SOLVED. YA Fiction. Teens on bus are kidnapped by terrorists in North Africa or West Asia. One captor is named Mastafa and he's friendly. Read in 1980s/early 1990s. [s]

[Critterbee❇]

Read in the 1980s or early 1990s, YA book with children kidnapped from a bus, somewhere in North Africa or West Asia. One of the youths hides his passport between the seat and wall of the bus. I remember the people who were trying to rescue them, which included their parents, mentioned that the kids were'using their heads' because of the hidden passport. The pov switched between the kidnapped youths and those trying to rescue them.

One of their captors is named Mustafa, and he is friendly, but then when Mustafa is bringing them food, the children ask him if they are in Egypt, and he doesn't answer and then the captors don't let the children interact with him. There is a language barrier. I don't remember much about this book.

I don't remember there being super graphic violence.

[Rainbowheart]

After the First Death?

[Critterbee❇]

Thanks for the quick response!

I looked at that title, and it is similar, but not the same. Not as dark, I believe, but that is the right area.

[Rainbowheart]

Might want to check this thread....

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Lots more suggestions there.

[Critterbee❇]

Thanks for the link!

[Critterbee❇]

I remember the boy who hid his passport on the bus was Jewish, and there were girls and boys (teens) on the bus.

[Kris]

Critterbee, I added some details to the header/topic title. You can update it by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or app. (On the Mobile website, click the "Desktop version" link at the bottom of the page.)

[Andria]

Pretty sure this is Captives In A Foreign Land. One of the kidnappers is "Mustapha"

[Critterbee❇]

Andria wrote: "Pretty sure this is Captives In A Foreign Land. One of the kidnappers is "Mustapha""

It could very well be this - I am going to ILL it to see for sure, it has been ages. Sounds correct, though - thank you!!!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Did you move this to Solved? If you move a thread to Solved, you need to let us know with a new comment, otherwise we won't see it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response. Shelving book as it seems to be the correct solution.