Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it.
Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael�s world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It�s a bag of clues. It�s a bag of hope. It�s a bag that will change everything.
Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking, fast-talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man�s mission to put right a terrible wrong.
And now it's three street-boys against the world...
A great thriller with an ending that I absolutely loved and one I would recommend for boys and girls both young and old. This is one of those stories that makes you question what is really important and will make you feel grateful for the things you have. A thought provoking and fun read that will take you on an emotional roller coaster and I'm looking forward to reading more from Andy Mulligan.
Sarah's Book Reviews
Every now and then a book sneaks up on the unsuspecting public, with very little fanfare, and hits you where it hurts the most - in the heart. Trash is one such book
Book Zone 4 Boys
Headlong and heart-stopping, this is an adventure you just can�t put down.
Julia EccleshareLove Reading 4 Kids
There is danger, and action, and periods of lying low- the tension is well developed and the climax gloriously appropriate. This was a very exciting read, and I certainly recommend it.
Diana BarnesWrite Away
An extremely good book
Evie (age 13)Chicklish
Trash is such a heartfelt and poignant book to read. It makes you think about injustice and poverty. It makes you realise how different your own life is to so many other peoples all across the world. But above all, it is a gripping mystery which keeps you guessing until the very end.
The Bookette
In alternating and tightly paced points of view, supplemented by occasional other voices, the boys relate the intrigue in which they're quickly enmeshed. It all adds up to a cracker of a thriller. , a zippy and classic briefcase-full-of-money thrill ride.
Kirkus Review USA
Harrowing, exhilarating, humbling and quite brilliant
The Bookseller
This book had me hooked. If I had to describe it in three words I would probably describe it as a 'feel-good book'. The change in narratives meant it never grew dull and everything written was relevant to the plot. You have to read this book if only for the ending. I finished reading this book with a smile on my face.
Another Book Blog Whore
Wonderful - an exciting story with engaging characters told in a clever way with spare but lyrical prose. And underneath it all is a seam of social comment that isn't in the least bit tub-thumpy but that does bring awareness and a real understanding of life for dumpsite children across the world. Trash comes highly recommended by me, and I don't have time to say any more about it because I'm off to read it again. And after that, I might read it again. And then again. You read it too.
Jill MurphyThe Bookbag
Full of mystery and intrigue, Trash is a page-turning tale of corruption and cunning and valour...For a relatively slim volume, this is a book with major impact. It's a book that forges an emotional bond with the reader; a book that, if you're anything like me, will draw you in and make you care - really care - about the outcome.Trash expands our worldview and pushes the limits of our experience. It's gripping and humbling and filled with lifelike characters you'll take to your heart. It's an amazing journey. I loved it, and I'd urge anyone to pick up a copy. This one's unforgettable.
I Was A Teenage Book Geek
I absolutely loved this book! A great storyline that will keep you hooked...The characters and their situation stayed with me for a long time after I had finished this book and I think that everybody should read this amazing, awe-inspiring, thought-provoking novel!
Chrissie's Corner
If you read one book this year, just a single one, make sure you read Trash...it is a book which you will enjoy reading, where you will learn things and which will make you think. We definitely need more books like this.
Portrait of a Woman
Andy Mulligan has moved from the English countryside to a Latin American slum for his follow up to the school story Ribblestrop. TRASH is a thriller with moral weight and a complex structure�.. Without ever moralising, Mulligan raises issues of corruption, poverty, waste and excess in an exciting, but also grimly sad tale.
Suzi FeayThe Financial Times
Trash is, quite simply, one of the best books of the year. The buzz about it is incredible and it really does live up to the hype. It�s a truly unique novel and I can guarantee you won�t have read anything like it before. It will stay with you for weeks after reading � I still haven�t forgotten one detail and I can�t help but keep rereading it. The story is so complete and perfectly executed; you can�t get to the end of this one without being moved...Mulligan has such a beautiful way with words and a great turn of phrase, everything flows so perfectly and it�s so hard to put Trash down half way through the story. As soon as the pace slows enough for you to catch your breath you�re rocketing forward again. Brilliant. Truly exciting stuff I can assure you.
Writing from the Tub
This isn�t a comfortable book, in the sense that it doesn�t hide behind its fiction. These three boys live an upsetting life, and this is true of children in Latin-American countries. We are forced to address this issue throughout and I read the book humbled and very keen to read more from Andy Mulligan. If you want a book that will stay with you and mean something to you, then I would highly recommend this.
5 Minutes Peace Blog
a heart capturing tale
Nayu's Reading Corner: http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/09/trash-by-andy-mulligan.html
This is an intriguing teenage read with some important environmental messages in it.
PDBury Free Press Series
There is so much to admire in this story that it is hard to know where to start! ... It is not often that such important messages are wrapped up in such a genuinely thrilling adventure.
http://www.readingzone.com/index.php?zone=sz&page=book&isbn=9780385619011
Its appeal lies in its ability to make you fall in love with the characters, and assist them on an exciting, unpredictable journey of hopes and dreams.
Wondrous Reads
Andy Mulligan has created something stunning, it's beautifully written, captivating and very entertaining. I love how you never know what is going to happen until it's actually happened - bits and pieces being revealed as the story continues. Each moment has been placed with care on Mulligan's part and makes for a fantastic reading experience.
Empire of Books
The story has an infectious energy...This is a highly entertaining and very satisfying book which should be recommended to all. It needs to be read.
Marilyn BrocklehurstThe Bookseller
Outstanding, hotly anticipated thriller...an exceptionally satisfying plot.
Amanda CraigThe Times
Get Trash and get reading.
The Bookwitch
Fast paced and brilliant, this is a book about a country fighting corruption and making right a terrible wrong. Mulligan has written something great. You simply must read it!
Askews Library Service
I really loved this book, as it had all the ingredients required to make a good read - a great original story fraught with danger and good central characters that you warm to, wanting to ensure the best for them through the story. The book also has a strong cultural element based upon the author's extensive travels - a hint of life in the Philippines that ensures its appeal and authenticity. This is a sure fire read and I certainly look forward to another book from Andy soon.
Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books
Once things start happening you cannot put it down because you are following a quest... I had to finish this book in one sitting
My Child
�
