From: Mary Ann Gilpatrick <magilpat>
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 14:00:12 -0800

I for one was quite taken with the historical events in Bud. It would be very unrealistic to portray Flint in this time period and not reference was was going on at Fisher One. It would have been conspicuous in its absence (as in Lyddie). Same for the Pullman Porters; A.P. Randolph's successful organizing was an issue of great importance to Black Americans of the time, and Randolph is still rememberred as a hero.

In the same way, Bud's observation that someone was "white" made me realize that when he didn't comment on comeone's race, they were Black. How often in children's books is that characters's race only pointed out when they are of color? This shift in perspective for me, a fairly aware whitey (European American, if you prefer) was just one of the things that knocked my socks off. the Hoovervilles? Of COURSE there would have been an awful lot of Black people in them, as Blacks would have been disproportionately homeless and displaced, but in my mind's eye I had never seen them that way.

I loved having homage paid to Charlamae Hill Rollins; she is another piece of Black history introduced so naturally into the story. (Robeson, too.)

Enough has been said about Bud's wonderful spirit and his voice; we the adults readers know he has survived because of the strong bond of love he felt from his mother before she died. Curtis doesn't hit you over the head with this; he just believes it so strongly itcomes out in the story. The need for human connection is so strong and compelling in the book that I am hoping for a sequel. Will Bud ever see Bugs again? Will pretty Deza reappear in seven years?

Bud's rules and his "Woop, zoop, sloop" strck me as perfectly reasonable ways for a child to make sense of the world.

Mary Ann (two words, no 'e') Gilpatrick (spelled with a 'g')
Received on Sun 30 Jan 2000 04:00:12 PM CST