READING SKILLS
What is an inference?
An educated guess based on text evidence and what you already know.
Who is the main character and narrator of the novel?
Bud Caldwell.
What important item does Bud carry with him throughout the story?
His suitcase.
Is Bud, Not Buddy told in first person or third person?
First person.
What two things do readers combine to make an inference?
Text evidence and background knowledge.
What is a character trait?
A word that describes a character's personality or who they are on the inside.
Who is the man Bud believes is his father?
Herman E. Calloway.
Why does Bud run away from the Amos family's house?
He is treated badly and locked in the shed.
How does Bud feel about the room he is given at Grand Calloway Station?
He was nervous and scared at first but later likes it and feels comfortable.
Bud keeps trying to find his family even when things get difficult. What character trait does this show?
Determined, persistent, or resilient.
What does it mean to summarize a story?
To retell the most important events or ideas in your own words.
Who helps Bud get to Grand Rapids by giving him a ride?
Lefty Lewis.
What clues make Bud believe Herman E. Calloway might be his father?
The flyers his mother kept advertising Herman E. Calloway and his band.
How does Herman's attitude toward Bud differ from Miss Thomas's attitude?
Herman is suspicious, distant, or unfriendly, while Miss Thomas is welcoming and caring.
What acronym do we use to help us summarize a text?
SWBST
What is point of view?
The perspective from which a story is told.
Who is the kind singer who makes Bud feel welcomed and cared for?
Miss Thomas.
Why is meeting Lefty Lewis an important turning point in Bud's journey?
Lefty helps Bud travel to Grand Rapids, bringing him closer to Herman and the truth about his family.
How does Bud's perspective on Herman change by the end of the novel?
Bud first believes Herman is his father, but eventually learns he is his grandfather and understands more about his family. He understands that Herman is just very hurt.
How does the setting of the Great Depression affect Bud's journey?
Poverty and limited resources make it harder for Bud to find food, shelter, transportation, and a safe home.
What does it mean to explain how something impacts the plot?
To explain how an event, character, decision, or setting changes or moves the story forward.
Who is the band member who gives Bud his own instrument and helps him feel like part of the band?
Steady Eddie.
What surprising family connection does Bud discover near the end of the novel?
Herman E. Calloway is his grandfather, not his father.
How do Bud's and Herman's different perspectives create conflict in the story?
Bud hopes Herman is his father and wants to belong, while Herman does not believe Bud's story and is suspicious of him. Their different views create tension.
At first, Bud's goal is to find his father. How does his goal change by the end, and what does this reveal about the story's message?
Bud discovers that finding family and a place to belong is more important than finding the father he imagined. Family can mean love, support, and acceptance.