Bud, non Buddy

Bud's witty voice keeps the story uplifting even when dealing with tough issues. I'm curious whether this balance was planned from the start or evolved during writing.

His resilience feels so real and inspiring, but I wondered if the story's optimistic tone made the struggles feel more hopeful or less gritty.

The historical backdrop adds so much depth, but I'd love to know what prompted the author to choose this specific time period and how it shaped the story's themes.