Sorry, Shmoopsters, but poverty is no laughing matter. In Bud, Not Buddy the community Bud grew up in is pretty poor because jobs were hard to find during the Great Depression. Bud is both poor and homeless, and he shows us how not having access to money for food or shelter can be a scary thing.
Questions About Poverty
- How does the Depression affect the Home and the children there?
- What are the signs of poverty in the book? How does Bud symbolize poverty?
- Is everyone in Bud, Not Buddy poor? If not, are we given any clues about why that is?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Bud's story is about going from rags to riches.
Bud's story helps readers empathize with poor people by showing how human they are and how much we all have in common.