Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Lexile
- 950L
- Grade range
- Grades 4–7
- Age range
- Ages 9–13
- Pages
- 256
- First published
- 1999
- Genre
- Historical Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780553494105
About this book
Ten-year-old Bud Caldwell, orphaned during the Great Depression, runs away from his foster home in Flint, Michigan to find the man he believes is his father. Winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal AND the Coretta Scott King Award — the only book ever to win both in the same year. Commonly assigned in 4th-7th grade Depression-era units.
Themes
- family
- identity
- perseverance
- depression era
- race
Content notes
- child abuse
- orphan trauma
Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Bud, Not Buddy?
- Bud, Not Buddy is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 950L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Bud, Not Buddy?
- Bud, Not Buddy has a Lexile measure of 950L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- Is Bud, Not Buddy banned in schools?
- Bud, Not Buddy does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Bud, Not Buddy explore?
- Central themes in Bud, Not Buddy include family, identity, perseverance, depression era, race. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.