The Night Bus Hero is essentially a story about empathy, as all of Onjali Q. Rauf's books are. This one is written from the point of view of a boy that bullies people and can see no reason why he shouldn't. After targeting a homeless man, Hector learns the errors of his ways as he befriends the older man and embarks on solving a mystery.
I absolutely adored The Boy at the Back of the Class by the same author, as while there were some stock characters (the bully, the lovely teacher, the mean teacher), it had heart and remained honest, if that makes sense. With The Night Bus Hero, it all seemed a bit 'too good to be true' at times. Bullies rarely see the errors of their ways that quickly and dramatically change their behaviours and entire characters. Maybe it's written to give children hope that there is always the possibility of this happening and I've missed the point.
The biggest thing I struggled with which took it from a 4 star (a really well-written book that just had something that stopped it from excellent for me) to a 3 star was that I found the narrator - the bully - really unlikeable, especially at the beginning. I get that the point is that we see the development of his character but I nearly stopped reading after a few chapters as I disliked his attitude and actions that much.
Lots of people will enjoy it and rightly so. There is a lot there to like. Onjali produces detailed scenes and knows how to build excitement and tension throughout a story to a satisfying conclusion. The negatives for me balanced out the positives to leave an average read, in my opinion.

Having enjoyed Rauf’s first novel – The Boy at the back of the Class – I couldn’t wait to read this. Ten-year-old bully, Hector – who never tells a lie – lives in his affluent family home with his little brother Hercules. Their parents are absent quite a lot of the time because of their international jobs. At school, Hector hangs around with Will and Kate – his friends who are also bullies. They enjoy nothing more than taking money or sweets from the other targeted children.

Thomas is homeless. He spends most of his life in the park with his shopping trolley which contains the only possessions he has. His tragic story only comes to light after the destruction of his meagre belongings.

Set in London, the story follows Hector as he tries to solve the mystery of the missing landmarks! Someone is stealing iconic London landmarks such as Paddington Bear from the train station. Coded signs are left behind – symbols known only to the homeless community.

Mei-Li’s father works in a soup kitchen, providing hot food for the homeless. The friendship that develops between Mei-Li and Hector is endearing. They both eventually begin to work together and you see why Hector behaves the way he does. There are many unique characters in the book but Catwoman is one of my favourites.

Once again, Onjali has pulled the cat out of the bag in children’s literature. The way she describes Thomas after the destruction of his meagre belongings really pulled at my heart strings and brought a tear to my eye. An excellent story about how people can change for the better!

Having read and loved The Boy at the Back of the Class, I had to read The Night Bus Hero. Onjali Q Rauf’s ability to tackle tricky topics in an accessible way lies at the heart of her success. In The Night Bus Hero, Rauf highlights the issues of homelessness and bullying, told from the perspective of the bully. This is an interesting tactic but one that pays off in the end. Perfect for readers aged 9+ who enjoy stories rooted in real life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading another book by Onjali Q. Raúf. A great book that highlights serious topics - homelessness and bullying - but also has many lighthearted funny moments.

Hector is an interesting character, and I loved reading his story and seeing how he matured and changed throughout the book.

Yet again, another wonderful, sensitive book by the author. I can’t wait to share it with my class.

The Night Bus Hero is Onjali Raúf's latest offering after the success of her other children's novels, The Boy at the Back of Class and The Star Outside My Window, and this has the same strong messages delivered in her unique style. The Night Bus Hero revolves around Hector - quite the anti-hero to begin, he is a bully who loves to wind others up and is constantly getting into trouble at school. Hector thrives off others' misery and after a particularly mean attack on Thomas, a homeless man who lives in his local park, he is feeling rather pleased with himself. However, after a late-night trip to London where Hector witnesses a serial thief stealing yet another famous treasure, he soon realises that he may need the help of the homeless community after all.

I really loved that Raúf chose a bully for her central character in The Night Bus Hero. It's certainly not the conventional "hero" story but nonetheless it works and I loved the character arc that we then see Hector take as he tries to figure out how to be "good". Hector is completely unlikeable in the first half of the novel, even as he is trying to correct his mistakes he still can't seem to do it in an honest way which makes the characterisation even more realistic. Let's face it, nobody goes from bad to good overnight, and the challenges in acceptance that Hector faces are realistic and emphasise just how quickly opinions are formed base on someone's behaviour.

But The Night Bus Hero deals with more than just the transformation of bully to hero, it is filled with important messages about the homeless community, the judgement they receive and their place within communities. Hector's first encounter with the homeless is everything you would expect from a heartless bully - when he steals homeless Thomas' trolley from the local park and ends up ditching at the bottom of the lake. Although his friends think he's hilarious and has shown the homeless who's boss, he soon becomes fearful of the judgment and consequences he might face if others find out. Once he realises that the homeless community might be the key behind the theft he witnessed, Hector soon finds himself embroiled in trying to solve the mystery and gain actual heroic status. His friendship with Mei-Li at school allows him to break down the misconceptions he has of the homeless community, and as he begins volunteering at the local homeless shelter he soon realises that the faceless people he sees actually have very vibrant lives.

The Night Bus Hero isn't a complex plot, but it is a complex story, of friendship, understanding and most importantly acceptance. Raúf doesn't stray away from huge topics in her writing and this is yet another novel which will expose children to communities they may not yet understand.

An important read of unexpected friendships, community and discovering yourself.

Bully's-eye-view of homelessness.

Another issue book with heart from Rauf.

Her first took in the serious topic of refugees but mixed it with friendship, school and the Queen. Now the author gives young readers a little journey into the world of homelessness and adds to that a bully and a series of high-profile London thefts. She's not afraid of a challenge, and yet again makes a warming and insightful plot out of disparate elements that work together nicely.

Our narrator this time is the school bully. And while he's telling the story so we do feel a connection with him, he's - well - a bully. And pretty horrible to other children at school.

Hector has parents that travel the world on charity work missions, a younger brother (Hercules) and older sister (Helen - you might see the theme there), and a couple of 'friends' at school who goad him on as he steals money and sweets and generally makes life in his school a bit of a hell for a lot of other children. Showing off one day at the park, he ends up sending a homeless man's trolley into the lake, observed by Mei-Li, a girl in his class. Unrepentant, he does however later see this homeless man appear to be the culprit behind a series of bizarre but fiendishly clever robberies in the city of London.

Scenting a way of getting both rewards and recognition, he determines he needs to find out more about this homeless man, Thomas, from Mei-Li, who volunteers at the local soup kitchen.

This isn't exactly a 'story of redemption' but it does take in several angles and does so successfully, threading Hector's growing understanding of homelessness with a confusing friendship with someone he's bullied, and even a mystery/crime plot as they attempt to prove who is committing the thefts.

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.

Readers of around 8 and above will find this a very smooth and intriguing story with some appealing characters.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS ⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: My favourite parts of this book are the fact that they deal with themes that are so difficult to talk about at times. Middle-grade fiction has been adapting, developing and showcasing underrepresented voices. ⁣
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These stories are able to mix humour and heart ache onto these pages. They’re able to take themes, like homelessness, mental health, racism and showcase their depth in an understandable way. ⁣
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THE NIGHT BUS HERO is no exception. The impact this story made was timeless in its essence, painful in its aim and a strong reminder to look beyond the surface. ⁣
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𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥: readers looking for an impactful middle-grade read.

Hector is a bully. He terrorises other children in his school and has a box full of chocolates and sweets under his bed that he has taken from them. Everyone thinks he's no good.

When he plays a prank on a homeless man in the park, things turn from bad to worse. Then he witnesses a theft taking place but nobody believes him. How can he change people's perceptions of him?

This is a fabulous story of friendship and righting past wrongs. Although Hector is an unpleasant character, you are rooting for him to see that what he is doing is wrong and to turn his life around.

This will be heading to my class bookshelf.

I have loved everything by Onjali Q. Rauf and this did not disappoint. The issue of homelessness and kindness to all is amazingly tackled and in a perfect way for children to understand

Another amazing read by this author. She takes taboo subjects a crafts a credible and exciting story around them. This time she tackles homeless people and how they are treated by most of society. Hector is a truly u likeable protagonist and at first he proves difficult to warm to. However, as the story moves on, he changes, just enough to be believable, and alters some of his views and actions. We also meet the very likeable Thomas, and get to know him as a person and learn about his life. A great read.

Hector is not a nice boy. He is lazy, greedy, rude and, worst of all, a bully. He and his two friends take pleasure in mocking, tripping and hurting the other children at school and especially enjoy threatening them with reprisals if they don’t hand over their cash, lunch or treats. They prey especially on the weaker and more nervous pupils but they particularly hate the ones they refer to as ‘teacher’s pets’. However, when Hector decides to play a mean prank on a homeless man in their local park things start to change for him. He ends up joining with Thomas, the homeless man, and Mei-Li, the biggest teacher’s pet of all, to find out who has been stealing iconic London landmark statues.

What I loved about this book was that the characters had real depth. Hector is unpleasant but he is never seen as a joke (unlike, say, the Golden Ticket winners in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and we do see a lot of the reasons why he act the way he does. His parents are often absent and the adults in his life have found it easier to write him off as a trouble-maker. He isn’t a totally lost cause either – he seems genuinely fond of his little brother, Hercules, and soon starts to see the error of his ways when he learns more about the troubles Thomas and Mei-Li have experienced. The real villains, the statue thieves, provide a more comedic angle and there are plenty of other lighter moments too.

It takes a special person to be able to tackle hard hitting topics in a sensitive way that can be read by children. Another stunning story- well done 🤍 x

I liked the fact that the 'hero' of this book starts out as a fairly unpleasant bully who grows over the book into a moderately better person and helps change others lives for the better. Hector does feel like a real person whose personal issues, behaviour and how that changes as the story progresses are convincing and hopeful. It's very well written with some incredibly positive messages about the assumptions we make about people, particularly those on the margins of society. It's also a good mystery and very enjoyable.

I found this book such a challenge to read initially, purely because it was so well-written that I took an instant dislike to the main character and his friends! I found the book a real challenge to read - but it really made me think. The storyline allows the reader an insight to the feelings of Hector, who is dislikeable to begin with, but I felt that I grew with him on the journey. This book really stretches the reader, and I believe it would provide great material to discuss perception and beliefs with pupils. Thank you NetGalley for the experience to read this - an essential book for Upper Key Stage 2!

The Night Bus Hero follows the story of Hector, the initially unlikeable protoganist who loves nothing more than bullying and taunting others, usually school friends but on one occasion - Thomas, a homeless man who lives in the local park. As the story unravels, Hector begins to become more likeable as he slowly tries to redeem himself.

What I love about this story, is how it gives children an insight into homelessness that they wouldn't get anywhere else. This story allows them to see that regardless of our situations, we are all the same and should also be treated equally.

Review: The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q Raùf

How many of us rush to judgement based on the behaviour of the people we meet rather than stopping to think about the reason for their behaviour and spending time to try to understand and help them? In her third MG novel, Onjali Raùf shines her compassionate light on homelessness, showing the true humanity of individual lives and gently encouraging her readers to see the person rather than a social problem defined by a collective noun “the homeless”. As with her previous two novels, her message is suffused through a thoroughly engaging story, which I read deep into the night as I was compelled to finish it in one sitting.

In a clever contrast the two main characters Hector and Thomas represent two forms of homelessness. Thomas, the archetypal picture that we think of; unwashed, shabby clothes, sleeping on a park bench in an old sleeping bag, against Hector who is from an affluent family but with parents largely absent on international jobs. He feels that he is a disappointment to his high-achieving family and with the nanny largely preoccupied with his younger brother, his life consists of cheese toasties, late-night video games and travelling into central London, unsupervised, to skateboard. If home is the place where we are nurtured by people who love us and who we love in return, then at the start of this story I would consider Hector to be homeless.

As the story opens, Hector, the ten-year-old school bully is in the middle of his latest cry for attention, dropping toy snakes into the school lunch soup pan. He is part of a toxic trio of friends, with Will and Katie constantly encouraging him to acts of increasingly poor behaviour, which he performs to gain their approval. This culminates with him starting to harass Thomas, an old, homeless gentleman who lives in the town park, eventually destroying his meagre belongings.

His final act of vandalism is witnessed by Mei-Li, a classmate who he despises for being their “teacher’s pet” and a “brainiac”. Whilst the other school children cower in terror or bribe Hector with their sweets or pocket money, she is unafraid to stand up to him and forces him to apologise to Thomas and eventually to help out at the soup kitchen where she volunteers alongside her father.

Meanwhile the news headlines are gripped by a series of thefts of valuable public statues from central London, including the famous Paddington Bear from the mainline train terminus. The thief leaves behind coded signs in yellow paint, these symbols are known only to the homeless community and thus suspicion falls upon an entire group of innocent people. When Hector witnesses a theft in Piccadilly Circus one evening and casts suspicion on the wrong man, he finds himself in the midst of a race against time to uncover the true villains.

This story is thoroughly entertaining as a detective mystery puzzle, with the ingenuity and teamwork of Thomas, Hector, Mei-Li and Catwoman combining to an exciting denouement at a major London landmark. In the accepted way of MG fiction the thread of redemption and hope is woven through the tale, leaving readers with the ambition to look for the good inside everyone and the belief that transformation can take place in the everyday events of life. Once again Onjali Raùf has written a beautiful story which makes us think again at the over-looked in our society. Highly recommended for all readers of 9+.
I am grateful to #NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for granting me access to an eARC of this wonderful story.

What a great book to help raise empathy in the young minds. This book covers so many important issues that are sometimes overlooked in our society such as homelessness, bullying and prejudice. It also helps children to understand that it’s important to look at people beyond their appearances and our prejudices. Hector goes on his own journey to learn just that. At the start of the book he is a bully that is looking for attention from his school mates and teachers, but when he sees himself trying to use his tricks outside the school gates on a homeless man, he without knowing starts his journey of self-transformation. Can Hector be a hero instead of a bully? Can people change and learn from their mistakes? Can we have empathy for other people, even if you don’t know them? These are some of the fundamental questions that this book tries to raise. Great for home and fantastic for the classroom, highly recommended!

With the exception of some proper cartoony villains - acceptable as they aren't remotely the focus of the story - this is a strikingly realistic story featuring bullying, homelessness and redemption.

Hector has a (not entirely undeserved) reputation as a bully and a liar. He objects to it, though; he never tells a lie, and it seems like he's more drifted from pranks into bullying because of his friends rather than actually meant to become a bully. His parents and teachers have started to give up on him, though, and the less they believe in him the less inclined he is to do anything good or helpful.

It hurt watching the way he's treated, although it also hurt to see the casual way he talked about bullying other children. However, watching him slowly realise that other things are important was great. It didn't happen all at once, either, he came to it slowly over quite a long time.

The side characters were great. I wasn't so fond of Hector's parents, but they were nice to him at the end. Mei Li was brilliant. I enjoyed the action at the climax, too; Hector is much smarter than he gives himself credit for. And what an unusual story style, to tell it from the bully's point of view, and even more so not to demonise his victims!

A fantastic read. I'd love to see more people reading it, as I think it really needs to be known about.

I finally got around to read this book before publication. I was dying to aa I loved her previous two. Never a disappointment with O. Rauf! Fast paced, insightful and full of empathy and hope for change (alwats for the better). Lastly, the suspense and mystery of the robbery was the nicest plus, nade me want to read it in one go.

With her perfectly pitched voice and solid understanding of children’s minds and hearts, Onjali Q Raûf has written another classroom must-have. The Night Bus Hero explores the importance of friendship and the perils of power and pretending to be someone you are not. It shows us that everyone has their own story and that friendship comes from listening, understanding and finding the common ground we all share. Fast-paced and full of adventure, with clues to solve and a mystery to unravel, this is sure to be a firm favourite for 9+