This summer we are re-booting our Swift Summer reading club and our first selection will be 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."
{Sorry just got the book yesterday ><} Anyhow! When I first began to read Trash, I noticed Behala is sort of like a part of Panem (not sure if I spelled that right) in the Hunger Games because they would recreate our home in the states we know now to our 'destined future' of what it could end to be. I tend to feel this is leading up to some environmental warning in narrative form. When they mentioned 'pesos' in the book I thought it had something to do with Mexican currency dominating our currency here in the states. "I have to say, though: I'm a trash boy with style." That made my day and perspective more open about the rest of the book!
ReplyDeleteBrenda! Welcome! Thanks for starting us off on posting. It seems like you like the book which makes me happy because I LOVED it. (Accidentally read the whole thing.) I think your comparison between Behala and Panem (from Hunger Games) is very astute: both civilizations feature a group of people living in horrible conditions and taken advantage of by the ruling classes. The thing I liked about both books is that despite these difficulties the characters have hope, integrity, and they work hard to improve their condition.
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