Bud, Not Buddy fits within the literary subgenre of the “orphan narrative,” in which a main character must contend with conflict and seek the objective of his or her quest without a mother or father. The orphan might be influenced by the memories of parents or by parent-like figures, as is the case with Bud’s memories of his mother’s advice and the mentorship of Lefty Lewis. It is usually evident, however, that the orphaned protagonist proceeds and succeeds largely by his or her own gumption, wit, cleverness, resourcefulness, and independence. For example, ultimately, it is Bud’s insistence that Mr. Calloway look at his mother’s rocks that leads to the revelation of Bud’s true identity.

In contrast to his or her outward independence, the orphan intuitively seeks a home, family, or group within which he or she can feel a sense of belonging and love. In this text, Bud feels immediately content among the band members in Grand Calloway Station despite his own grandfather’s initial inability to accept him. The orphan figure appears throughout literature: Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Pip in Great Expectations, Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, and Tom Sawyer are all classic orphan narratives.