# Bud, Not Buddy

**Author:** Christopher Paul Curtis
**Lexile:** 950L
**Grade range:** Grades 4–7
**Age range:** 9–13
**First published:** 1999
**Page count:** 256
**Genre:** Historical Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780553494105`
**ISBN-10:** `0553494104`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/bud-not-buddy
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## 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 age recommendation: 9+

## Where this book is assigned

### Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 story exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 story exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)

### Coretta Scott King Author Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Coretta Scott King Author Award (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Coretta Scott King Author Award (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Coretta Scott King Author Award (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Coretta Scott King Author Award (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Coretta Scott King Author Award (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King_Award)

### Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award)

### Hawai'i Nēnē Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html)

### Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2002 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2002 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2002 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2002 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)

### Newbery Medal

- **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2000 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)

### Vermont Golden Dome Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) — winner list 1957-2020 via Wikipedia — 2001 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Canfield_Fisher_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) — winner list 1957-2020 via Wikipedia — 2001 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Canfield_Fisher_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) — winner list 1957-2020 via Wikipedia — 2001 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Canfield_Fisher_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) — winner list 1957-2020 via Wikipedia — 2001 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Canfield_Fisher_Children%27s_Book_Award)

### Volunteer State Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners)

### Young Reader's Choice Award (Pacific Northwest)

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award (the oldest children's-choice book award in North America, since 1940; students across the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, read the nominees and vote for their favorites)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award (the oldest children's-choice book award in North America, since 1940; students across the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, read the nominees and vote for their favorites)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award (the oldest children's-choice book award in North America, since 1940; students across the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, read the nominees and vote for their favorites)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award (the oldest children's-choice book award in North America, since 1940; students across the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, read the nominees and vote for their favorites)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)

### Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA)

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 2002 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 2002 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 2002 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association — Young Reader's Choice Award winners (1940-2022), via Wikipedia — 2002 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Reader%27s_Choice_Award)

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