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"Dumb" Orphans : The Bundu Bunch Trilogy
The Bundu Bunch orphans, a community headman, a peer of the realm, a national leader. Some are more dumb than others. Some are not dumb at all.
After losing their parents to the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa, Sipho and his fellow orphans cannot start school. Without an education, their prospects of escaping poverty are slim. Enter Aiyasha, the fifteen-year-old head of the orphan household. Aiyash uses her special talent to ensure her orphan charges receive the education they crave. But Aiyasha has a wider to promote social justice in her country where orphans will no longer have the “dumb” label attached to them.
Features of Oliver Twist, Robin Hood and Dick Whittington and His Cat play out in a contemporary African setting in this heartwarming and inspirational story.
“A charming and educational children’s book that inspires everyone to never give up, despite the odds.” Reedsy Discovery Team
“This is a story that has stayed with me since I devoured the book's pages. This book is written for young audiences, but I truly loved it as a 42-year-old. I recommend that all audiences read this story and let the words and simplistic illustrations inspire and teach them. The storytelling is so well done.” Amanda Renz.
“I did cry reading this book, a few times, tears of sadness at character deaths or misfortune and tears of joy for the moments of success and those heart-warming moments of bonding.” Romeo Aiyabei.
“An inspiring, emotional, heart-warming book that provides awareness and can hook you with suspense. I loved the comedic relief. It never failed to liven up the book and make me smile. I highly recommend it for pre-teens and teenagers, but it would be a great read for anyone.” Candra Contreras.
Synopsis
“Dumb” The Bundu Bunch Trilogy is a novel based on the real lives of victims of the deadliest global pandemic of our time. A group of left behind and left alone AIDS orphans are called “dumb” by others in their southern African community. They struggle to overcome this label and unfair treatment by their community headman.
In the first book, Sipho takes readers on a journey through the lives and interests of his six fellow orphans, all aged 5-7 and known collectively as the Bundu Bunch. The group faces discrimination from both the headman of their community and other children, who belittle them for being unable to spell their own names. Although they yearn for an education, the headman does not allow them to attend school because of their inability to pay the fees. Instead, the headman forces the children to work for him.
In the second book, Elah takes over as the narrator. Sipho and his sister Jabu found Elah as a baby abandoned by the river. Elah is in awe of the older orphans, the Bundu Bunch, and wonders if Aiyasha will ever be as proud of her as she is of them. Aiyasha’s success with her orphans offends the community headman. When she faces an attempt on her life two new friends from England help her and Elah to flee their country. Elah sees their situation as a grand adventure and relishes exploring unknown places. Their journey across Africa is a mixture of scary moments and enlightening experiences.
In the last book, Elah takes the narration to its conclusion. Aiyasha increasingly relies on Elah for her support and empathy as she manipulates her way to a powerful position in her own country of Initawse. Aiyasha implements pro-poor policies which are opposed by the privileged, who mount protests and demand that she is removed.
After losing their parents to the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa, Sipho and his fellow orphans cannot start school. Without an education, their prospects of escaping poverty are slim. Enter Aiyasha, the fifteen-year-old head of the orphan household. Aiyash uses her special talent to ensure her orphan charges receive the education they crave. But Aiyasha has a wider to promote social justice in her country where orphans will no longer have the “dumb” label attached to them.
Features of Oliver Twist, Robin Hood and Dick Whittington and His Cat play out in a contemporary African setting in this heartwarming and inspirational story.
“A charming and educational children’s book that inspires everyone to never give up, despite the odds.” Reedsy Discovery Team
“This is a story that has stayed with me since I devoured the book's pages. This book is written for young audiences, but I truly loved it as a 42-year-old. I recommend that all audiences read this story and let the words and simplistic illustrations inspire and teach them. The storytelling is so well done.” Amanda Renz.
“I did cry reading this book, a few times, tears of sadness at character deaths or misfortune and tears of joy for the moments of success and those heart-warming moments of bonding.” Romeo Aiyabei.
“An inspiring, emotional, heart-warming book that provides awareness and can hook you with suspense. I loved the comedic relief. It never failed to liven up the book and make me smile. I highly recommend it for pre-teens and teenagers, but it would be a great read for anyone.” Candra Contreras.
Synopsis
“Dumb” The Bundu Bunch Trilogy is a novel based on the real lives of victims of the deadliest global pandemic of our time. A group of left behind and left alone AIDS orphans are called “dumb” by others in their southern African community. They struggle to overcome this label and unfair treatment by their community headman.
In the first book, Sipho takes readers on a journey through the lives and interests of his six fellow orphans, all aged 5-7 and known collectively as the Bundu Bunch. The group faces discrimination from both the headman of their community and other children, who belittle them for being unable to spell their own names. Although they yearn for an education, the headman does not allow them to attend school because of their inability to pay the fees. Instead, the headman forces the children to work for him.
In the second book, Elah takes over as the narrator. Sipho and his sister Jabu found Elah as a baby abandoned by the river. Elah is in awe of the older orphans, the Bundu Bunch, and wonders if Aiyasha will ever be as proud of her as she is of them. Aiyasha’s success with her orphans offends the community headman. When she faces an attempt on her life two new friends from England help her and Elah to flee their country. Elah sees their situation as a grand adventure and relishes exploring unknown places. Their journey across Africa is a mixture of scary moments and enlightening experiences.
In the last book, Elah takes the narration to its conclusion. Aiyasha increasingly relies on Elah for her support and empathy as she manipulates her way to a powerful position in her own country of Initawse. Aiyasha implements pro-poor policies which are opposed by the privileged, who mount protests and demand that she is removed.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2022
21 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 13, 2025
Life
We never think of how different people's lives in other countries could be or are different. But in this book it tells u the good, the bad, and the success of some of the few that live in Africa and how a bunch of kids, even though it looked hopeless. They figured out how to survive and turn the bad into good. Not something I would expect but it does show if you put your mind fully into something no matter how hard, it will pay off in the end. I fully recommend this book, maybe it can motivate and change someone's life like it did the orphans in the book.
We never think of how different people's lives in other countries could be or are different. But in this book it tells u the good, the bad, and the success of some of the few that live in Africa and how a bunch of kids, even though it looked hopeless. They figured out how to survive and turn the bad into good. Not something I would expect but it does show if you put your mind fully into something no matter how hard, it will pay off in the end. I fully recommend this book, maybe it can motivate and change someone's life like it did the orphans in the book.
June 6, 2023
4.5. I loved this story. I think it's so important that real issues are highlighted in a way that children can understand. The only qualm I have is the timeline. It jumps ahead in irregular increments that are confusing to understand sometimes
April 19, 2024
The cover design is an intriguing, eye-catching, painting-style artwork that accurately depicts the story and two of the children. I like how the author added a link to an article about Lucky, a young man who was an orphan, like the characters in the story. The article is a nice introduction to the real-life aspects of the story that the author discusses in the novel. The pictures throughout the book are gorgeous, painting-like images that capture and complement the content nicely. The pictures are also a terrific visual aid for helping readers visualize the novel's characters, settings, and adventure. The novel contains all three volumes of the Bundu Bunch Trilogy. The three novels are neatly divided into three sections, making it easy for the reader to navigate to a given book in the series. The first book and portion are “Aiyasha's Bottomless Briefcase”, which serves as an excellent introduction to the series's characters, plot, and messages. I felt that I was able to truly understand each of the children's interests, as well as their qualities and personalities. The second segment, “Aiyasha's Appeal”, contained a variety of learning opportunities for both children and adults, as well as a wonderful story of hope, admiration, determination, and love for both blood and chosen family members. The learning opportunities include Africa's geography, ecosystem, animals, risks that individuals may experience in Africa, different African living styles, British and African school systems and education, athletics, government aid processes, friendship, family, and so on. The second segment also demonstrated excellent overall character growth for Elah and Aiyasha. The third section of the novel, “Aiyasha's Magical Legacy”, was an excellent finish to the series and novel, providing further learning opportunities, fantastic character development for all characters, and bringing the plotline full circle. Section three provides learning opportunities on classicism, the African school system, the good and bad of politics, health, life, equality, family, and perseverance. Despite a few errors, the novel's series was well-written and provides excellent learning for both children and adults, as well as a wonderful message that anyone can achieve great things, learn, and grow with the help of strength, determination, guidance, opportunities, good health, perseverance, good intentions, bravery, good people, a good heart, and an open mind.
One major flaw I discovered in the novel was that the children sounded like adults at times rather than five- to fifteen-year-olds. However, the author may have done this to demonstrate how orphaned children, like those in the novel, are often forced to mature earlier than most and must make adult decisions and perform adult jobs such as cooking and herding cattle, among other things.
One major flaw I discovered in the novel was that the children sounded like adults at times rather than five- to fifteen-year-olds. However, the author may have done this to demonstrate how orphaned children, like those in the novel, are often forced to mature earlier than most and must make adult decisions and perform adult jobs such as cooking and herding cattle, among other things.
December 23, 2024
In the shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Low lays bare a powerful story of loss, resilience, and the fight for dignity in his latest book. After losing their parents to the epidemic in Southern Africa, Sipho and his fellow orphans are left to confront a future without education. Their only hope lies with 15-year-old Aiyasha, the determined head of their household, who fights to secure schooling for the children while challenging the societal stigma surrounding orphanhood.
Low employs a first-person perspective to immerse readers in Sipho’s world. Through his innocent yet perceptive eyes, the brutal realities of orphanhood—longing for education, the struggle for daily sustenance, and the weight of societal indifference—are presented with raw honesty and emotional depth. The supporting characters, from the resourceful Aiyasha to the initially timid Samu, enrich the narrative, adding layers to the story’s emotional resonance. Set in the rural Bundami Valley of Africa, the story unfolds against a backdrop of natural beauty that starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by the orphans. This juxtaposition heightens the emotional impact as the characters navigate a world that is both stunning and unforgiving.
The narrative explores resilience, community support, and the transformative power of education while addressing systemic issues like poverty, neglect, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Elizabeth Sparg’s pencil illustrations further enhance the story, capturing key moments with warmth and subtlety. From the siblings’ shared laughter to the quiet solidarity of their “stoep” gatherings, these sketches deepen the emotional connection and draw readers further into the Bundu Bunch’s world. While aimed at younger readers, the book transcends the children's genre, delivering a universal message of hope. A powerful story of survival, family, and the fight for dignity in the face of adversity that makes for a must-read.
Low employs a first-person perspective to immerse readers in Sipho’s world. Through his innocent yet perceptive eyes, the brutal realities of orphanhood—longing for education, the struggle for daily sustenance, and the weight of societal indifference—are presented with raw honesty and emotional depth. The supporting characters, from the resourceful Aiyasha to the initially timid Samu, enrich the narrative, adding layers to the story’s emotional resonance. Set in the rural Bundami Valley of Africa, the story unfolds against a backdrop of natural beauty that starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by the orphans. This juxtaposition heightens the emotional impact as the characters navigate a world that is both stunning and unforgiving.
The narrative explores resilience, community support, and the transformative power of education while addressing systemic issues like poverty, neglect, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Elizabeth Sparg’s pencil illustrations further enhance the story, capturing key moments with warmth and subtlety. From the siblings’ shared laughter to the quiet solidarity of their “stoep” gatherings, these sketches deepen the emotional connection and draw readers further into the Bundu Bunch’s world. While aimed at younger readers, the book transcends the children's genre, delivering a universal message of hope. A powerful story of survival, family, and the fight for dignity in the face of adversity that makes for a must-read.
April 27, 2023
In the Bundami valley in Southern Africa, Meyego, the Head of Community, orders that Aiyasha, a fifteen year-old girl, takes care of 7 orphans of the community. These orphans call themselves the "Bundu Bunch", and despite the fact that they're called dumb because they couldn't attend local school and were solely dedicated to being farmhands, through their adventures and tales you'll come to realize that they were anything but dumb.
Although the plot objectively tells the tales that go from their discoveries of how to pull water from a different place to how they learned to read and sum, this book gently touches (subjectively) tough subjects like greed, poverty, hunger, injustice, international asylum, and many others. It also teaches a beautiful lesson about friendship, sense of community and belonging, about being humble and empathetic - a wonderful book to introduce such topics to children in a delicate and smooth way.
There were tears in my eyes in many passages of this book. You'll be surprised to realize that such a delicate and innocent story can touch you deep inside and make you put many things into perspective.
Although the plot objectively tells the tales that go from their discoveries of how to pull water from a different place to how they learned to read and sum, this book gently touches (subjectively) tough subjects like greed, poverty, hunger, injustice, international asylum, and many others. It also teaches a beautiful lesson about friendship, sense of community and belonging, about being humble and empathetic - a wonderful book to introduce such topics to children in a delicate and smooth way.
There were tears in my eyes in many passages of this book. You'll be surprised to realize that such a delicate and innocent story can touch you deep inside and make you put many things into perspective.
May 9, 2023
I was very interested in reading Dumb Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy from the moment I read the synopsis. This book follows the lives of eight orphans in Africa and the hardships they face while they fight for their basic rights. Aiyasha is merely fifteen at the start of the book and is tasked with caring for the other seven children, who refer to themselves as "The Bundu Bunch." As they are denied education due to lack of funds, she begins to teach them all she knows in secret. They are given a chance at a full time education later in the book, and the story shifts the focus to Elah, the youngest of the group as she flees with Aiyasha for a better life in England. I was so taken in by these children and the hardships they endured. They were all incredibly likeable characters that I rooted for and wanted to succeed. Their innocence and joy leapt from the pages and made me smile on more than one occasion. I was so pleased to see the events that happened to each of them as they grew into adults, and their accomplishments were interesting and inspiring. Overall, this book was captivating and very good and I definitely recommend it!
September 14, 2025
Dumb Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy by Allan Low is a compelling and moving story that explores the incredible strength and friendship of a group of AIDS orphans in southern Africa. The story follows Sipho, Elah, and Aiyasha as they fight poverty, abuse, and the hardships of their world. Low excels at character development; each character grows significantly, with Aiyasha’s strength as a caregiver and Elah’s transformation from a timid child to a determined traveler. The vivid African setting is masterfully brought to life, and the journey across continents to England becomes an adventure that reveals much about the characters as it entertains. Low’s storytelling is enriched by the gorgeous prose and thoughtful metaphors. This is a lovely tale packed with lessons and both young readers and older folk will enjoy it.
January 17, 2025
Mind catching read that kept me interested until the end. I did not expect what happens to one of the main characters. This is definitely a book full of events that will teach young individuals about the happenings in other parts of the world. I learned things myself therefore I give the book a 5/5.
February 26, 2025
'Dumb' Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy" by Allan Low is a book that should be recommended to all young readers. It is a heartwarming and compelling story that speaks to the power of positivity in the face of adversity, overcoming difficulties with limited resources, as well as the importance of self-advocacy, family and friendship. Mostly, it is a story about the privileged versus the poor and how to build the chasm between the two.
In three parts, the book chronicles the life and adventures of nine young orphans, seven of whom are siblings, living in Africa under dire circumstances. When the mother of the seven siblings dies of AIDS, they are forced to live in an "orphan hut" where they meet Aiyasha, the fifteen-year-old who takes them in and teaches them the importance of family, grit, determination and school. With Aiyasha as their friend, sister and leader, the orphans tackle obstacles in their community -- including the villainous community leader Meyego -- preventing them from obtaining schooling and basic resources. As the orphans grow up, they continue to face privileged individuals who try to prevent the orphans from obtaining their goals. The orphans, especially Aiyasha, wonder why the privileged and poor are so diametrically opposed and what can be done to bring them together and allow the poor to have access to the same resources as the privileged. This puzzle fuels the course each of the orphans take as they move through life.
A truly compelling and emotional story, "'Dumb' Orphans" is easy to read and engaging. The first part of the trilogy is the best, as it captures the emotional nature of what the orphans are experiencing in more profound ways than in the second two parts. For example, when the seven sibling orphans meet Aiyasha for the first time, the story transforms from being a sad story about children losing their mother to a story about being welcomed into a new family by another orphan who demonstrates positivity, strength and determination. It is perhaps the best scene in the book, showcasing how life-changing it can be to channel positivity in the face of sadness and heartbreak. The second two parts, which follow the orphans through their teenage and adult years, continue the important themes of grit, determination and perseverance through hard times. Descriptive in a way that is engaging for young readers, this book is very well-written with no typographical errors that I noticed.
The one knock on this book is that the second and third parts are not quite as emotionally compelling as the first part. It felt like the writing in the first part was more descriptive, whereas the second parts tell the story, which is a good story, but without as much flavor. The second and third parts are told from the perspective of the youngest orphan, Elah, adopted by the family at two-years-old when they find her abandoned by a river; whereas the first part is told from the perspective of Sipho, whose personality is a bit more interesting, so that might be why the second and third parts resonate differently.
Overall, this book deserves 4 out of 5 stars, mainly due to the slight difference in writing in part one versus parts two and three. A great book for young readers, it tells a captivating story while also teaching valuable life lessons. Rooting for the orphans to overcome their circumstances makes this a great page-turner.
In three parts, the book chronicles the life and adventures of nine young orphans, seven of whom are siblings, living in Africa under dire circumstances. When the mother of the seven siblings dies of AIDS, they are forced to live in an "orphan hut" where they meet Aiyasha, the fifteen-year-old who takes them in and teaches them the importance of family, grit, determination and school. With Aiyasha as their friend, sister and leader, the orphans tackle obstacles in their community -- including the villainous community leader Meyego -- preventing them from obtaining schooling and basic resources. As the orphans grow up, they continue to face privileged individuals who try to prevent the orphans from obtaining their goals. The orphans, especially Aiyasha, wonder why the privileged and poor are so diametrically opposed and what can be done to bring them together and allow the poor to have access to the same resources as the privileged. This puzzle fuels the course each of the orphans take as they move through life.
A truly compelling and emotional story, "'Dumb' Orphans" is easy to read and engaging. The first part of the trilogy is the best, as it captures the emotional nature of what the orphans are experiencing in more profound ways than in the second two parts. For example, when the seven sibling orphans meet Aiyasha for the first time, the story transforms from being a sad story about children losing their mother to a story about being welcomed into a new family by another orphan who demonstrates positivity, strength and determination. It is perhaps the best scene in the book, showcasing how life-changing it can be to channel positivity in the face of sadness and heartbreak. The second two parts, which follow the orphans through their teenage and adult years, continue the important themes of grit, determination and perseverance through hard times. Descriptive in a way that is engaging for young readers, this book is very well-written with no typographical errors that I noticed.
The one knock on this book is that the second and third parts are not quite as emotionally compelling as the first part. It felt like the writing in the first part was more descriptive, whereas the second parts tell the story, which is a good story, but without as much flavor. The second and third parts are told from the perspective of the youngest orphan, Elah, adopted by the family at two-years-old when they find her abandoned by a river; whereas the first part is told from the perspective of Sipho, whose personality is a bit more interesting, so that might be why the second and third parts resonate differently.
Overall, this book deserves 4 out of 5 stars, mainly due to the slight difference in writing in part one versus parts two and three. A great book for young readers, it tells a captivating story while also teaching valuable life lessons. Rooting for the orphans to overcome their circumstances makes this a great page-turner.
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February 3, 2023A very topical subject woven into an interesting saga. Through togetherness and courage the orphans overcome many obstacles and through their journey shed light on current issues such as the refugee experience.
February 9, 2025
very educational
I found this book hard to put down and very intriguing. It fisher me a lot about other countries I didn’t know and had some very thoughtful parts to it , very creative.
I found this book hard to put down and very intriguing. It fisher me a lot about other countries I didn’t know and had some very thoughtful parts to it , very creative.
May 15, 2024
Review to follow
October 30, 2025
This book reminds you that other countries circumstances can be worse, but that doesn’t stop you from achieving your goals or dreams.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews