The Night Bus Hero
by Onjali Q Raúf
Interest age: 6 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Orion, 2020
About this book
Hector is a bully who doesn’t really care about anyone and thinks his cringey parents don’t care about him. His teachers don’t seem to like him (he certainly hates them), he particularly dislikes teacher’s pet Mei Lei, and he devotes his time to being mean to other kids and making them give him sweets.
He’s got so little sympathy for a local homeless man Thomas (who is taking up space in the park, including a bench Hector would like to sit on) that he ends up pushing Thomas’s trolley containing his only worldly possessions into the park pond without a single thought of how much hurt that would cause.
When a spate of London landmark sculptures are suddenly stolen, including Paddington Bear and the Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus, Hector is convinced the crimes have been carried out by homeless people led by Thomas - but no sooner has he reported Thomas to the police than he realises he's got it horribly wrong. With the help of his enemy Mei Lei, Hector must race against time to make sure justice is done - but that's not the only thing he needs to change.
A brilliantly written and totally engrossing story that will help children understand and think deeply about the real human beings whose lives are impacted by homelessness - and also more generally about the power of kindness, friendship, empathy and how everyone has the potential to change for the better. Onjali Q Rauf (winner of the Blue Peter Book Award and Waterstones book prize for The Boy at the Back of the Class) has written a gripping, realistic, and relatable tale with a strong moral at its heart, perfect for children aged seven and up.
About the author
What to read next
We know that children can get hooked on a favourite book series or author and struggle to find something they love as much, but we’re here to help.
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The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf is a bestseller and beloved by children - but which other stories might its fans enjoy? We've got some ideas and would love to hear your thoughts too!
More books like this
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Matilda
by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
5 to 14 years
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The Boy at the Back of the Class
by Onjali Q Raúf
5 to 14 years
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The Game I Will Never Forget
by Onjali Q Raúf
9 to 14 years
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The Girl at the Front of the Class
by Onjali Q Raúf, illustrated by Pippa Curnick
4 to 7 years
Lists of recommended reads
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Books featuring homelessness
We have curated a list of books for mixed ages which explore themes of homelessness, offering readers a window into the lives of those who confront poverty and uncertainty every day yet who are all too often overlooked. These stories sensitively explore the complex situations that may lead to homelessness and shine a light on the extraordinary resilience, empathy and sense of community shown by those who find themselves in such challenging circumstances.
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All sorts of heroes (older children)
These books are perfect for showing children that there are all sorts of heroes in life - and will inspire them to make a difference, too.
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BookTrust Represents: Middle Grade
Have a look at the great middle grade books by authors and illustrators of colour.
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Kindness, compassion and empathy: middle grade
Help your child develop kindness and empathy with these middle grade books that inspire compassion: whether that’s towards animals, friends, or people in very different situations to your own.