ThumbThruOpen ThumbThru
Bud, Not Buddy cover

Bud, Not Buddy

Novel289 pagesAges 8-12
Check Amazon's Price →
Summary

Ten-year-old Bud Caldwell escapes from his abusive foster home in 1936 Depression-era Michigan and sets out to find the man he believes is his father. Armed with a suitcase of precious belongings and his mother's clues, Bud embarks on a journey that leads him to a jazz band and discoveries about family, belonging, and hope.

At a Glance
💬LanguageMild
⚔️ViolenceModerate
💋Romance & SexNone
🍷Drugs & AlcoholMild
📋Other ContentModerate
Language

💬 Does Bud, Not Buddy have profanity or strong language?

Profanity (F-word, S-word, etc.)None
Blasphemy / Religious ProfanityNone
Crude / Childish LanguageMild
f-word
sh*t
*ss
b*st*rd
b*tch
bl**dy
bug**r
d*mn
c-word
h*ll
cr*p
🔒 Sign in free to read the details
Violence

⚔️ Is Bud, Not Buddy violent or scary?

Graphic Violence / GoreNone
Disturbing / FrighteningModerate
Vulgar / Obscene GesturesNone
Bullying / Verbal CrueltyModerate
🔒 Sign in free to read the details
Romance & Sex

💋 Romance and sexual content in Bud, Not Buddy

Explicit Sexual ContentNone
Sexually SuggestiveNone
Kissing (Light / Peck)None
Kissing (Passionate)None
Heterosexual RomanceNone
Homosexual RomanceNone
🔒 Sign in free to read the details
Drugs & Alcohol

🍷 Drugs and alcohol in Bud, Not Buddy

Illegal Drug UseNone
Legal Alcohol UseMild
Implied / Referenced UseNone
🔒 Sign in free to read the details
Other Content

📋 Other content in Bud, Not Buddy

Medical / Body ProcessesNone
Heavy Emotional ThemesModerate
Deception / LyingMild
🔒 Sign in free to read the details

See the full assessment free

ThumbThru shows you what’s inside Bud, Not Buddy and any book your family picks up — language, themes, and content. Free account, takes seconds.

Unlock the Full Assessment
Get the app: iPhone · Android

ThumbThru assessments are AI-generated from published sources and reviewed by our reader community. They describe what a book contains — not whether it’s "good" or "bad." Spot something off? Open the app to suggest a correction.