Would you live in a pile of rubbish to become a king?

Trash

Written by: Andy Mulligan

Published by: David Fickling Books @DFB_storyhouse

Published on: June 2014

Price: £7.99

First line: My name is Raphael Fernández and I am a dumpsite boy.

Genre: Modern

Thanks to my local library for the review copy.

What’s it all about? This is the story of three boys who live on a made up (but based on a real place) dump site on the outskirts of the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Their lives are generally dull, dangerous, dead-ended and full of ‘stupp’: the poo that people throw out, because they don’t have a flush toilet. However, one day they discover a bag full of money, photos and a key. Without knowing the full consequences that will be stowed upon them, they share out the money and keep the key. Soon, the corrupt police are all over the place where they live looking for the bag. But they decide, it’s fate giving them a hand and they decide to keep it and find out the story of the key themselves!

Why should I read it? A heart-renching story of children that live day-by-day scouring through rubbish as soon as they can walk. A magical moment lifts there’s and the reader’s hearts. The story tells of friendship so close it could be family; patience and perseverance that lasts years and years; and the come-upance that must happen to those that make bad choices. I liked how the story is like a memoir, written by the three boys explaining as a narrator what happened to them. They each take it in turns to explain parts of the story that they know best. The characters are deep and meaningful. You tend to connect and sympathise with Raphael most, perhaps because you meet him first, or perhaps because he is ‘weaker’ or more sensitive than the other two. You admire Gardo for his strength and bravery and you marvel at ‘Rat’ and his strength of character in life. Their camaraderie  is wonderful to read. I read a review that said the story was slow. To me it was nothing but. I could hardly put it down. A bit like the short chapters in The Da Vinci Code, this story rattles along at a great pace, and you really want to find out the whole story of the key with all its twists and turns. Some people have called it similar to Slumdog Millionaire, and I can see that, with its rags to riches tail. Some great life lessons told it this book. It really is inspiring and up lifting.