Such Quiet Girls: A Thriller

📚Book Review📚 Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W Ihli Published: April 29, 2025 After experiencing multiple books from this author, I had such high hopes for this one... Particularly since it’s written around the July 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping. In short, the actual event involved the abduction of a school bus driver and the children (ages 5-14). They were placed inside an 8x16 storage container that was buried underneath a quarry and held for ransom. Though the book followed aspects of the true event, it wasn’t EXACTLY the same… there were many, but the main differences were the number of abducted children, their ages were slightly off, only one child escaped vs two, as well as it taking place in Idaho, rather than California. Like Ihli’s previous stories, her writing style is very clean and, through the use of short chapters, made it extremely easy to read. BUT, out of all the main characters, only the eldest child (who was 12ish), the bus driver (who had a dark past), and just one of the abductors kept your interest. All the other ‘important’ characters fell flat for me because they really had no contribution to the story. Although there were some unexpected twists, there wasn’t much excitement to keep you going. This caused the story to feel very slow and dragged out. The side story about the grandfather having Alzheimer’s just seemed oddly placed, although ‘needed’ for the GPS reference. I also feel as though parts of the story provided conflicting information, thus causing confusion and a disconnect with its readers. For instance, parts had unnecessary repetitive wording, when did the story take place, and the specific buried timeframe references… making it kind of unbelievable. The worst part was when the abductor said he provided them with food, water, makeshift toilets, mattresses, and a few flashlights so they could see…. yet, not once in the story, did it ever mention the use of the flashlights… they did EVERYTHING in pitch darkness. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, or maybe I was just spoiled after reading Ask For Andrea, but this book is not one that would pop out of my mouth as a recommendation. My rating is mostly based on the fact that it was based off of a true event, and that Ms. Jessa and Ted had interesting backgrounds to keep me reading. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A bus full of children were kidnapped along with their bus driver, Ms. Jessa. A bus driver with a colorful past. A bus driver who’s frozen and doesn’t know what to do because she couldn’t protect the children on the bus just like she couldn’t protect her own daughter from the violence she witnessed. All the kidnapped children were so afraid, but Sage is determined to get free. She did everything she could to break free of the underground dungeon they were placed in. Even if that meant disobeying an adult. Only one parent of the kidnapped children received a ransom note. One of the kidnappers is having second thoughts and wants to protect the children from the other kidnapper who wants to hurt them. Will Ms. Jessa snap out of it and help?? Will Sage have the strength to break free?? Will Sheena be able to get a the ransom money requested?? Will the kidnappers have a heart?? This was a good book. Definitely a tear jerker. It’s fast paced and the characters are likable. Even one of the kidnappers to be honest. I enjoyed the rebel energy in Sage and her strength to do whatever it takes to get free. Jessa was getting on my nerves for a while. She wasn’t angry enough for me. Her behavior was cowardly. Trigger warning if you’re claustrophobic and/or a mother as the book deals with kidnapped children. There’s also Alzheimer’s disease mentioned and dealt with in the chaos.

This book was sooooo good!!! First time reading anything from this author and I must say, if all their books are this good I have been severely sleeping on them. The pacing was on point, the different POVs each added to the story, and the ending was superb. I did both eye and ear reading as I didn’t want to put it down except to sleep. I stayed completely entertained and engaged in the story and this was a perfect read for me. Big kudos to Noelle Ihli!!!

Based on a true story so i was filled with goosebumps the entire time reading the book. I wish Jessa would have had more time with Soph at the end.

Really good, fast-paced book. The ending felt a little underwhelming. I guess I wanted to see more than two days after they got out of the bunker, how Jessa and the other kids acted with one another, if the parents showed Jessa love for keeping their kids safe, her and Sage reunited, what exactly happened with Ted and Andy... I just wish it were wrapped up a bit better. I also wondered why Sheena didn't go to the police as soon as she realized that no one was watching her. So proud of Sage and all the kiddos! It's heartbreaking to know this is based on a true story.