The Lost Bus: Inside Paul Greengrass's Survival Drama and the True Story of the Camp Fire

By Holloway Ashford

The Lost Bus: Inside Paul Greengrass's Survival Drama and the True Story of the Camp Fire

When flames closed in on a small California town, one bus became the only hope for survival.

The Lost Bus takes readers deep inside Paul Greengrass's gripping 2025 survival drama and the real-life events that inspired it-the harrowing true story of the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history. Based on Lizzie Johnson's acclaimed book Paradise, the film follows bus driver Kevin McKay and teacher Mary Ludwig as they fight to save twenty-two children from the inferno.

This book is the definitive companion to the film, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how Greengrass, writer Brad Ingelsby, and a powerhouse cast led by Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera transformed a true American tragedy into powerful cinema. With detailed chapters on the production, themes, cast, real-life heroes, and Apple's awards-season strategy, The Lost Bus is both a film guide and a remembrance of the lives forever changed by the fire.

More than a survival thriller, this is a story about courage, resilience, and accountability-an exploration of how ordinary people faced extraordinary circumstances, and how their choices continue to echo in our climate-challenged world today.

Perfect for fans of survival dramas, behind-the-scenes film books, and readers drawn to true stories of human resilience, The Lost Bus is a moving tribute to Paradise and a powerful reflection on the lessons we must carry forward.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FQ34BHMN
• ISBN13: 9798263763749
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"