Genre 5 - Historical Fiction - Bud, Not Buddy

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1999. BUD, NOT BUDDY. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN0439221889

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Christopher Paul Curtis crafts a memorable character of Bud Caldwell. Readers will be able to identify with Bud’s desire to belong and have a family. As the story opens at the orphanage, readers understand this book will be about his quest to find a place where he belongs. Bud is a strong and smart character. Readers will want to root for him to make his way.
Set in economically depressed Michigan during the Great Depression, readers will be able to grasp the historic implications of this setting. Times are tough and Bud experiences this when he’s at the orphanage and living in the shanty town.
Curtis’ style is easy to read and Bud has a memorable voice. Young readers will be hooked by page twelve, when Bud gets the pencil shoved up his nose by Todd. “Wow! You got all the way to R.” Readers will cheer when Bud gets his revenge. Curtis obviously did research when writing this book because there are mentions of appropriate jazz artists.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST: “Told in the boy's naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics ("Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself"), this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “In a Victorian ending, Bud uses the rocks he has treasured from his childhood to prove his surprising relationship with Mr. Calloway. The lively humor contrasts with the grim details of the Depression-era setting and the particular difficulties faced by African Americans at that time. Bud is a plucky, engaging protagonist. Other characters are exaggerations: the good ones (the librarian and Pullman car porter who help him on his journey and the band members who embrace him) are totally open and supportive, while the villainous foster family finds particularly imaginative ways to torture their charge. However, readers will be so caught up in the adventure that they won't mind. Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Create an author study of Curtis by reading other books, like THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM and ELIJAH OF BUXTON.
· Read other books set in the Great Depression and compare those situations to Bud’s.
· Investigate the Great Depression by looking at nonfiction materials and photographs of the time period.
· Research Christopher Paul Curtis' background. Discuss what influences led him to write BUD, NOT BUDDY.

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction - The Land

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Taylor, Mildred. 2001. THE LAND. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0803719507

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Mildred Taylor’s prequel to ROLL OF THUNDER HEAR MY CRY focuses on the life of Paul-Edward Logan. Paul-Edward grew up torn between the two sides of his family. The son of a slave and wealthy land owner, Paul-Edward has never fit in. After a family disagreement, Paul-Edward runs away vowing to never return to the land he loved. His friendship with the son of a sharecropper, Mitchell, is the only thing that connects him to his past. Together, Paul-Edward and Mitchell work together to create a new life for themselves on land they can call their own.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE LAND begins slowly as the reader is introduced to the main character, Paul-Edward Logan. Taylor wants the reader to be keenly aware of the insecurities Paul-Edward feels being of mixed race. Readers of all races will be able to relate in some way because we all have our own insecurities. The friendship between Paul-Edward and Mitchell also slowly develops. Although this technique can be frustrating to the reader at times, it is realistic of a friendship that evolves over the years. The deep friendship that eventually develops was carefully crafted by Taylor and the reader appreciates it more. When Paul-Edward sits with Mitchell on his deathbed, the reader will deeply reflect on their years of friendship. The emotion of the moment was very strong.
Taylor crafts another excellent character by creating Paul-Edward’s love interest, Caroline Perry. When Paul-Edward is introduced to the strong-willed character, Caroline, the reader will feel the energy change. Caroline is a ball of energy and is able to keep up with Paul-Edward and Mitchell. Even when Mitchell and Caroline marry, the reader can sense the fondness between Paul-Edward and Caroline. It was not surprising that those characters ended up together after Mitchell’s death.
THE LAND is an excellent book to share with students learning about Reconstruction and the trials of sharecropping. Taylor definitely doesn’t sugarcoat the past. Her use of the “n” word is common but used appropriately in the setting. Teachers can use this book to start meaningful discussions about racism and race in America.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Gr. 7-12. Like Taylor's Newbery Medal book, ROLL OF THUNDER HEAR MY CRY (1976), this powerful historical novel, a prequel to ROLL OF THUNDER, refuses to "whitewash" history. As the author notes in her afterword, the language was painful and life was painful for many African Americans, including her family. Drawing directly on her family history, especially what she knows about her great-grandfather, she goes back to the time of Reconstruction to tell a searing story of cruelty, racism, and betrayal. She also tells a thrilling coming-of-age story about friendship, hope, and family strength.
Taylor's characters are drawn without sentimentality. Not all whites are demonized; some whites help Paul. But many are vicious racists, like the farmers who don't want blacks owning land nearby. The "n" word hits like a blow each time it's used. But, as the author writes, that's what her grandfather endured. Let's hope that the historical truth, the words, and the violence don't cause adult censors to keep this landmark book from young adults who will want to read it and talk about it.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The Land by Mildred Taylor (Putnam, 2001) is a wonderful novel of close friendship, harsh prejudices, and deep yearning. Fans of the author's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Dial, 1976) saga will enjoy learning how the love of the land was instilled into the family through the story of Paul-Edward Logan, Cassie's grandfather.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Read ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY and draw parallels between the main characters.
· Students should be allowed to have thoughtful conversations after tense racial moments in the book.
· Tie together with THE GLORY FIELD by Walter Dean Myers to examine the struggle of African Americans over the years.