The Night Bus Hero

What does it take to turn a bully into a hero? Empathy and the power of forgiveness take center stage in this poignant novel—now in paperback!—by the award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.

Getting in trouble is what Hector does best. He knows that not much is expected of him. In fact, he gets some of his most brilliant prank ideas while sitting in detention. But how far is too far? When Hector plays a prank on a homeless man and is seen and shamed by a schoolmate, he reaches a turning point. He wants to be viewed differently and decides to do something that will change his fate for the better. But will anyone take him seriously?

This moving story told with humor and heart presents readers with some recognizable characters, like a bully and a teacher’s pet, and introduces them to some they may not be so familiar with—like those who are homeless, who live on the street, and whose stories are equally meaningful and important. Readers will feel motivated to see the best in others and hopeful that bad things can be overcome with effort.

Onjali Q. Raúf is the founder and CEO of Making Herstory, a UK nonprofit that works to fight human trafficking and gender-based abuses and crimes. She is the author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, The Star Outside My Window, The Night Bus Hero, and Heroes Like Us: Two Stories. She lives in the UK.