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Scavengers
Landfill has lived his whole life as a scavenger, running with wooflers, swimming with turtles and feasting on fresh gull. Old Babagoo has always looked after him, on one condition – follow his rules. Never come looking Outside. Never rise above the wall. But despite the dangers, Landfill longs to see Outside. And some rules are made to be broken.
288 pages, Paperback
Published March 7, 2019
47 people are currently reading
716 people want to read
About the author
Darren Simpson
6 books29 followersDarren Simpson writes vivid, unruly fiction for older children and teens.
His debut novel, Scavengers, was a Guardian Best Book of the Year, and was selected for the national Summer Reading Challenge. The Memory Thieves was an Observer Book of the Month and a World Book Day Summer Read, while Furthermoor was Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month and a Waterstones Best Book of the Year. Darren’s stories have won awards and been translated into several languages. He’s been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.
His latest novel, Thirst, is out now.
Darren lives in Nottingham, where he works with the Literacy Trust to promote reading for pleasure. He loves using unusual settings to explore bravery, self-discovery, and the strangeness of the everyday.
If you'd like to find out more, visit darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
His debut novel, Scavengers, was a Guardian Best Book of the Year, and was selected for the national Summer Reading Challenge. The Memory Thieves was an Observer Book of the Month and a World Book Day Summer Read, while Furthermoor was Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month and a Waterstones Best Book of the Year. Darren’s stories have won awards and been translated into several languages. He’s been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.
His latest novel, Thirst, is out now.
Darren lives in Nottingham, where he works with the Literacy Trust to promote reading for pleasure. He loves using unusual settings to explore bravery, self-discovery, and the strangeness of the everyday.
If you'd like to find out more, visit darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 28, 2021
Amazing powerful book
March 14, 2019
I have so much love for this debut by the super talented Darren Simpson. Landfill is semi-feral, living with adult Scavenger Babagoo, cut off from the rest of society on the edge of a rubbish tip with an assortment of beautifully characterised animals. Landfill becomes curious - what is beyond the wall? What is the key Babagoo keeps around his neck, and why is he so adamant Landfill should not venture Outside? This is a thought provoking coming of age story with a slightly gritty edge and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
August 5, 2022
Distopiyanı sevirəm. Yazıçıdan ilk oxuduğum əsərdi. Möhtəşəm.
August 20, 2019
Nicely written, new age themed story about two characters living an alternative lifestyle. The boy who anchors the book is following a whole range of rules laid down by his guardian. Their lives change when some of the rules lead the boy to wonder what the truth is about their situation.
The characterisation is good and the plot rattles along nicely.
Genuinely wanted to know how it would finish and how the characters would conclude their stories.
The characterisation is good and the plot rattles along nicely.
Genuinely wanted to know how it would finish and how the characters would conclude their stories.
February 3, 2022
Landfill doesn't know anyone or anything but the teachings of Babagoo and his rules. Babagoo has told Landfill his entire life how he found him Outside, as just a tiny boyling. Outside is a place of Outsiders who wear masks and are consumed by a hunger so terrible it will finally eat you from the outside in, changing you into something terrible.
Babagoo even admits he too was once an Outsider, consumed by this hunger, but since finding Landfill he began building their home. Now it is a place they call The Hinterland. The Hinterland is a place full of rusting metal and rambling growth, but also enclosed behind a wall stabbed with glass. Babagoo has cleaned up spaces for them to live in and now with Landfill's help, they have a garden, animals as friends as well as providers of milk and other things they need.
Landfill has grown up in this enclosed world and now has more questions that Babagoo is willing to answer. He wonders what the birds see over the wall. He knows the list of Babgoo's rules forward and backwards, but he has started to push these rules to the back of his mind as he breaks them.
No looking over the wall is an important rule, and when caught doing this by Babagoo, Landfill is left outside their normal night hidey-hole as punishment.
Other things trigger more questions. He watches his wolf have her pups, then survives the sight of the red eye as it roared again overhead. Did Babagoo lie? Finally Landfill gets his chance to see Outside, following Babagoo to the pit where he lays his daily traps for the gulls they eat. It's not long at all before Landfill faces all that Babagoo had warned him about, sending him back to their haven - terrified of all outside of it.
Landfill's wonder and questions are more persistent than his fading fright, and he ventures forth again. This time is a completely different experience, bringing everything crashing down.
It took a wee while to get my head around the environment this young boy and his strange carer lived in. Landfill's name gave me clues and his language even more. This boy has lived like this his entire life. As boys grow however, wonder turns to questions, and Landfill wants to know more about the Outside he's forbidden to see, let alone go.
His carer's past is gradually revealed, until the heart wrenching truth of Landfill's first hours with him is laid bare. Landfill is torn between this man who has raised him, keeping him warm, fed and overall safe from the outside world, and what is really beyond their walls. Which is the biggest threat?
It was fascinating deciphering the things Landfill saw and tried to understand and name. Cars, cellphones, clothing, machinery and even women are perplexing to him. Scavengers is a multi award winning novel.
Great read.
Babagoo even admits he too was once an Outsider, consumed by this hunger, but since finding Landfill he began building their home. Now it is a place they call The Hinterland. The Hinterland is a place full of rusting metal and rambling growth, but also enclosed behind a wall stabbed with glass. Babagoo has cleaned up spaces for them to live in and now with Landfill's help, they have a garden, animals as friends as well as providers of milk and other things they need.
Landfill has grown up in this enclosed world and now has more questions that Babagoo is willing to answer. He wonders what the birds see over the wall. He knows the list of Babgoo's rules forward and backwards, but he has started to push these rules to the back of his mind as he breaks them.
No looking over the wall is an important rule, and when caught doing this by Babagoo, Landfill is left outside their normal night hidey-hole as punishment.
Other things trigger more questions. He watches his wolf have her pups, then survives the sight of the red eye as it roared again overhead. Did Babagoo lie? Finally Landfill gets his chance to see Outside, following Babagoo to the pit where he lays his daily traps for the gulls they eat. It's not long at all before Landfill faces all that Babagoo had warned him about, sending him back to their haven - terrified of all outside of it.
Landfill's wonder and questions are more persistent than his fading fright, and he ventures forth again. This time is a completely different experience, bringing everything crashing down.
It took a wee while to get my head around the environment this young boy and his strange carer lived in. Landfill's name gave me clues and his language even more. This boy has lived like this his entire life. As boys grow however, wonder turns to questions, and Landfill wants to know more about the Outside he's forbidden to see, let alone go.
His carer's past is gradually revealed, until the heart wrenching truth of Landfill's first hours with him is laid bare. Landfill is torn between this man who has raised him, keeping him warm, fed and overall safe from the outside world, and what is really beyond their walls. Which is the biggest threat?
It was fascinating deciphering the things Landfill saw and tried to understand and name. Cars, cellphones, clothing, machinery and even women are perplexing to him. Scavengers is a multi award winning novel.
Great read.
October 29, 2021
I think I was left with too many questions at the end of this one, but did quite enjoy the read. I just wanted to see more of the after, it felt like it ended just as it was getting going!
I loved the unsettling feeling that you don't really know what's going on (even though it's quite predictable), and friendly animals are always a plus!
I loved the unsettling feeling that you don't really know what's going on (even though it's quite predictable), and friendly animals are always a plus!
August 18, 2020
Reading Slump a girmek üzereyken bu kitaptan bir kaç sayfa okuyayım dedim ve sonra bir baktım kitapta bayağı bir ilerlemişim. Yani anlayacağınız kitabın gerçekten...
Görsel tasarımı görmek ve yorumun devamı için
Görsel tasarımı görmek ve yorumun devamı için
January 14, 2020
4.5 stars
March 3, 2024
Really excellent book which would make a great class text for Y7/8. I was totally hooked from the half way point, the only reason I've dropped a star is because it took me quite a while to get into the story. But that could just be me!
October 11, 2020
Darren Simpson’s debut dystopian novel for children aged 11+ is a clever, sophisticated character piece with many layers to it that advanced readers and adults will equally get a great deal from, not least because it constantly makes you question your assumptions. This is one of those books that deserves to be on book award shortlists and I look forward to reading Simpson’s next novel.
January 6, 2021
~Çöpçüler, Darren Simpson~
🏚️Çöpçüler, beklentimin çok farklı bir yönde olduğu ama bambaşka bir şeyle karşılaştığım yine de bundan mutlu olduğum bir kitap oldu. Kitabın arkasında kurallar, distopya falan gibi şeyler yazınca kitabın konusu hakkında haliyle beklentim biraz daha distopikti ama durum öyle değil, aslında durumun nasıl olduğunu okursanız ancak görebilirsiniz. İncelememde de çok bir şeyden bahsetmek istemiyorum çünkü bence okuyarak anlamalı, öğrenmelisiniz. Herkesin farklı yorunlayabileceği bir gidişat ve sondu, kitabın sonunda bazı sorularla sizi sorgulamaya itmişlerdi okuduklarınızla alakalı. Bu kısım bence iyiydi ama bazı sorular bana sanki bir ilkokul kitabının sonunda okuyup okumadığımızı ölçmek için sorulan sorular gibi geldi. Neyse kitabın içeriğinden yüzeysel olarak bahsedecek olursam kitabın sadece iki karakter üzerinden döndüğünü söyleyebilirim. Babagoo ve Landfill. Tabi bir de onlar dışında İçeri'de yaşayan hayvanlar... Kitaptaki hayvanların isimleri yazarlardan etkilenerek konulmuş. Woolf, Orwell gibi isimleri görmek sizi mutlu ediyor. Tek başlarına insanlardan uzakta yaşayan yaşlı bir çöpçü ve bir oğlan çocuğunun İçeri'de Dışarılı olarak adlandırdıkları Açlık hastalığına yakalanmış insanlara yakalanmadan martı avlanarak kendi hallerinde yaşayışlarını okuyoruz. Landfill'in etrafında olan biteni sorgulamaya başlamasıyla aslında asıl olaylar başlıyor. Ve o kısımlara gelene kadar itiraf etmeliyim ki oldukça akıcı ve basit olan dili bile beni kimi zaman sıktı. Bunun sebebi büyük ihtimal yanlış zaman yanlış kitap. Bu yüzden son 50 sayfası ve o iki karakteri, bana hissettirdikleri için puanımı düşük tutmadım. Okumanız gerektiğini düşündüğüm bir kitap çünkü zamanla her şey anlam kazanmaya başlarken okuyucuyu da hayattaki bazı konular hakkında bilinçlendirdiğini düşündüğüm bir kitap. Özellikle ben son kısımlarını okurken hem duygulandım hem de ne hissedeceğimi tam olarak bilemedim; karakterlere mi üzüleyim, yoksa bize mi? Dediklerimin kitap okununca anlam kazanacağını düşünüyorum. Özellikle gençlere tavsiye edebileceğim bir kitap. Dediğim gibi distopya düşüncesi ile başlamayın. Ve beklentileriniz yükseltmeden okursanız eminim ki seveceksiniz. Dili biraz basit gelebilir ama ara ara verilen mesajlar ve alıntılar size bunu unutturacaktır...
~Alıntılar~
🏚️"Babagoo, senin gözyaşlarının bittiğini sanıyordum."
"Demek ki... Bazı şeyler hiç bitmiyor oğlum."
🏚️"Tarih... Ne?"
"Geçmiş. Geçmişte kalmış çok eski bir zaman."
"Aa... Çok uzakta olduğu için mi ona 'geçmiş' deniyor?"
"Hı?"
"Yıldızlar gibi. Bir keresinde... Bir keresinde yıldızlara bakmanın geçmişe bakmak gibi olduğunu söylemiştin. Çünkü onlar çok uzakta. Bu ışık da öyle mi?"
...
"Geçmiş yıldızlardan gelen ışık gibiyse, bu, geçmişin bir gün mutlaka sana ulaşacağı anlamına mı geliyor?"
🏚️"İnsanlara biraz şans verirsen birçoğunun iyi olduğunu görürsün. İnan bana, onların ne kadar kötü olabileceklerini çok iyi bilirim. Ama biri kötü bir şeyler yaparken bir başkası iyi şeyler yapabilir."
🏚️"Ağzından çıkanlara dikkat et, Landfill. Söylediklerine dikkat et. Kelimeler tehlikeli olabilir. Bir bıçaktan daha keskin olabilirler."
🏚️"Tadı güzel mi?"
"Çok. Hiç anlamıyorum."
"Neyi?"
"Neden hep tadı güzel şeylerin zararlı olduğunu söylüyorsun?"
"Çünkü hayat bizden nefret ediyor, evlat."
🏚️"Dışarı'da barbarlık var oğlum. Gözünün görebileceği her yerde yüzlerce maske var; sahtekarlık ve nefret var."
🏚️"Altıncı kuralı unutma: Hiçbir işaretin olmaması bir işaret olabilir."
🏚️Çöpçüler, beklentimin çok farklı bir yönde olduğu ama bambaşka bir şeyle karşılaştığım yine de bundan mutlu olduğum bir kitap oldu. Kitabın arkasında kurallar, distopya falan gibi şeyler yazınca kitabın konusu hakkında haliyle beklentim biraz daha distopikti ama durum öyle değil, aslında durumun nasıl olduğunu okursanız ancak görebilirsiniz. İncelememde de çok bir şeyden bahsetmek istemiyorum çünkü bence okuyarak anlamalı, öğrenmelisiniz. Herkesin farklı yorunlayabileceği bir gidişat ve sondu, kitabın sonunda bazı sorularla sizi sorgulamaya itmişlerdi okuduklarınızla alakalı. Bu kısım bence iyiydi ama bazı sorular bana sanki bir ilkokul kitabının sonunda okuyup okumadığımızı ölçmek için sorulan sorular gibi geldi. Neyse kitabın içeriğinden yüzeysel olarak bahsedecek olursam kitabın sadece iki karakter üzerinden döndüğünü söyleyebilirim. Babagoo ve Landfill. Tabi bir de onlar dışında İçeri'de yaşayan hayvanlar... Kitaptaki hayvanların isimleri yazarlardan etkilenerek konulmuş. Woolf, Orwell gibi isimleri görmek sizi mutlu ediyor. Tek başlarına insanlardan uzakta yaşayan yaşlı bir çöpçü ve bir oğlan çocuğunun İçeri'de Dışarılı olarak adlandırdıkları Açlık hastalığına yakalanmış insanlara yakalanmadan martı avlanarak kendi hallerinde yaşayışlarını okuyoruz. Landfill'in etrafında olan biteni sorgulamaya başlamasıyla aslında asıl olaylar başlıyor. Ve o kısımlara gelene kadar itiraf etmeliyim ki oldukça akıcı ve basit olan dili bile beni kimi zaman sıktı. Bunun sebebi büyük ihtimal yanlış zaman yanlış kitap. Bu yüzden son 50 sayfası ve o iki karakteri, bana hissettirdikleri için puanımı düşük tutmadım. Okumanız gerektiğini düşündüğüm bir kitap çünkü zamanla her şey anlam kazanmaya başlarken okuyucuyu da hayattaki bazı konular hakkında bilinçlendirdiğini düşündüğüm bir kitap. Özellikle ben son kısımlarını okurken hem duygulandım hem de ne hissedeceğimi tam olarak bilemedim; karakterlere mi üzüleyim, yoksa bize mi? Dediklerimin kitap okununca anlam kazanacağını düşünüyorum. Özellikle gençlere tavsiye edebileceğim bir kitap. Dediğim gibi distopya düşüncesi ile başlamayın. Ve beklentileriniz yükseltmeden okursanız eminim ki seveceksiniz. Dili biraz basit gelebilir ama ara ara verilen mesajlar ve alıntılar size bunu unutturacaktır...
~Alıntılar~
🏚️"Babagoo, senin gözyaşlarının bittiğini sanıyordum."
"Demek ki... Bazı şeyler hiç bitmiyor oğlum."
🏚️"Tarih... Ne?"
"Geçmiş. Geçmişte kalmış çok eski bir zaman."
"Aa... Çok uzakta olduğu için mi ona 'geçmiş' deniyor?"
"Hı?"
"Yıldızlar gibi. Bir keresinde... Bir keresinde yıldızlara bakmanın geçmişe bakmak gibi olduğunu söylemiştin. Çünkü onlar çok uzakta. Bu ışık da öyle mi?"
...
"Geçmiş yıldızlardan gelen ışık gibiyse, bu, geçmişin bir gün mutlaka sana ulaşacağı anlamına mı geliyor?"
🏚️"İnsanlara biraz şans verirsen birçoğunun iyi olduğunu görürsün. İnan bana, onların ne kadar kötü olabileceklerini çok iyi bilirim. Ama biri kötü bir şeyler yaparken bir başkası iyi şeyler yapabilir."
🏚️"Ağzından çıkanlara dikkat et, Landfill. Söylediklerine dikkat et. Kelimeler tehlikeli olabilir. Bir bıçaktan daha keskin olabilirler."
🏚️"Tadı güzel mi?"
"Çok. Hiç anlamıyorum."
"Neyi?"
"Neden hep tadı güzel şeylerin zararlı olduğunu söylüyorsun?"
"Çünkü hayat bizden nefret ediyor, evlat."
🏚️"Dışarı'da barbarlık var oğlum. Gözünün görebileceği her yerde yüzlerce maske var; sahtekarlık ve nefret var."
🏚️"Altıncı kuralı unutma: Hiçbir işaretin olmaması bir işaret olabilir."
March 12, 2019
Incredibly moving modern day twisted fairy tale in some ways
A poetic blend of Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave meets M Night Shyamalan’s The Village with a dash of I Am Legend.
For children the innocence and wonder of Landfill’s world will resonate an air of adventure and wild abandon as he is living in a deprived wild setting near a dump with a lot of rules to guarantee his survival from the horrors outside the wall and as the facade slowly is tarnished some children may be surprised by the developments due to the fully committed world immersion by Simpson.
As an adult and a mother my heart broke reading this book Landfill is a vulnerable semi-feral child living in an emotionally controlling situation with a mentally ill adult who may love Landfill but is in need of serious help. The dichotomy between Babagoo’s abusive control and terrified desperation to not lose Landfill coupled with the compliance and affection from Landfill is sad and thought provoking to read as the story unfolds and Landfill against all efforts by Babagoo encounters adolescence, questioning and the quest for self reliance and independence in this coming of age story.
The writing is poetic yet bleak and visceral ( in the literal sense occasionally) and as noted earlier, the world building is immensely detailed from linguistic misnomers to created and old fashioned language reflecting misheard both of and by Babagoo with the grinding destitution of Babagoo and Landfill’s Hinterland juxtaposed against genuine moments of cameradie and affection.
Overall this is a story that will stay with me for some time, particularly as a parent. It may be a bit odd for some but there are plenty of questions of what it means to be human, to be civilised, to be safe and to be happy.
A poetic blend of Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave meets M Night Shyamalan’s The Village with a dash of I Am Legend.
For children the innocence and wonder of Landfill’s world will resonate an air of adventure and wild abandon as he is living in a deprived wild setting near a dump with a lot of rules to guarantee his survival from the horrors outside the wall and as the facade slowly is tarnished some children may be surprised by the developments due to the fully committed world immersion by Simpson.
As an adult and a mother my heart broke reading this book Landfill is a vulnerable semi-feral child living in an emotionally controlling situation with a mentally ill adult who may love Landfill but is in need of serious help. The dichotomy between Babagoo’s abusive control and terrified desperation to not lose Landfill coupled with the compliance and affection from Landfill is sad and thought provoking to read as the story unfolds and Landfill against all efforts by Babagoo encounters adolescence, questioning and the quest for self reliance and independence in this coming of age story.
The writing is poetic yet bleak and visceral ( in the literal sense occasionally) and as noted earlier, the world building is immensely detailed from linguistic misnomers to created and old fashioned language reflecting misheard both of and by Babagoo with the grinding destitution of Babagoo and Landfill’s Hinterland juxtaposed against genuine moments of cameradie and affection.
Overall this is a story that will stay with me for some time, particularly as a parent. It may be a bit odd for some but there are plenty of questions of what it means to be human, to be civilised, to be safe and to be happy.
February 2, 2020
This story kept me guessing all the way through. The author gave you just enough information for you to paint a picture in your head but let you make your own assumptions about just what was going on.
Landfill is a feral child living in Hinterland, which I imagined to be a walled off area of a city, with an older man named Babagoo. There is all sorts of discussion which could be had around the relationship between these two characters and what they are doing in Hinterland. Is Babagoo a caring adult or a manipulative bully? Why is Landfill there with him in Hinterland? Why is Babagoo so terrified to tell Landfill anything about the Outside?
Alongside these two main characters, there is a fascinating cast of animals, all named by Babagoo for famous writers. How did they get into Hinterland? Why are they named after writers?
The questions just keep on coming... for the reader, and also for Landfill as he starts to realise there is more to life than Hinterland, and he starts to look beyond the walls, much to Babagoo's horror and anger. Landfill is torn between loyalty to his protector and wanting to know more.
Even the last scene in the story keeps the reader hanging as they see Landfill make a choice about where his future might lie.
This would make a fabulous readaloud for our older students as there is much scope for discussion around relationships, the environment, what is right and wrong...
Landfill is a feral child living in Hinterland, which I imagined to be a walled off area of a city, with an older man named Babagoo. There is all sorts of discussion which could be had around the relationship between these two characters and what they are doing in Hinterland. Is Babagoo a caring adult or a manipulative bully? Why is Landfill there with him in Hinterland? Why is Babagoo so terrified to tell Landfill anything about the Outside?
Alongside these two main characters, there is a fascinating cast of animals, all named by Babagoo for famous writers. How did they get into Hinterland? Why are they named after writers?
The questions just keep on coming... for the reader, and also for Landfill as he starts to realise there is more to life than Hinterland, and he starts to look beyond the walls, much to Babagoo's horror and anger. Landfill is torn between loyalty to his protector and wanting to know more.
Even the last scene in the story keeps the reader hanging as they see Landfill make a choice about where his future might lie.
This would make a fabulous readaloud for our older students as there is much scope for discussion around relationships, the environment, what is right and wrong...
August 10, 2019
✨Scavengers By Darren Simpson✨
Landfill has lived his whole life as a scavenger, running with wooflers, swimming with turtles and feasting on fresh gull. Old Babagoo has always looked after him, on one condition – follow his rules. Never come looking Outside. Never rise above the wall. But despite the dangers, Landfill longs to see Outside. And some rules are made to be broken.
.
✨When I started it, I thought it's a pure children's book but then as the book proceeds it gives more lessons which makes it more and more mature and elderly. I enjoyed the book to the core. This is a story of Landfill who is looked after by his ol Babagoo. Landfill is a very curious character and always does things which he is asked not to.
.
The book follows secrets, adventures and alot of mystery in it. Well, the book has a easy language plus the illustrations are mind blowing. It seems a very huge read but trust me it's a short one. It deserves to be a classic at some point. Definitely recommended. All age groups can read it.
.
✨Rating: 4🌟
Landfill has lived his whole life as a scavenger, running with wooflers, swimming with turtles and feasting on fresh gull. Old Babagoo has always looked after him, on one condition – follow his rules. Never come looking Outside. Never rise above the wall. But despite the dangers, Landfill longs to see Outside. And some rules are made to be broken.
.
✨When I started it, I thought it's a pure children's book but then as the book proceeds it gives more lessons which makes it more and more mature and elderly. I enjoyed the book to the core. This is a story of Landfill who is looked after by his ol Babagoo. Landfill is a very curious character and always does things which he is asked not to.
.
The book follows secrets, adventures and alot of mystery in it. Well, the book has a easy language plus the illustrations are mind blowing. It seems a very huge read but trust me it's a short one. It deserves to be a classic at some point. Definitely recommended. All age groups can read it.
.
✨Rating: 4🌟
March 31, 2019
In this dystopian Stig of the Dump premise I was hooked by the child Landfill's interesting name & surroundings, especially as the animals around him are named after authors such as Orwell, Woolf & Vonnegut. How would he know to name them such? Why does he live in what seems to be a circular castle ruin?
The answer comes in the older man who seems to have saved him from a type of plague the Outsiders have.
How far into the future is the book set?
How many things do you assume by the way they interact with each other & their environment. So many questions it made for a great read & would be fantastic in any class lesson.
I liked this read as it made me look at the simple life & how much we throw away in this throw away society. Do we see anything we don't want to in the way we are living enough to change it before it's too late?
The answer comes in the older man who seems to have saved him from a type of plague the Outsiders have.
How far into the future is the book set?
How many things do you assume by the way they interact with each other & their environment. So many questions it made for a great read & would be fantastic in any class lesson.
I liked this read as it made me look at the simple life & how much we throw away in this throw away society. Do we see anything we don't want to in the way we are living enough to change it before it's too late?
January 1, 2020
One of my favourite reads of 2019. It is a exceptional book and deserves to win awards, if not be made into a film!
The story follows the story of Landfill, a boy who lives in a walled piece of wasteland adjacent to a rubbish dump. Raised by an old man called Bubagoo, he comes to question everything that his guardian has told him.
As an adult reading the book, it raises a mirror to the human race and makes us look at our throw away society, and the greed and disconnection that are increasingly prevalent. the writing is thought provoking and expertly crafted. But this is very much an adults take on the book, younger children may not pick up on all of these subtleties, but will simply enjoy the book for what it is - a superbly written story.
Now living in our school library for Y5+ readers.
The story follows the story of Landfill, a boy who lives in a walled piece of wasteland adjacent to a rubbish dump. Raised by an old man called Bubagoo, he comes to question everything that his guardian has told him.
As an adult reading the book, it raises a mirror to the human race and makes us look at our throw away society, and the greed and disconnection that are increasingly prevalent. the writing is thought provoking and expertly crafted. But this is very much an adults take on the book, younger children may not pick up on all of these subtleties, but will simply enjoy the book for what it is - a superbly written story.
Now living in our school library for Y5+ readers.
May 13, 2019
Rubbish has never been this good
Darren Simpson has created a unique setting for Landfill and Babagoo's adventures and trials. It's unsettling at first and the reader is left to figure what everything means as you go along. The dialogue is full of treats such as wooflers, amnals and grubbins, and the relationship between the two main characters is full of light and shade. The plot dips a little as we settle into the book, but the second half is brilliant. A new character is introduced who turns Landfill's world upside down. The decisions made by Landfill are never straightforward or linear, keeping the reader guessing right until the end. Influences as diverse as Dr Doolittle, Stig of the Dump and M Night Shyamalan make this journey to Hinterland a real treat.
Darren Simpson has created a unique setting for Landfill and Babagoo's adventures and trials. It's unsettling at first and the reader is left to figure what everything means as you go along. The dialogue is full of treats such as wooflers, amnals and grubbins, and the relationship between the two main characters is full of light and shade. The plot dips a little as we settle into the book, but the second half is brilliant. A new character is introduced who turns Landfill's world upside down. The decisions made by Landfill are never straightforward or linear, keeping the reader guessing right until the end. Influences as diverse as Dr Doolittle, Stig of the Dump and M Night Shyamalan make this journey to Hinterland a real treat.
May 15, 2020
This novel immerses you in the world of Landfill, a boy who has grown up knowing only that 'Outside' is dangerous and he must follow Babagoo's rules to keep safe. The world he lives in is a mixture of wonder and fear as he grows up closely observing nature and with animals as his friends, but always with the threat of being found by one of the spy drones that flies overhead. The dystopian vision of the world outside and the linguistic quirks of the language Landfill and Babagoo speak reminded me of The Knife of Never Letting Go.
Things change when Landfill begins to question Babagoo's rules more often and then the Outside begins to seep through into their sanctuary. This is a chilling and convincing story which will stick with me for a long time.
Things change when Landfill begins to question Babagoo's rules more often and then the Outside begins to seep through into their sanctuary. This is a chilling and convincing story which will stick with me for a long time.
November 8, 2019
I read this one to my ten-year-old daughter, and it was great to see her experiencing the "everything is not as it seems" twists that an adult can pick up easily, for the first time.
Landfill and Babagoo are scavengers, living in a walled kingdom while the outside world rots. Babagoo has made a long list of rules for Landfill to follow, especially while Babagoo is away catching seagulls for them to eat in the world beyond the walls.
But slowly, despite the risk of discovery by the diseased people outside, Landfill begins to break the rules...
Landfill and Babagoo are scavengers, living in a walled kingdom while the outside world rots. Babagoo has made a long list of rules for Landfill to follow, especially while Babagoo is away catching seagulls for them to eat in the world beyond the walls.
But slowly, despite the risk of discovery by the diseased people outside, Landfill begins to break the rules...
July 13, 2020
Landfill has lived his whole life in the sanctuary of Hinterland, always wary of the dangers that lurk beyond the wall. His protector is an old scavenger called Babagoo, and his friends are the animals of Hinterland. Yet can they remain hidden away from the evil outside forever?
Written in the style of a post apocalyptic story, the major twist in this tale was not unexpected by me. Nevertheless it had shades of the Jungle Book about it and was a nice enough tale. Meant for mid grade children, this one should set them thinking a bit.
Written in the style of a post apocalyptic story, the major twist in this tale was not unexpected by me. Nevertheless it had shades of the Jungle Book about it and was a nice enough tale. Meant for mid grade children, this one should set them thinking a bit.
February 22, 2021
I’m not actually sure how I feel about this book! It was all very intriguing at first, and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on, but as soon as it became clearer it was very unsettling. The world-building of Hinterland and the surrounding area was brilliant, I could really picture it in my mind, and the character development of Landfill and Babagoo also helped me “see” them. I just wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly and we saw more of the after.
June 6, 2021
Brilliantly written alternative perspective on modern society. The story of Landfill and Babagoo cleverly unfolds to reveal many thought provoking scenarios and raises a number of moral and psychological questions. Overall very sad and emotional story that creates lots of opportunity for discussion and debate. Recommend for age 11+.
July 9, 2025
3.75 rating. This book was weird but not in a bad way. I think the author purposefully wrote it to be jarring and disorienting so that we feel for Landfill. So in that sense it was very successful but I spent a good deal just trying to figure out what is happening. But the writing style was very well done. I honestly have not read anything like it before.
June 7, 2019
Wonderful book with such beautiful writing and vivid characters and landscapes. I tore through it and was sad to leave the world of Hinterland behind when I finished. Can't wait to read whatever Darren Simpson does next.
July 4, 2019
Delightful read. A story for our times, and about our times. Continually torn between the outcomes I wanted for Landfill, and equally torn about my feelings towards Babagoo. Beautifully balanced to keep you turning those pages as the Outsiders draw ever closer.
November 22, 2020
A Lord of the Flies-esque depiction of the human paradox. Darren Simpson places a heartbreakingly innocent hero in a walled garden of flowers and industrial decay. The virtue of the world within and without is ambiguous to the end, in a powerful portrayal our dual nature to love and hate.
February 27, 2022
A heavy read with a lot of great twists and turns. The ending was a bit rushed. If you are a school teacher using this book, I would recommend it for year 6 and higher but they really need their own copies to be able to appreciate all the author does in the text with the characters.
March 20, 2022
Not the easiest language to read. I think I'm learning that I'm not the biggest fan of mysteries, or maybe its just books where its purposefully trying to mislead me about what its talking about.
Though this was redeemed by being a interesting story!
Though this was redeemed by being a interesting story!
April 25, 2022
This was good but very dark and depressing, I don't know how I could ever recommend it to a young person as it was so bleak. It raises important questions about modern society but ultimately, you feel like there is no way out for Landfill, that he is a victim either way.
January 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book and was very intrigued to see how it would end - although I would have liked some more background into how the characters got to be where they are - definitely worth a read, though
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