Shortlisted for the prestigious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2011
Headlong and heart-stopping, this is an adventure you just can’t put down. When Raphael and Gardo find a bag among the piles of steaming rubbish which they spend all day everyday sorting through, they just think it is a good find. But soon the police arrive in their shanty town and it is not long before the boys and their friend the Rat are caught up in a terrifying, nail biting fight for survival as they try to unravel a mystery with the police hot on their heels. The boys and the few adults they have to involve tell their parts of the story picking up where each other left off and propelling the story forward at a great pace.
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.
Andy Mulligan was brought up in the south of London. He worked as a theatre director for ten years before travels in Asia prompted him to retrain as a teacher. He has taught English and drama in India, Brazil, the Philippines and the UK. He now divides his time between London and Manila.
