Bluffton by Matt Phelan

Reviewed by Lori
Title: Bluffton: My Summers with Buster

Author: Matt Phelan

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 138305

Description:  Henry bonds with a young Buster Keaton over games of baseball while the latter summers locally with a troupe of vaudeville performers.

Rubric Rating:  Level 3 - Laud It

Why I Read It: A growing interest in Graphic novels and a fascination with silent films.

Notes: I really liked this graphic novel.  The images are soft – softly coloured and softly focused.  This is the story of Henry Harrison and the summers that Buster Keaton and the Vaudeville troop come and stay at Bluffton.  While Henry is a fictional character Buster Keaton is not and the novel is based on his autobiography. The arrival of Buster brings excitement to Henry’s life.  They fill their summer days with baseball, pratfalls, and pranks. When Buster leaves for the show, Henry’s life returns to normal, helping his father at the hardware store and going to school.  Henry thinks that Buster’s life is exciting and tries to emulate him. But in the end it’s not as easy as it looks and Henry injures himself. Henry’s life is counterpoint to Buster’s. Buster has never gone to school and has always been in “the family business”.  In the end the boys value the friendship they have. The best part for me is when Henry confesses to his father that he might not want to be in “the family business” and his father replies” Don’t worry so much about what you are going to do, Henry. Concentrate on who you are going to be.” (Page 194) There is a comparison to be made between Buster Keaton's silent films where there are very few title cards, and the minimalism in the printed words in this book.

Recommended Readers: Elementary 6-8 or Applied English 9 and 10.

Themes: Buster Keaton, Growing Up, Early 1900s, Children and Education, Becoming who you want to be, Parent/Child Relationships, Friendship, Vaudeville

Cross-Genre Links:
Visual Comedy: Buster Keaton - The Art of the Gag
Websearch: The History of Vaudeville
Social Studies: The Right of Education
Social Studies: Life in the Early 1900s
History: Silent Film

Inquiries and Activities:

  • How are Buster and Henry’s lives similar and how are they different? 
  • Would you rather grow up like Henry or like Buster?
  • Why doesn’t Buster go to school? 
  • Who are the Gerry? What do they do?
  • Research Child labour laws and/or life in the 1900s and compare them to today. 
  • Dress up like a boy or girl from the early 20th century.
  • Create your own silent film.


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