Trash

Three slum lads who eke out their living on the largest rubbish tip in Manila make a find that actually looks worth something – a small leather bag. But what it contains brings a mystery to unravel, extreme danger and revelations about the authorities and their ruthless representatives which reveal who are the real trash of society and what motivates them.

‘There are values and virtues and morals; there are relationships and trust and love – and all of that is important. Money, however, is more important and it is dripping all the time like precious water.’

Andy Mulligan experienced his subject matter at first hand and obviously has an agenda to bring the plight of the trash pickers to as wide an audience as possible. The tale is told by multiple narrators in a variety of styles. The tension never flags and the boy characters are particularly engaging, especially in their bold, moral decision at the end…

‘Enjoy’ is not a word you use about a novel like this. It challenges us personally; it exposes to us some un-appetising facts and truths and the injustices it lays bare enrage us. Here is a novel that actually takes its readers on a very important and revealing journey. It is a shame the publishers did not include a note on how the reader might follow up their reactions to the predicament of trash kids worldwide.