Book Review: The Bundu Bunch Get to Right Two Wrongs

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

An empowering story about a resilient few getting the sweetness they deserve

I dare you not to love these kids. The Bundu Bunch is a group of orphans who outsmarted their difficult situation in book one, and now they’re back at it showing they might be smart enough to conquer anything in book two.

Sipho, Monica, Jabu, and Jacob are the high-spirited four who make up the Bunch. But maybe now, after yet another stellar performance, I’d better include Pele, Jacob’s pet mongoose. In this story, the Bunch is wronged—twice.

Indvuna Meyego is a man who drops mealie pap off at their home. But it turns out, he could have been giving them even more than that tasteless meal. They find a smorgasbord of delicious foods on his truck, but nothing more exciting than sticky buns. Oh how they could taste the sweetness now! But when Monica asks if they could please have some, he tells them they’re for paying customers, “not for dumb orphans like you.”

If that wasn’t enough, they’re greeted the very next day with the man’s son, Samu, making up a song to his friends about how the orphans are dumb and like donkeys. So what are they to do? Just sit back and take it? Or reclaim what’s theirs—the sticky buns and their pride?

The Bundu Bunch Get to Right Two Wrongs is a welcome sequel. The first book got me so excited about meeting these resilient kids and seeing them exceed others’ and their own expectations. They’re a smart, proud bunch I felt happy to revisit for book two.

This story is a splashy one. Where they overcame the bully’s harshness in book one in a solution separate from them, this one they come right at him. And they eat the sweets they deserve in the process. I love how active and unafraid these characters are. As if they haven’t already been dealt a tough enough hand, they have to fight for themselves without adult help—together. Whether you’re coming to this book on its own or have had the privilege of reading that great first book, you’re going to love following these brave, big-hearted little people.

This book is a good length for its likely 4-7 year old readers, told with plenty of story, engaging art, and real relevant conflict. They do get a little sneaky, and the bullying language could be a bit triggering for some, but if you’ve got a little one who could benefit from seeing how a group of underprivileged kids fights against bullying and how they can too, this book couldn’t be a better fit. Sometimes you’ve got to be tough to get what you deserve and to overcome these bullies’ wrath.

I want you to read this book. I do. But I still want you to read book one first. Not necessarily because you and your kid won’t understand this one—because you will!—but because I want you to read this whole series. They’ve been great books so far, and they’d be excellent picks for readers who are ready to start believing in themselves.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of The Bunch Bunch Get to Right Two Wrongs by Allan Low! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: The Bundu Bunch Get to Right Two Wrongs appeared first on Independent Book Review.