Book Review: Greyhound by Steffan Piper

Greyhound
Steffan Piper
AmazonEncore, April 2010
ISBN 0982555091
Trade Paperback

“Greyhound” opens in the darkest hours of the night. Sebastien can’t sleep and soon, he’ll be leaving. His Mother’s getting married for the umpteenth time and he’s not even invited to this ceremony. Dick, the groom du jour, doesn’t like kids and it’s apparent from the hits he’s inflicted on Sebastien.

The couple needs some ‘alone time.’ So, his Mother’s packing him up on a Greyhound bus at 3:00 AM to ride from Stockton, CA to Altoona, PA where he will visit his grandparents. His mom gives him $35 and tells him to stay out of trouble. By the time he’s boarded, there’s not even anyone to wave goodbye to in the bus terminal. Thus, begins a cross-country odyssey for young Sebastien that will keep you turning pages through the night as the highway flies by beneath the bus’s tires.

I first read Steffan Piper’s extraordinary “Greyhound” when it was submitted for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards (ABNA) contest in 2008. Every time I’ve seen a Greyhound bus passing on the highway, I’ve thought of Sebastien Rane or perhaps a kid like him riding alone…Yes, the story’s that extraordinary.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, May 2010.

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May 19, 2010  Tags: ,   Posted in: Full Reviews

2 Responses

  1. Steffan Piper - May 23, 2010

    I just stumbled upon your blog and I wanted to say thank you for such a kind and warm review of my book. I’m very pleased you both read and enjoyed Greyhound. Many thanks for taking the time.

    All the best …
    Steffan

  2. Lelia - May 23, 2010

    Thank you, Steffan—I’ll make sure Rebecca sees your message.

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