journal prompt #4


by Andrea Rossignol


The major themes in this book was race and treating everyone with kindness. Bud was singled out and not able to get food at the food line because of his race, white people were able to get food before the blacks were. The book was also focused on respect and being kind to others. The Amos’s did not care about Bud so they did not feel bad about putting him in the shed for the night. They treating him poorly which was not right at all. They didn’t care that he had lost so much in his life including his own mother. Whereas Herman E. Calloway cared for Bud and loved him in a way Bud needed. At first Herman did not like Bud but he came around and understood that Bud need his support. Bud eventually became a member of the band when Herman bought him a saxophone and taught him how to play it. Herman’s family also loved Bud and treated him very nicely. Herman’s wife especially loved Bud, she would help with getting to bed make sure he was full after each meal, she wanted Bud to be safe at her home. The book also showed me all the different character traits someone has. The Amos’s were mean people, Bugs was a best friends Bud could ever need. Herman E. Calloway and his wife were Bud’s parents and the band members we like Buds other uncles who he could joke around with and play music with all the time. There are so many different kind of people out in the world. You just have to choose the right ones.