Home, sweet home? Yeah, right. Not so much in Bud, Not Buddy. Whether it's another miserable foster family or a cozy patch of pine needles, Bud is able to make the most of his situation and then decide when to push on. He is on a quest for both a literal home—a place to eat, sleep, and play—and a figurative home—a place to feel comfort, love, and safety. Along the way, Bud sleeps in a dark old shed, under a tree, in a cardboard shack, in the back of a car, and in a nice, clean bed with fresh sheets.
Above all, Bud likes the sheets.
Questions About The Home
- What is the Home like for Bud? Why doesn't he want to go back there?
- Throughout the story, what different types of homes does Bud experience? What are the good things and bad things about them?
- What makes Bud finally feel like he has found his real home when he is in the Sweet Pea? Does learning that Calloway is his grandfather change Bud's feeling of home? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Bud can't actually feel at home anywhere until he finds people he feels comfortable around, and who seem familiar and fun.
Bud could have felt at home anywhere people were nice to him and offered to take care of him.