Mrs. Amos warns Bud that she hopes his conscience plagues him for what he did. What is a person's conscience?
Their inner sense of right and wrong / moral compass.
Why does Bud insist that people call him "Bud" and not "Buddy"?
His mother told him never to let anyone call him Buddy, because Buddy is a dog's name or a fake nickname, but Bud is a flower ready to bloom.
When Lefty Lewis pulls over to help Bud on the road, what unusual food item does he use to bribe Bud into his car?
A bologna sandwich, an apple, and a bottle of red pop.
What musical instrument do the band members pull their money together to buy for Bud?
An alto saxophone
What major historical economic crisis is happening in America during the setting of this book?
The Great Depression
Mrs. Amos gets furious with Bud and yells, "I am one person who is totally fed up with you and your ilk!" What does ilk mean in this context?
Your kind, type, or group of people.
What specific photograph does Bud keep wrapped up safely to remember what his mother looked like?
A picture of her riding a little pony. She has a big hat on and looks miserable.
When Bud tries to walk all the way to Grand Rapids, what city is he starting from?
Flint, Michigan
What nickname does the band give to Bud?
Sleepy LaBone.
When Lefty Lewis gets pulled over by a police officer, what dangerous, secret paperwork is he carrying in his car?
Flyers/papers about forming a labor union for railroad workers.
Bud says that perfectly good parts of your body will commence to loosening up and falling off when you turn eleven. What does commence mean?
To start or begin
According to Bud's Rule Number 3, if you got to tell a lie, make sure it is what?
Convincing / easy to remember / has a bit of truth in it.
Bud misses the train out of town because he runs back to catch what object that flew out of his hands?
One of his blue flyers.
When Bud first meets the band, Herman E. Calloway tells Bud that if he stays, he has to do something specific to earn his keep. What job or chore is Bud assigned?
Cleaning the instruments and mopping the floors (accept either).
At the end of the book, we find out Herman E. Calloway isn't actually Bud's father. What is their real relationship?
He's his grandfather.
Todd Amos lies to his mother and says he was only trying to wake Bud up to make sure he used the lavatory. What room is a lavatory?
Bathroom
Bud keeps a pouch full of these small, smooth, round objects that have mysterious writing and dates on them. What are they?
Rocks
What do people call the makeshift cardboard shack towns where homeless people lived together during the Great Depression?
Hoovervilles
Who is the sweet, caring lead singer of the band who looks out for Bud and comforts him when he cries at the restaurant?
Miss Thomas.
What was Bud's mother's actual name? (all 3 names)
Angela Janet Caldwell
If the woman at the orphanage tells the boys there is "no need to look so glum," how are the boys looking?
Sad, gloomy, or unhappy.
What is the special name that Herman E. Calloway gives to his large house where the band lives and practices?
Grand Calloway Station
When Bud gets locked in the dark Amos shed, what does he mistake for a vampire bat?
A hornet's nest.
What is the full name of the band leader Bud is completely convinced is his father?
Herman E. Calloway.
Why did Herman E. Calloway collect and write on the rocks that Bud now carries in his suitcase?
He got them for his daughter (Bud's mom) from every city he played in while he was away on tour.