Trash
Andy Mulligan, Random/Fickling, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-385-75214-5
Fourteen-year-old "dumpsite boy" Raphael has never found anything valuable in the trash mounds he has combed over since age three. At least not until he unearths a leather bag containing a map, wallet, and key. Keeping his discovery secret from the police, who quickly come looking for the bag, Raphael goes in search of the key's locker, with two friends in tow. Soon they are in the middle of a suspenseful mission involving a secret code, a corrupt politician, and a search for six million stolen dollars. The three
authentic boys at the heart of this well-constructed debut novel—sweet Raphael, serious Gardo, and spirited Rat—take turns narrating most of their story (though other voices are also heard); in distinct voices, they provide harrowing details about their lives in the dump. This gripping book engages readers both as an adventure and as a social justice story; clues suggest that it's set in a Third World Latin American country. The story wraps a bit neatly, but readers will be satisfied by the cinematic conclusion and the noble decision the heroes make. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)
Details
Reviewed on: 10/04/2010
Genre: Children's
Compact Disc - 978-0-307-74677-1
Downloadable Audio - 978-0-307-74680-1
Hardcover - 232 pages - 978-1-4517-3406-5
Library Binding - 232 pages - 978-0-385-75215-2
Open Ebook - 224 pages - 978-1-4090-9811-9
Open Ebook - 129 pages - 978-0-375-89843-3
Paperback - 228 pages - 978-986-213-336-1
Paperback - 215 pages - 978-1-84992-056-8
Paperback - 240 pages - 978-1-909531-33-8
Paperback - 224 pages - 978-1-909531-13-0
Pre-Recorded Audio Player - 978-1-61587-584-9
Prebound-Glued - 232 pages - 978-1-61383-355-1