Historical Fiction #1

Book Title: Bud, Not BuddyAuthor: Christopher Paul Curtis
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers, Copyright 1999
Number of pages: 256
Genre: Historical Fiction

Bud, Not Buddy is about a young African American boy that happens to be an orphan during the Great Depression. Bud lives in Flint, Michigan and quickly learns that things will not work in his favor simply because of the color of his skin. He's on a journey in search of his birth father, who he seems to think he's found in a band. Bud learns the true meaning of family and love in this historically rich novel for young readers.

There are no illustrations, but the cover of the book does a great job depicting the main character of the story, Bud.

Grade Level: 5th
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 2 ) Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. [RL.5.2]

I would use this book in a 5th grade classroom for both ELA and a short Social Studies lesson on the Great Depression. The characters, setting, and events could all be compared and discussed throughout the novel. I would read this book with my students aloud daily and hold discussions from there. I would be able to listen to their responses and provide them feedback on the responses they provide, right then and there. 

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