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2 Book Review: Beware the Back of the Bus 1&2 by Stefan Lind
Book 1
Two children go missing while traveling home on the school bus, but when their friends can’t remember what happened, how can they help them get home?
12 year old Sawee has just moved to Florida from Thailand, and when Evan, the tallest boy in her class, pushes her roughly on her first journey on the school bus, she naturally assumes he’s a bully. However, she soon learns that no one else who travels on bus 4711 can remember what happens inside it once they disembark, and Evan was trying to protect her, not harm her. There’s a portal to another world at the back of the bus, and the creatures that live there have already claimed two of the passengers. Could Sawee be the next to be taken?
This book is aimed at middle grade readers, but there’s plenty for adults to enjoy too. The culture clash between Thailand and Florida is well done, and Sawee is a refreshing heroine. Sawee’s friends are all very likeable, with distinct personalities and realistic behaviour. The plot is engaging, with just the right amount of scary for the age group. Lots of hints are given regarding important elements that I’m sure will be more prominent in future books.
I really liked this book. Sawee and Evan were my favourite characters. I loved Sawee’s Thai boxing and her intelligence. I admired Evan’s chivalry and strong character. I would love to have learned more about the world at the back of the bus. The only disappointment was finishing the book and not being able to start the second book immediately.
Book 2
Sawee and Evan are stuck in the Wherever, but what dangers await them in the world accessed through the back of the bus?
Following directly after the events of the first book, 12 year olds, Sawee and Evan, have journeyed to the Wherever to find their missing friends, Scott and Sita. What they find is a world of ice and darkness, where riders with glowing blue eyes hunt the frozen plains with their monstrous wolf like creatures. Exploring this new world, Sawee is reminded of a myth from her childhood, but with time moving much faster in the Wherever than in their home world, can they ever hope to return to their families?
The second book in the series continues to develop the excellent characters of Sawee and Evan. Sawee’s Thai heritage continues to help her survive and make sense of what’s going on. She is a wonderful resourceful character, who is physically strong, intelligent and kind. Evan is likewise intelligent and courageous, if at times a bit clueless.
The Wherever is a fascinating place, and I enjoyed the link to the myth of Ramakien. I look forward to reading how this develops in book 3.
I loved the first book, but book 2 earns an extra star for the imaginative setting of the Wherever, the engaging characters and a thrilling cliffhanger ending. I hope I don’t have long to wait for the next book in the series.