Despite being fiction, this shows students about life during the Great Depression.

In this wonderful depression era tale, 10-year old Bud (not Buddy) armed only with a set up rules he's made up for surviving life, sets off in search of his feckless musician father. Rarely is a child so irrepressible cheerful without being annoying, but Bud is just wonderful, and always one step ahead (or to the left) of the adults in this story.
I'd give this to people looking for an atmospheric read aloud, a funny story, or historical fiction set in the depression. ( )

This book is an amazing book that gives you alot of ideas of what the great depression might be about . ( )

Set in the Great Depression, Curtis creates the rich memoir of resourceful orphan Bud Caldwell. Bud’s search for his father takes him across the state of Michigan through a failed foster home placement, a Hooverville, the home of a labor organizer and the world of a prominent Jazz musician. Bud’s voice fills what could be a sad tale with humor and the all-important Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself. Bud’s rules contain nuggets of wisdom such as number 83 that states, “If a Adult Tells You Not to Worry, and You Weren’t Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start ‘Cause You’re Already Running Late.” As Bud seeks out place that he can truly call home, he finds himself becoming a part of the comradere found in the Michigan music scene. Curtis drew inspiration from the experiences of his grandfathers to add rich details to this narrative. ( )

This book is about a boy who is in and out of foster homes. His mother died and she never told him who his father was. He decided that he is going to find him because he thinks his mom left him clues about him. This is set during the Great Depression. The boy finds a man who he believes is his father and he tries to convince him that he is his son.

This is a good book. I liked it because I think other children can relate to not having a father or maybe losing a parent. I also liked that even though he had all these reasons to be depressed and down he kept going and tried to find his goal.

I think this book would be good for student to read because it will show them that even if they have lost a parent or are orphans that it is ok. Also that is they if things are working against them they need to keep pushing towards their goal. I would have the children tell me some of their goals. We could also talk about people we know that are orphans and how they feel about that.