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Hope for Garbage
Welcome to the cruel world of Trevor McNulty. No matter how hard he tries, this seventeen year-old just can’t get a break. Through no fault of his own, he finds himself living with his alcoholic uncle on the outskirts of Cleveland. His days are filled with garbage-picking and hanging out with his seventy year-old neighbor, who also happens to be his best friend.
One early morning while scanning the streets in a posh suburb, he meets Bea, a rebellious rich girl with problems of her own. She’s smart, cute, and a glimmer of light in his dark world.
But in the midst of their budding romance, Bea’s beautiful mother enters the picture with an agenda of her own. She sets off a chain of events so shocking and destructive, Trevor's crazy life soon becomes more than he can handle. While he is desperate to save his relationship with Bea, he learns that nothing in his world can be saved unless he first saves himself.
Hope for Garbage is a story about resilience—about overcoming adversity under the most extraordinary circumstances—about never, ever, giving up hope.
Because sooner or later, everybody gets a break.
One early morning while scanning the streets in a posh suburb, he meets Bea, a rebellious rich girl with problems of her own. She’s smart, cute, and a glimmer of light in his dark world.
But in the midst of their budding romance, Bea’s beautiful mother enters the picture with an agenda of her own. She sets off a chain of events so shocking and destructive, Trevor's crazy life soon becomes more than he can handle. While he is desperate to save his relationship with Bea, he learns that nothing in his world can be saved unless he first saves himself.
Hope for Garbage is a story about resilience—about overcoming adversity under the most extraordinary circumstances—about never, ever, giving up hope.
Because sooner or later, everybody gets a break.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
418 people are currently reading
4445 people want to read
About the author
Alex Tully
3 books221 followersAlex Tully lives outside Cleveland with her husband, two young adults, and a three-legged pooch named Bobo. Twenty years ago, her life took a dramatic turn with a diagnosis of MS. She decided to quit her career as a finance professional and try something she truly loved ~ writing.
She is the author of three feel-good novels:
Hope for Garbage, Beautiful Chaos,
and The Lake Never Tells.
All of her stories feature ordinary characters who overcome extraordinary challenges with friendship, hope, and the incredible power of the human spirit.
Her hope is that readers will smile after turning the last page.
alextullywriter.com
She is the author of three feel-good novels:
Hope for Garbage, Beautiful Chaos,
and The Lake Never Tells.
All of her stories feature ordinary characters who overcome extraordinary challenges with friendship, hope, and the incredible power of the human spirit.
Her hope is that readers will smile after turning the last page.
alextullywriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
August 20, 2016
Revised rating 2.5. I have a number of issues with this story, but first let me say, the plot kept my attention. I wanted to know what happened to Trevor and the author did an excellent job of stringing me along. I was also fond of the characters, Lorene, Mr. T, and Trevor. I never really did take to Bea nor miss her much when she left the story.
But ...
1) There were too many points of view. I asked myself through the entire novel why the author chose to include the POV of sub-characters. Yes, it worked somewhat, but I still feel by focusing on Trevor, it would have been a better novel.
2) There was WAY too much cursing and frankly, it wasn't necessary. I am aware people curse, but it is rarely ever needed in a YA story. This would have been so much cleaner for young people without it.
Which brings me to point 3.
3) It is written as YA. It flows well in reading. I found no spelling or grammar issues. I think young people will be drawn to the cover and the storyline and want to read it. However, the content, though the ending was hopeful, was way too intense for young people. Yes, kids do have lives as awful as Trevor. No, I don't think we should shield ourselves from the issues. I do feel authors need to be very careful what they want young kids to read. For content alone, I would not let anyone under 16 read this book. Because of the constant cursing, I'd make that higher, more 18.
That said, nothing was too graphic. There was sex mentioned, but not described. There was violence described, but not so much you couldn't make it through it. The ending was touching and happy, which is a big plus. A lot was said about environmental issues along the way, but not so much I couldn't stomach it.
Overall, I hesitate to completely recommend, but given you have an open mind and are aware of the issues in the story in advance, it will be an enjoyable read.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS & SPOILER
After sleeping on it, I discovered I was really disturbed by the ending of this book and felt it so strongly I had to return and leave a note regarding the relationship of Trevor, a 17 year old, with Bea's mother. It was beyond inappropriate and I am appalled that no adult in the story bothered to do anything about it, including a professional therapist who should have been more than alarmed and Lorene, who I genuinely liked. I am also bothered by the ending in which the author did not really say directly what happened between them but left the reader wondering and sort of "laughed it off". There is nothing funny about sexual conduct of that nature, nor should all teenage boys be pictured as willing to go through with an affair with an older woman. I'm confident many were raised better. For this reason I have lowered my overall review an entire point, to 2.5.
But ...
1) There were too many points of view. I asked myself through the entire novel why the author chose to include the POV of sub-characters. Yes, it worked somewhat, but I still feel by focusing on Trevor, it would have been a better novel.
2) There was WAY too much cursing and frankly, it wasn't necessary. I am aware people curse, but it is rarely ever needed in a YA story. This would have been so much cleaner for young people without it.
Which brings me to point 3.
3) It is written as YA. It flows well in reading. I found no spelling or grammar issues. I think young people will be drawn to the cover and the storyline and want to read it. However, the content, though the ending was hopeful, was way too intense for young people. Yes, kids do have lives as awful as Trevor. No, I don't think we should shield ourselves from the issues. I do feel authors need to be very careful what they want young kids to read. For content alone, I would not let anyone under 16 read this book. Because of the constant cursing, I'd make that higher, more 18.
That said, nothing was too graphic. There was sex mentioned, but not described. There was violence described, but not so much you couldn't make it through it. The ending was touching and happy, which is a big plus. A lot was said about environmental issues along the way, but not so much I couldn't stomach it.
Overall, I hesitate to completely recommend, but given you have an open mind and are aware of the issues in the story in advance, it will be an enjoyable read.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS & SPOILER
After sleeping on it, I discovered I was really disturbed by the ending of this book and felt it so strongly I had to return and leave a note regarding the relationship of Trevor, a 17 year old, with Bea's mother. It was beyond inappropriate and I am appalled that no adult in the story bothered to do anything about it, including a professional therapist who should have been more than alarmed and Lorene, who I genuinely liked. I am also bothered by the ending in which the author did not really say directly what happened between them but left the reader wondering and sort of "laughed it off". There is nothing funny about sexual conduct of that nature, nor should all teenage boys be pictured as willing to go through with an affair with an older woman. I'm confident many were raised better. For this reason I have lowered my overall review an entire point, to 2.5.
June 19, 2014
My usual staple of novels consists of sci-fi and fantasy; while now and again I’ll try what I think of as mainstream fiction. Most of the time these books feel like my favoured genre with all the best bits taken out. ‘Hope for Garbage’ is possibly one of the best ‘mainstream’ novels I’ve read in a very long time.
I was quite unprepared for how the characters and plot would go from a charming story of young love between the Selfless Trevor and the un-cliché’ like Bea, to the tragic narrative of loss. Rarely has a book ever been able to pull at my heart strings so strongly. ‘Hope for Garbage’ is at moments funny, and then so sad, that I had to stop reading for a moment for fear of crying in a public place. It is also very insightful and an extremely satisfying read. This is all due to the incredible writing talent of Alex Tully. She is a master story teller in the truest sense of the word.
I told my wife about how amazing this book was, who was surprised to see me reading something different than the above mentioned genres. She asked me, if she thought it was worth recommending it to the book-club, she is a part of. I had no hesitation in replying, that she they would be hard pressed to find a book, as moving and as satisfying to read as ‘Hope For Garbage.’
I was quite unprepared for how the characters and plot would go from a charming story of young love between the Selfless Trevor and the un-cliché’ like Bea, to the tragic narrative of loss. Rarely has a book ever been able to pull at my heart strings so strongly. ‘Hope for Garbage’ is at moments funny, and then so sad, that I had to stop reading for a moment for fear of crying in a public place. It is also very insightful and an extremely satisfying read. This is all due to the incredible writing talent of Alex Tully. She is a master story teller in the truest sense of the word.
I told my wife about how amazing this book was, who was surprised to see me reading something different than the above mentioned genres. She asked me, if she thought it was worth recommending it to the book-club, she is a part of. I had no hesitation in replying, that she they would be hard pressed to find a book, as moving and as satisfying to read as ‘Hope For Garbage.’
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March 7, 2018Hope for Garbage
This is the new cover for Hope for Garbage! After receiving a lot of helpful feedback, I decided to change the cover to something more telling of the actual story. I loved the old one, but I think this story needed something less 'abstract'.
Apparently you can't change the cover on Goodreads without issuing a whole new edition with a new ISBN...
Anyway, hopefully the new cover shows up somewhere :)The book itself is unchanged!
Alex Tully
This is the new cover for Hope for Garbage! After receiving a lot of helpful feedback, I decided to change the cover to something more telling of the actual story. I loved the old one, but I think this story needed something less 'abstract'.
Apparently you can't change the cover on Goodreads without issuing a whole new edition with a new ISBN...
Anyway, hopefully the new cover shows up somewhere :)The book itself is unchanged!
Alex Tully
October 17, 2014
Fast paced, short but packed full
This book was a quick read for me. it revolves around 17 year old Trevor who has had a shitty hand dealt in his life. His 2 saving graces are his next door neighbor Mr. T and the box- which is his garage where he fixes and restores trash people throw out. It is where picking for "garbage" he meets Bea , a girl from the wealthy part of Cleveland and they immediately form a bond. Then one night something happens regarding Bea's mom that changes everything. This book deals with the loss of Trevor's family which is heartbreaking and something he always blamed himself for, his relationship with Loreanne - Bea's housekeeper, and the complications that came from a spur of the moment bad decision. This debut book showed the spirit, fight, strength and forgiveness of a much wiser than his years kid and how he rose from horrible conditions and overcame it
This book was a quick read for me. it revolves around 17 year old Trevor who has had a shitty hand dealt in his life. His 2 saving graces are his next door neighbor Mr. T and the box- which is his garage where he fixes and restores trash people throw out. It is where picking for "garbage" he meets Bea , a girl from the wealthy part of Cleveland and they immediately form a bond. Then one night something happens regarding Bea's mom that changes everything. This book deals with the loss of Trevor's family which is heartbreaking and something he always blamed himself for, his relationship with Loreanne - Bea's housekeeper, and the complications that came from a spur of the moment bad decision. This debut book showed the spirit, fight, strength and forgiveness of a much wiser than his years kid and how he rose from horrible conditions and overcame it
June 17, 2015
A beautiful story, where the lead pair doesn't end up being together and where such an unusual end doesn't prove to be much of a shocker either.
After everything that Bea Stewart's mother did to Trevor McNulty, Bea's first crush- a garbage collector, I honestly didn't expect Bea to reconcile with him. They parted ways more amicably than I expected.
Trevor is a very resilient character. Trevor's relationship with his neighbor, Mr. T is an extraordinary one! After all the heartbreak that he'd been through, he came back with a zeal to start his life anew. A great inspiration to all those who refuse to be contented with what they have!
This story is wonderfully written and only those who read it would've understood what 'hope' in the title means- that even garbage has hope to become something better, to take a new shape and alter people's views on it, altogether! So, I will give this book no less than five stars!
After everything that Bea Stewart's mother did to Trevor McNulty, Bea's first crush- a garbage collector, I honestly didn't expect Bea to reconcile with him. They parted ways more amicably than I expected.
Trevor is a very resilient character. Trevor's relationship with his neighbor, Mr. T is an extraordinary one! After all the heartbreak that he'd been through, he came back with a zeal to start his life anew. A great inspiration to all those who refuse to be contented with what they have!
This story is wonderfully written and only those who read it would've understood what 'hope' in the title means- that even garbage has hope to become something better, to take a new shape and alter people's views on it, altogether! So, I will give this book no less than five stars!
November 25, 2015
The book was strictly an average read.Even though the story was good,I couldn't really feel for all the characters.The characters did not show any growth throughout the book Trevor being the only exception.The ending dissolved all the likeness I had developed for Trevor's character.The ending seriously did not work for me and left a bad taste in my mouth.
May 12, 2015
Ugh. A bit melodramatic for a very short story. Too many characters and the ending is such a huge disappointment. Not for me.
June 4, 2017
Okay I loved this book and cried most the way through it. Then author ruined book for me in last 13 or so paragraphs. I know kids will be kids but come on that's a serious subject among the many other serious subjects in the book and author just threw it out there and pushed the subject or grown adult women with young teen boys to the side with laughter. Seriously! I was so ready until that point to rave about this book and give it a 5. Destroyed in a few paragraphs. Sad and for what shock value?
July 25, 2014
This story is an awesome tale of how a young man moves on from tragedy, discovers the value of his talents, and acquires the unequivocal fortune of friendship. It is also a story of the struggles of his private personal guilt. Young Trevor McNulty has to move in with his abusive alcoholic Uncle after a mysterious occurrence surrounding his mother, no one will talk about. Trevor spends all of his time in a run-down garage at the back of his house he calls “The Box.” Trevor has no friends and his uncle is his only family, until Trevor meets Mr. T. Mr. T. is the elderly neighbor that takes Trevor under his wing and becomes the grandfather and best friend Trevor never had. During the course of this book, poor unfortunate Trevor just can’t catch a break. He endures so much tragedy that I found my heart breaking for him. I couldn't help but love and admire this kid. His heart is not only in the right place, it is large and generous. Alex Tully was not focused so much on the mistreatment Trevor endured, but instead on a survivor's way of overcoming such a terrible upbringing. Everyone from all walks of life whether born into a good healthy upbringing or bad one; can benefit from reading this book, in that it teaches you how humanity can be achieved despite what you were taught or not taught by your parents. I truly believe this book should be the next on Oprah’s reading list, and see nothing but great things for this author. Well done Alex Tully!
December 6, 2014
Yes, something good can come from the most hopeless cases…What others might consider trash can be something useful for another. The simile is not lost here: Trevor and his garbage. Trevor is a teenager who by all accounts is a lost case, having lived a life not even imaginable for an adult and yet, he never used his circumstances in life as an excuse to not do well. Aside from being a student, he finds comfort in garbage picking and transforming other people’s trash into something useful. Mind you, he does not profit from what he does… He donates and gives, rather than sell.
For a debut novel, Alex Tully did well. However simple, I like how stories such as this warm the heart, give hope, and offer assurance that not all is lost in our world.
For a debut novel, Alex Tully did well. However simple, I like how stories such as this warm the heart, give hope, and offer assurance that not all is lost in our world.
April 23, 2015
This book was so good that I can't stress enough how viable it is, especially at a time when we are faced with ongoing atrocities going on in the world today. It sure is inspiring to read something so wonderful! At the premise of this book is hope and kindness ~ regardless of your situation in life. I cried, I laughed, and most of all I was impacted for the better. Kudos to a first time author whose future works I look forward to reading. ***Going into the details of this book, beyond the general description, would give away spoilers which would ruin the experience for the potential reader.***
May 1, 2015
OMG, this has to be one of the best debut novels that I have read in a long time. Even though my heart broke constantly for Trevor, I could not give up hope and I could not stop reading the book. It was refreshing to read of such strength and integrity from one who had been through so much. There were a couple of times I was really worried about him while I was reading.
I give this book 5***** and wish that teenagers and young adults would all read this book. There is so much inspiration that could be found in this book. I will be recommending this book to as many people as I can.
I give this book 5***** and wish that teenagers and young adults would all read this book. There is so much inspiration that could be found in this book. I will be recommending this book to as many people as I can.
November 2, 2015
This book is so different from most of the YA books I read. There were so many teasers at the end of chapters...I had to keep reading! This book is full of shocking moments, tearful moments, funny moments, and satisfying moments. I loved Trevor's character! The other characters were so likeable too (although Bea was slightly annoying). I didn't want it to end! I will be telling my friends about this awesome story!
October 28, 2014
I enjoyed this book until I got to the last page. The ending destroyed this book for me. I cant express strongly enough how I hated it. I cant understand what the author was thinking.It went against everything we had believed this character to be. The story could have ended very nicely without that relevation.
July 31, 2015
Wow is how I am feeling right now. For all of this horribleness to happen to a person and they still turn out to be an awesome human being and thinking of others before themselves is quite something. This book is definitely one of those that stays with you for a while
November 23, 2014
I really loved the story a lot until the last page... Seriously?
August 5, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!
My rating: 4.5 So close to a 5!
I didn't care for that ending.
April 8, 2015
Hope for Garbage by Alex Tully is a story that moves quickly from a boy with a troubled past to a whirlwind of drama that had me rocking back and forth and muttering, "Oh ****, oh ****!" as I hit plot twists. Not a lot of novels affect in me such a visceral way, but Hope for Garbage did.
While Hope for Garbage covers some heavier issues like alcoholism and drug abuse (mostly with the adults), the overall feel of the novel is optimistic and bittersweet. This is a story about moving away from tragedy, dealing with guilt, and finding a new, redemptive purpose for things (and lives) that have been banged up and discarded.
FAST-PACED STORYTELLING
Alex Tully is a good storyteller. The book was fast-paced, and I ripped through it in no time, not only because it was quick, but also because I found it easy to identify with Trevor and his drive to excel and make a better life.
The story starts out hinting of a sweet, Romeo and Juliet sort of romance between Trevor and Bea, but a scene worthy of The Graduate (1967) quickly throws Trevor into the midst of a lot of drama. Things go down...they really do.
Alex Tully doesn't tell us everything about Trevor right off the bat. The author tends to hold off until a better time to reveal secrets about Trevor. We know he had a troubled past, but we don't know what happened until a later part of the novel. This kept me on my toes the whole way.
THOUGHTS ON SOME CHARACTERS (Some Spoilers)
Trevor McNulty
Trevor McNulty is the sort of character that's easy to cheer for. He's smart, resourceful, and has had a lot of crummy things happen to him and his family that he couldn't control. Throughout the book, he grapples with painful childhood memories and guilt, which is woven seamlessly with the scenes between him and his therapist as well as the dramatic events that unfold later in the story.
Lorene
Lorene is the housekeeper for Bea's family, and has served as more of motherly/best friend figure for Bea than Bea's biological mother. She lives a quiet, empty-nester life in a smaller house on the nicer side of town with her husband. Lorene notices people's surprised reactions to her as an African American woman on the wealthier side of town.
Mrs. Stewart, or "Evelyn"
If I could sum up Bea's mom in a phrase, it would be "Mrs. Robinson." Like Trevor, Bea's mom is unhappy with her station in life, but unlike him, she is trapped in an unhappy marriage with a toxic husband who turns her daughter against her. Her character had the most potential for complexity but it didn't play out that way. Her loneliness and insecurity lead her to "do" things a la Graduate (1967), but worse, because Trevor hasn't even graduated from high school. She's hard to like, and sadly, it stays that way for the whole novel. For her, things never get better.
Bea
Having grown up in a economically comfortable neighborhood, Bea is sheltered but not judgmental when it comes to lower-income communities. She resents her mother for being absent. Although Bea starts off as Trevor's love interest, she quickly becomes a minor character since she comes in and out of the novel through the eyes of Lorene.
THE ENDING... (Spoilers Alert! Maybe.)
What the heck happened in the last chapter?
While Tully's way of holding secrets until later tends to work well, the ending undoes everything that we've been lead to believe about Trevor. This is less of a twist and more of a non sequitur.
Most of the novel makes Trevor out to be a "diamond in the rough", a considerate kid from the ghetto who's going to break out of his run-down and unstable environment into a better life with more opportunities, but the last few lines were so out of character for him and Lorene that I'll just pretend they never happened. That never happened, okay?
OVERALL
My eyes were glued to the book until the end. Overall, this was a great read because the story moves fast, and there are lots of plot twists that keep me on my toes. Trevor is a character who I want to cheer for as he earns more opportunities for a better life. Some of the characters are a bit underdeveloped, such as Mrs. Stewart, who is villainized and dispensed with by the end of the novel.
(Hint: You can probably find the book for cheap on Amazon. As of today, it's $2.99 on Kindle.)
My rating: 4/5 stars
Want to know what actors should play Trevor and the other characters in Hope for Garbage? Check out my Casting Ideas for Hope for Garbage by Alex Tully.
While Hope for Garbage covers some heavier issues like alcoholism and drug abuse (mostly with the adults), the overall feel of the novel is optimistic and bittersweet. This is a story about moving away from tragedy, dealing with guilt, and finding a new, redemptive purpose for things (and lives) that have been banged up and discarded.
FAST-PACED STORYTELLING
Alex Tully is a good storyteller. The book was fast-paced, and I ripped through it in no time, not only because it was quick, but also because I found it easy to identify with Trevor and his drive to excel and make a better life.
The story starts out hinting of a sweet, Romeo and Juliet sort of romance between Trevor and Bea, but a scene worthy of The Graduate (1967) quickly throws Trevor into the midst of a lot of drama. Things go down...they really do.
Alex Tully doesn't tell us everything about Trevor right off the bat. The author tends to hold off until a better time to reveal secrets about Trevor. We know he had a troubled past, but we don't know what happened until a later part of the novel. This kept me on my toes the whole way.
THOUGHTS ON SOME CHARACTERS (Some Spoilers)
Trevor McNulty
Trevor McNulty is the sort of character that's easy to cheer for. He's smart, resourceful, and has had a lot of crummy things happen to him and his family that he couldn't control. Throughout the book, he grapples with painful childhood memories and guilt, which is woven seamlessly with the scenes between him and his therapist as well as the dramatic events that unfold later in the story.
Lorene
Lorene is the housekeeper for Bea's family, and has served as more of motherly/best friend figure for Bea than Bea's biological mother. She lives a quiet, empty-nester life in a smaller house on the nicer side of town with her husband. Lorene notices people's surprised reactions to her as an African American woman on the wealthier side of town.
Mrs. Stewart, or "Evelyn"
If I could sum up Bea's mom in a phrase, it would be "Mrs. Robinson." Like Trevor, Bea's mom is unhappy with her station in life, but unlike him, she is trapped in an unhappy marriage with a toxic husband who turns her daughter against her. Her character had the most potential for complexity but it didn't play out that way. Her loneliness and insecurity lead her to "do" things a la Graduate (1967), but worse, because Trevor hasn't even graduated from high school. She's hard to like, and sadly, it stays that way for the whole novel. For her, things never get better.
Bea
Having grown up in a economically comfortable neighborhood, Bea is sheltered but not judgmental when it comes to lower-income communities. She resents her mother for being absent. Although Bea starts off as Trevor's love interest, she quickly becomes a minor character since she comes in and out of the novel through the eyes of Lorene.
THE ENDING... (Spoilers Alert! Maybe.)
What the heck happened in the last chapter?
While Tully's way of holding secrets until later tends to work well, the ending undoes everything that we've been lead to believe about Trevor. This is less of a twist and more of a non sequitur.
Most of the novel makes Trevor out to be a "diamond in the rough", a considerate kid from the ghetto who's going to break out of his run-down and unstable environment into a better life with more opportunities, but the last few lines were so out of character for him and Lorene that I'll just pretend they never happened. That never happened, okay?
OVERALL
My eyes were glued to the book until the end. Overall, this was a great read because the story moves fast, and there are lots of plot twists that keep me on my toes. Trevor is a character who I want to cheer for as he earns more opportunities for a better life. Some of the characters are a bit underdeveloped, such as Mrs. Stewart, who is villainized and dispensed with by the end of the novel.
(Hint: You can probably find the book for cheap on Amazon. As of today, it's $2.99 on Kindle.)
My rating: 4/5 stars
Want to know what actors should play Trevor and the other characters in Hope for Garbage? Check out my Casting Ideas for Hope for Garbage by Alex Tully.
June 3, 2022
Not a typical teen romance. This story has depth and true grit. Trevor, the main character, has had a horrible 17 years of life so far. The story delves into the why but only piece by piece. A good read.
July 4, 2015
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
This is a wonderful book! I read a lot, and it has been a while since I had a book really pull at my heart strings the way this book did. One of the best things about this book is the way the author elusively touches on Trevor’s past but doesn’t just throw it right out there for examination until the end. True to life, we don’t often know everything about a person for quite some time, if ever and this book stays true to real life from beginning to end.
Though Trevor comes from a bad family on the “wrong side of the tracks” he still wants nothing more than to give back to the world around him. When he is out picking garbage, he meets a girl from a wealthy family and that is where the story begins. Tossing around the idea of dating the two learn the little things about each other and they seem like a great pair until her mother gets involved. Bouncing back and forth between their on again off again relationship the reader really gets a feel for both characters and their history. These two really grow from the time they meet until the end of the book but the one who grows the most is Trevor.
I would hope to see this book appear on reading lists in the next couple years because I really feel this is a diamond in a sea of YA material coming out every year. The book touches on a few mature situations but nothing that is too overwhelming for junior high readers on up. This will definitely be talked up at the school I work at and I look forward to reading more from this author.
This is a wonderful book! I read a lot, and it has been a while since I had a book really pull at my heart strings the way this book did. One of the best things about this book is the way the author elusively touches on Trevor’s past but doesn’t just throw it right out there for examination until the end. True to life, we don’t often know everything about a person for quite some time, if ever and this book stays true to real life from beginning to end.
Though Trevor comes from a bad family on the “wrong side of the tracks” he still wants nothing more than to give back to the world around him. When he is out picking garbage, he meets a girl from a wealthy family and that is where the story begins. Tossing around the idea of dating the two learn the little things about each other and they seem like a great pair until her mother gets involved. Bouncing back and forth between their on again off again relationship the reader really gets a feel for both characters and their history. These two really grow from the time they meet until the end of the book but the one who grows the most is Trevor.
I would hope to see this book appear on reading lists in the next couple years because I really feel this is a diamond in a sea of YA material coming out every year. The book touches on a few mature situations but nothing that is too overwhelming for junior high readers on up. This will definitely be talked up at the school I work at and I look forward to reading more from this author.
May 20, 2015
Seventeen-year-old Trevor, having somehow survived a terrible childhood, now lives with his alcoholic Uncle Gary in Cleveland. He spends his time recycling items put out for garbage pickup.....his best friend is Mr. T, a seventy-year-old neighbor. Then he meets Bea and his whole world changes.
I LOVED this book! When I picked it up for the first time, I assumed it was a YA book and wouldn't be of much interest to me. How wrong can you be?
I was totally engrossed in the story and cared so much about Trevor and how he had overcome so many obstacles. I was glad he had friends like Mr T and Carol, Dr. Fisher, and Lorene. I'd like to meet the author and thank her for this extraordinary experience. Thanks also to Goodreads for sending me this free book. I wouldn't have discovered it otherwise.
I LOVED this book! When I picked it up for the first time, I assumed it was a YA book and wouldn't be of much interest to me. How wrong can you be?
I was totally engrossed in the story and cared so much about Trevor and how he had overcome so many obstacles. I was glad he had friends like Mr T and Carol, Dr. Fisher, and Lorene. I'd like to meet the author and thank her for this extraordinary experience. Thanks also to Goodreads for sending me this free book. I wouldn't have discovered it otherwise.
July 25, 2014
In Hope for Garbage Alex Tully tells one of those tales that makes you feel like you are watching it unfold. It is moving, touching and beautifully written with interesting characters that are memorable and fully developed without being overly-complicated and self-important. The first chapter swept me into the story which held me pleasantly enthralled all the way the end. I found myself connecting with Trevor and Mr. T in a way I didn’t think was possible. Despite all of the things he’s been through in his short 17 years, Trevor is caring, thoughtful and the kind of person that we should all get to meet at some point or another. This is a fascinating work by a talented individual.
November 2, 2015
Read this book! You will not be disappointed! I actually read Hope for Garbage last fall and I just got back from a family reunion and everyone was talking about this book! I told my sisters about it and then my aunts read it and they told their friends about it...anyone can read this book and feel better about life after reading it :)
December 3, 2014
I loved this book
The book is about growth and forgiveness of one's self. I loved the characters. They were real. They made mistakes, and they learned from them. They were just simply real.
The book is about growth and forgiveness of one's self. I loved the characters. They were real. They made mistakes, and they learned from them. They were just simply real.
December 31, 2014
Inspiring!
This book definitely makes you think about the things we take for granted. It makes me think again before complaining about anything and reminded me that no matter how bad things may be, there is always a silver lining.
This book definitely makes you think about the things we take for granted. It makes me think again before complaining about anything and reminded me that no matter how bad things may be, there is always a silver lining.
March 24, 2015
I totally didn't enjoy the ending. Aside from that it was a decent read.
November 3, 2015
This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I got it free. It started out a little slow but then it picked up speed and I couldn't put it down. Really enjoyed it
August 2, 2018
Sad, even devastating, but hopeful in the end
I bought this book for my teenage grandson to give him something contemporary to read instead of the classics he’s required to read. I’m hoping he will enjoy reading as much as I do, so I provide a wide variety of books. The protagonist is a 17-year-old-boy I thought he might identify with. After reading it myself, I think parts may be too dark and disturbing for him, although, probably less so than some of the movies he’s seen, games he plays, etc.
It is about reality and about subjects that all too often are parts of life for some children. There are bad actors and sick, flawed people in this book, but there are also good people and deep friendships. There has been damage to this brave, strong boy. But he keeps going. The author makes the reader care very much what happens to him.
There’s a happy and hopeful ending. I knew that in advance from reviews or I may not have been able to finish. It was incredibly sad in places.
Alex Tully has another book out, and I will read it, too. She’s a good writer and once I got to the middle, I couldn’t get anything done because I wanted to keep reading.
It does show counseling/therapy to be helpful and I think that’s an important message for young people, who are the most likely readers of this type literature.
There were a few mistakes in the book - but not so many as to distract from the story. Conscience for consciousness was one I noticed, and a few misplaced or repeated words probably due to incomplete editing.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend or to a teenager over 16, though probably not to either who was depressed.
I bought this book for my teenage grandson to give him something contemporary to read instead of the classics he’s required to read. I’m hoping he will enjoy reading as much as I do, so I provide a wide variety of books. The protagonist is a 17-year-old-boy I thought he might identify with. After reading it myself, I think parts may be too dark and disturbing for him, although, probably less so than some of the movies he’s seen, games he plays, etc.
It is about reality and about subjects that all too often are parts of life for some children. There are bad actors and sick, flawed people in this book, but there are also good people and deep friendships. There has been damage to this brave, strong boy. But he keeps going. The author makes the reader care very much what happens to him.
There’s a happy and hopeful ending. I knew that in advance from reviews or I may not have been able to finish. It was incredibly sad in places.
Alex Tully has another book out, and I will read it, too. She’s a good writer and once I got to the middle, I couldn’t get anything done because I wanted to keep reading.
It does show counseling/therapy to be helpful and I think that’s an important message for young people, who are the most likely readers of this type literature.
There were a few mistakes in the book - but not so many as to distract from the story. Conscience for consciousness was one I noticed, and a few misplaced or repeated words probably due to incomplete editing.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend or to a teenager over 16, though probably not to either who was depressed.
September 1, 2025
Great book about perservering teenager
This powerful book follows 17-year-old Trevor, whose young life has been marked by hardship and heartbreak.
After his father abandons the family, Trevor’s mother spirals into a deep depression, leaving him to care for his two younger siblings while she withdraws from the world. Despite his best efforts, tragedy strikes. Trevor suffers a devastating loss at the hands of the very person he tried to protect.
Sent to live with an emotionally distant uncle, Trevor is forced to scavenge for garbage to earn his keep and help with expenses. Amid the bleakness, he finds a glimmer of hope in Mr. T, the kind neighbor who becomes a grandfather figure and offers Trevor the connection he’s been craving.
But just as things begin to shift, another tragedy threatens to break him. Will Trevor find the strength to keep going or will the weight of everything finally pull him under?
Highly recommended for readers who appreciate raw, emotional storytelling with a thread of resilience.
▪️Language: Mild
▪️Sexual Content: None
▪️Violence: One intense, rage-driven scene
This powerful book follows 17-year-old Trevor, whose young life has been marked by hardship and heartbreak.
After his father abandons the family, Trevor’s mother spirals into a deep depression, leaving him to care for his two younger siblings while she withdraws from the world. Despite his best efforts, tragedy strikes. Trevor suffers a devastating loss at the hands of the very person he tried to protect.
Sent to live with an emotionally distant uncle, Trevor is forced to scavenge for garbage to earn his keep and help with expenses. Amid the bleakness, he finds a glimmer of hope in Mr. T, the kind neighbor who becomes a grandfather figure and offers Trevor the connection he’s been craving.
But just as things begin to shift, another tragedy threatens to break him. Will Trevor find the strength to keep going or will the weight of everything finally pull him under?
Highly recommended for readers who appreciate raw, emotional storytelling with a thread of resilience.
▪️Language: Mild
▪️Sexual Content: None
▪️Violence: One intense, rage-driven scene
June 2, 2017
My Mom and I were talking the other day about kids who just never catch a break, as high school teacher I know far more than I should and their stories are equally as "melodramatic", as one reviewer called it, as Trevor's. It is heartbreaking.
This was a great read! Different enough to catch and keep my attention. I always enjoy good YA books with a male MC, they seem hard to find. I found Trevor extremely likable.
The drama that begins in Chapter 13 and ends with Chapter 21 seemed out of place and I do wish the author had not used that as a driving plot line. It required more build up and more character development of Evelyn for it to work.
From Chapter 25 on Tully redeemed her street cred in a truly beautiful, slightly saccharine ending. For the first time in a long time I felt the reader earned that and the happy ending fit because it didn't undo the bad in the text.
The book contains some harsh language but I would recommend it without hesitation to my students.
This was a great read! Different enough to catch and keep my attention. I always enjoy good YA books with a male MC, they seem hard to find. I found Trevor extremely likable.
The drama that begins in Chapter 13 and ends with Chapter 21 seemed out of place and I do wish the author had not used that as a driving plot line. It required more build up and more character development of Evelyn for it to work.
From Chapter 25 on Tully redeemed her street cred in a truly beautiful, slightly saccharine ending. For the first time in a long time I felt the reader earned that and the happy ending fit because it didn't undo the bad in the text.
The book contains some harsh language but I would recommend it without hesitation to my students.
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