The Night Bus Hero

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Raúf's craft is so beautiful, you are immersed in the story as soon as you open the book and everything feels so real. This would make a great class read for upper primary classes. My nearly 10-year-old and I just finished Rauf's debut and I'll be starting this one with him soon. It raises issues I'd like to have a context for so that we can then use for discussions, and Hector is engaging and a character you really want to see change a little. His family life plays a role in his actions and readers will notice that. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... I've been getting into trouble for as long I can remember. Usually I don't mind 'cos some of my best, most brilliant ideas have come from sitting in detention. But recently it feels like no one believes me about anything - even when I'm telling the truth! And it's only gotten worse since I played a prank on the old man who lives in the park. Everyone thinks I'm just a bully. They don't believe I could be a hero. But I'm going to prove them all wrong... In The Night Bus Hero, we meet Hector who has been getting into trouble for as long as he can remember. He doesn't mind being in detention often, because that's when he comes up with his best ideas. Along with his two friends, Will and Katie, Hector is feared by all the pupils at his primary school and the teachers think of him first when there is any kind of incident. His parents are often working away from home, but they express their disappointment in his behaviour when they are around.

The book challenges stereotypes about both homeless people and bullies, questioning the definition of a hero and whether people really can change? Skateboarding around Piccadilly Circus with a friend on afternoon, Hector decides to stay longer by himself, when his sees the homeless man, whose trolley he'd sunk and whose name he has learned is Thomas, suddenly appear and break into a run. Naturally, when another statue goes missing, Hector is convinced it's Thomas doing it, and decides to find him and turn him over to the police. And to do that, he needs to enlist the help of Mei-Li, but will she help someone who she clearly does not like? And together can Mei-Li and Thomas help Hector overcome his need to be bad?Wow! I don’t even know where to start about this book. Onjali Rauf again with another fantastic book. It touches on so many incredible themes. I love how Hector is seen as just a naughty child, but Onjali dives deeper and explains that there is so much more to his behaviour than meets the eye. His home life is not ideal, and he turns to acting out and bullying others as a way of dealing with this and getting the attention he so desperately craves.

Of course, Hector’s interactions with the community lead to personal growth. He is still frustrating, and thoughtless or hurtful at times, but he begins to understand how his actions affect others. Raúf handles his development in a very natural way, taking care to show gradual change without overwriting his actual character.I think this so thought provoking and some incredibly interesting conversations could be had around this! Hector is a bully. He steals from the other kids, and torments them with physical and verbal abuse. But then an act of revenge against Thomas, a local homeless man who dared to defend himself, goes very wrong and Hector realises he could get in serious trouble this time. Especially since it was witnessed by Mei-Li, the “teacher’s pet” from his class. I've been getting into trouble for as long I can remember. Usually I don't mind 'cos some of my best, most brilliant ideas have come from sitting in detention.