; Bud is a flower-to-be, a flower-in-waiting, waiting for just the right warmth and care to open it up

Why is this special to Bud?

It means his mom knew with love he can open up and be beautiful like a flower

What does the phrase mean, “when one door closes in life, another door opens”?

When one opportunity ends, another one is offered to you

Why was Bud late for breakfast?

He slept in

Why was Bud able to eat?

A man pretended Bud was his son

Why did Bud’s pretend mom and dad keep hitting him on the head?

To help others think he really was their child; to keep him in line

Find an example at the beginning of this chapter that tells you Bud loves the library.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to smell the unique library smell

What bad news did the librarian tell Bud?

Miss Hill got married and moved away

Why couldn’t Bud go back to the Home?

It was getting crowded

Describe Bud’s experience in Hooverville.

He got fed, kissed a girl and had a place to sleep with hope of going west

Explain what happened when Bud and the others tried to catch the train.

The police were there trying to stop them, but Bud and the others ran. Bugs made it on, but Bud slowed down to catch his blue flyer and missed the train. Bugs threw his suitcase off

What did Bud and the others find when they went back to Hooverville?

The police had gone in and were breaking it up by burning the buildings and ruining the pots and pans

What was the special something the librarian had for Bud?

A large history book about the Civil War

What does the main character compare the idea of his dad to?

A seed growing into a maple tree

Why did Bud think the things in his suitcase were his momma’s treasures?

Why else would she keep them

Why was the man nervous when talking to Bud on the side of the road?

The city they were outside of wasn’t very kind to people with darker skin

What convinced Bud to go with the man?

He had food and he would take him to Grand Rapids

Why did Bud think the man was a vampire?

Bud saw a box with the label, “Urgent, contains human blood”

How did Bud end up back in Flint?

Mr. Lewis drove him there to drop off the blood

Name three words that describe the Sleet family.

Kind, generous, fun, warm, loving, accepting, giving, sharing

Why did Bud have a hard time eating and talking with the Sleet’s during the breakfast?

At the Home he had to be silent during meals and wasn't used to talking and responding to questions

Why was Bud worried when the policeman pulled them over?

he thought the police were after him

How is Lefty involved with the labor organizers?

He’s helping deliver fliers to the railroad workers in Grand Rapids

Why didn’t Bud want Lefty to go into the Log Cabin with him?

Herman Calloway didn’t know who Bud was and Lefty would have found out the truth

What deal did Mr. Jimmy make to get Bud to tell him the truth?

He promised him dinner at a restaurant

Choose a word to describe Thug and explain why?

Mean, untrustworthy; giving him advice that would get him in trouble

Why did Bud like Steady Eddie?

He watched out for him; was good to him

What did Bud compare Miss Thomas’s humming to?

Walking on a railway and feeling the train getting closer and closer under your feet

Why did Bud start crying after dinner?

He was so happy and felt like he was home

Find a word that describes Miss Thomas.

Kind, warm, friendly, loving, accepting

Why did Mr. Calloway lock the closets in the room Bud was sleeping in?

to keep Bud from stealing anything and getting into it

What helped Bud go to sleep?

A blanket around his head, imaging his mom telling him stories

Have you ever had a difficult time falling asleep? Explain. What did you do to help you fall asleep?

Listen to your child's answer

What was Miss Thomas’ plan for Bud?

If they got permission from the people in Flint, they were going to keep him

Why did Steady Eddie give Bud a saxophone case?

to carry his mother’s things in; his suitcase is too old and ratty to travel with the band

What was Bud’s new name and how did he feel about it?

Sleepy LaBone; he loved it

What was Bud pretending his mop and bucket were?

Captain Nemo and the sea

What did Miss Thomas’s singing and Steady Eddie’s saxophone sound like together?

Like a conversation they were having with one another

How long has Bud been with the band at this point in the book?

7 days

What was in Herman’s glovebox?

Rocks with writing on them, just like Bud’s

When Bud told Herman his mother’s name, why did Herman run into the house?

Because it was his daughter’s name and he was surprised that Bud was his grandson

How did Buddy prove his mother was Herman’s daughter?

He had a picture from when she was a young girl

Why did Bud’s mother run away from home?

Her father was really hard on her and wanted her to become a teacher, but she didn’t want to

Why was Herman so upset?

He had just found out his daughter died

What gift did the band give Bud?

An alto saxophone