Trash

by Andy Mulligan

In an unnamed Third World country, in the not-so-distant future, three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city.

One unlucky-lucky day, Raphael finds something very special and very mysterious. So mysterious that he decides to keep it, even when the city police offer a handsome reward for its return. That decision brings with it terrifying consequences, and soon the dumpsite boys must use all of their cunning and courage to stay ahead of their pursuers. It’s up to Raphael, Gardo, and Rat—boys who have no education, no parents, no homes, and no money—to solve the mystery and right a terrible wrong.

Andy Mulligan has written a powerful story about unthinkable poverty—and the kind of hope and determination that can transcend it. With twists and turns, unrelenting action, and deep, raw emotion, Trash is a heart-pounding, breath-holding novel.

• ISBN10: 0385752164
• ISBN13: 9780385752169
• Publish Date: 11 October 2011 (first published 1 January 2010)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Ember
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 240
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780385752169

Reviews

[nannah]

This book was okay, it had a really good message, a fantastic setting, and intriguing characters, but I think the execution took me out of the story most of the time.

Most of all it's the multiple POV's that bug me. Normally I don't actually mind multiple POV's, but only when they're done well and they actually contribute to the story in some way. The POV's here seemed almost random, and I feel the idea wasn't introduced as early as it should have, to get me acquainted with the idea. Also, the POV's didn't have a consistent or even separate voices, they all were written more or less the same as the others, despite that one of the storytellers was one of the dumpsite kids and another an educated person from a different country. There were very, very few indications of voice. And sometimes the boys would use really formal language that removed me from the scene.

The setting though, is phenomenal. I think that's what really shined in this book. I could imagine everything perfectly, in all its stinking and hideous glory. I loved that Mulligan didn't soften any details down, he didn't lessen the poverty or the filth in which the three main boys lived.

But all in all, an okay read. I wasn't particularly drawn into the storyline but the setting and the boys kept me reading.