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Trash
272pages. in8. Broché.
Paperback
Published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 11, 2021
A gritty story with an air of mystery that had me gripped from beginning to end. The story arc took me on an adventure that was both harrowing and exciting. It offers a thought provoking depiction of unimaginable poverty and the devastating inequalities that exist in our world whilst ensuring human kindness, resilience, survival and hope are at the very heart of the tale.
It is not for the faint of heart, but young people who appreciate a gritty, heart-racing story with an edgy quality may enjoy this one greatly. (My 12 year old read after me and also really enjoyed it!)
It is not for the faint of heart, but young people who appreciate a gritty, heart-racing story with an edgy quality may enjoy this one greatly. (My 12 year old read after me and also really enjoyed it!)
September 17, 2020
Trash is a novel about three boys working at a Behala dumpsite: Raphael and Gardo, and Rat. One day, they found a leather bag, with something very important wrapped inside. The three embarks a thrilling adventure to solve the mystery.
This thriller novel is definitely very captivating, once you start reading, you can't put it down. The storyline is very suspenseful because police are on the constant lookout for them. It is set in a real-life place in India called Behala and has an accurate description of the extremely poor living conditions and the starving people living in dumpsites. Corruption and power are major themes in this book. It also introduces to readers what police brutality can be like, for example when Raphael was almost beaten to death by the police. It is a good insight for teenagers, I would recommend it to age 13+, the topics, scenes, and language might not be appropriate for readers any younger.
Overall, I really liked the storyline and insight of corruption in poor places.
This thriller novel is definitely very captivating, once you start reading, you can't put it down. The storyline is very suspenseful because police are on the constant lookout for them. It is set in a real-life place in India called Behala and has an accurate description of the extremely poor living conditions and the starving people living in dumpsites. Corruption and power are major themes in this book. It also introduces to readers what police brutality can be like, for example when Raphael was almost beaten to death by the police. It is a good insight for teenagers, I would recommend it to age 13+, the topics, scenes, and language might not be appropriate for readers any younger.
Overall, I really liked the storyline and insight of corruption in poor places.
July 26, 2025
I enjoyed the use of detail that was included within this book, showcasing many moments with different emotions. It involved a lot of adventures and puzzles along the way, such as the number code. I very much recommend.
April 16, 2026
I went into Trash by Andy Mulligan expecting a simple story, but it turned out to be much more powerful than I imagined. The book follows three boys—Raphael, Gardo, and Rat—who live on a garbage dump and survive by collecting trash. Their life is already difficult, but everything changes when Raphael finds something important in the rubbish, and suddenly they are being chased by the police.
What I really liked about this book is how fast-paced and gripping it is. I found myself constantly wanting to know what happens next. At the same time, the story made me think a lot about poverty and injustice. The conditions the boys live in are harsh, and it was sometimes uncomfortable to read, but I think that’s what makes the book so impactful.
I also loved the friendship between the boys. Even when things get dangerous, they trust each other and stay together. It felt real and emotional, and it made me root for them even more.
The writing style is a bit different because the story is told from multiple perspectives. At first, I found it slightly confusing, but after a while, I got used to it and actually enjoyed seeing different sides of the story.
If I had to mention a downside, I would say that some parts felt intense and a little heavy, especially for younger readers. But overall, I think the message of hope, courage, and standing up against corruption really stands out.
In the end, Trash left me thinking long after I finished it. It’s not just an adventure story—it’s also a reminder of how strong people can be, even in the toughest situations.
What I really liked about this book is how fast-paced and gripping it is. I found myself constantly wanting to know what happens next. At the same time, the story made me think a lot about poverty and injustice. The conditions the boys live in are harsh, and it was sometimes uncomfortable to read, but I think that’s what makes the book so impactful.
I also loved the friendship between the boys. Even when things get dangerous, they trust each other and stay together. It felt real and emotional, and it made me root for them even more.
The writing style is a bit different because the story is told from multiple perspectives. At first, I found it slightly confusing, but after a while, I got used to it and actually enjoyed seeing different sides of the story.
If I had to mention a downside, I would say that some parts felt intense and a little heavy, especially for younger readers. But overall, I think the message of hope, courage, and standing up against corruption really stands out.
In the end, Trash left me thinking long after I finished it. It’s not just an adventure story—it’s also a reminder of how strong people can be, even in the toughest situations.
August 4, 2020
A gritty novel for young adults. Life of hardship living on a dumpsite, coupled with a mystery unfolding with more and more clues throughout. This book is written from different viewpoints, which allows the story to be seen in lots of different ways. It has points of tension and wanting to know more along with points of raw, brutal events that shine a light on real injustices in the world.
January 9, 2023
I read this book for one of my classes and tho it wasn’t my genre it was okay. It had me intrigued
January 4, 2026
Where I first came upon the word pesos !
July 24, 2021
Overall a well written excitable, enjoyable and interesting book. I found the first few chapters a little misleading but I must say the second part of the book is very gripping. The book is written from the perspective of the main characters and digs deep into their constant fear of being caught on the run.
Trash explores a deeper theme which is one of child poverty and gives the reader a sense of how these children really do live in such trash and will carry around a hook their whole lives. The book itself is based on many places. The city Bahala is fictional although I would say it compares with a mixture of the philippines and brazil.
Trash explores a deeper theme which is one of child poverty and gives the reader a sense of how these children really do live in such trash and will carry around a hook their whole lives. The book itself is based on many places. The city Bahala is fictional although I would say it compares with a mixture of the philippines and brazil.
July 12, 2025
Uplifting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews