Newbery Medal Winner

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis

Summary

During the Great Depression, a ten year old orphan named Bud Caldwell runs away from a foster home and sets out across Michigan to find the jazz musician he believes is his father. Curtis blends humor, heartbreak, and a strong sense of place to portray a Black boy's resilience in hard times. The book is loved for its memorable narrator and its vivid evocation of Depression era America.

Historical Context & Significance

Christopher Paul Curtis became the first author to win both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the same book.