The story takes place in Grand Rapids and Flint Michigan, during the Great Depression. The Great Depression enhances the mood of the story because it was a time of poverty and despair. Living during the Depression was a constant struggle for Bud. When he ran away from his foster home, it was very challenging for Bud to find food, shelter, and transportation. The author thoroughly depicted the 1930s because he used real life examples of what was happening to our country during this time period. One example that was included in the novel were soup kitchens. When Bud left his foster family, he had no source of food or water so he went to a soup kitchen. Soup kitchens were common in the Depression decade because many people lost their jobs and could no longer afford to buy food. The characters in this novel heard sounds such as jazz music and city car horns. The novel contained sights of street lights and an orphanage. Bud would have smelt soup from kitchens and car exhaust. The weather in Michigan during this novel is somewhat cold, but has no great impact on the story.