Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Life was really hard for most Americans during the Great Depression. What are some ways Bud, Not Buddy shows us how hard it was? Are there specific characters that show us about this historical time more than others?
- Most of the characters in Bud, Not Buddy are black. How does seeing the world through Bud's eyes affect our understanding of race in this story? Would the story change much if Bud were white? How?
- Bud, Not Buddy is written in a digressive narrative structure. Does this style make the story seem more or less believable? How does it add to or take away from the central mystery of Bud's journey (finding his father)?
- What does this book tell us about lying? Is it sometimes good? Is it always bad? Why does Bud lie so much, and why does he take pride in it?
- What kinds of families do we see in Bud, Not Buddy? How does Bud define family? Who is Bud's family in the end?
- Bud has a very active imagination. How does this help him throughout the book? Does it ever get him in trouble? Why do you think imagination is so important in a book set during the Great Depression? Have you ever used your imagination to get you out of tough situations?