By: Ian Sheppard

I believe that the theme of the book Bud, Not Buddy is the hope for a new start, the next chapter, the opening of a new door and closing the last.

 “And, Bud I want you to remember, no, how bad things look to you, no matter how dark the night, when one door closes, don’t worry, because another opens.”pg.42 paragraph 7  This shows a hope for new opportunities and taking them even if they mean leaving everything behind.

 “The best thing in the whole room was one wall that was covered with pictures of some horses cut out of a bunch of magazines and stuck on the wall with thumbtacks.”pg.182 paragraph 1  This makes reference to a picture mentioned earlier in the book. The picture was of Bud’s mother on a pygmy horse. It turns out she was Mr. Calloway’s daughter, so basically he’s Bud’s grandfather. This shows he is hopeful for her return after the longer period of time after she had run away.

 “My daddy is. Folks say there’s work out west so he’s going to try again. So you’re going wait here for him. Uh-huh.”pg.71 paragraph  This shows their hope for new opportunities and their willingness to stay behind for these opportunities.

 “It’s been seven long years Since last I’ve seen her, Way hey, you rolling river, Been seven long years Since last I’ve seen her, Way hey, I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Miss-oo- ray.”pg.76 paragraph 1  This is a song in the book, it’s about a man separated from his fiancé and searches everyday for her along the Missouri River.