Trash (review)

It all begins with an unusual find, a bag containing a letter, a key, and what is already a significant amount of money for Raphael, Gardo, and Rat, who make a meager living picking things of small value out of an ever-increasing dump. The items lead them to a staggering sum, however, and a mystery involving corruption, greed, and a scandal, that, if revealed, will impact even the highest government officials. All the trio has to do is remain alive, solve the clues that will expose the evil and lead the kids to the money, and escape the trash heap forever. The scrappy defiance of these three boys who cling to hope and dream of better lives in this dystopic near-future even as they are threatened, humiliated, and silenced is powerful, and it is a strong emotional point on which to hinge the novel. Unfortunately, the willingness of the boys to put other lives at risk so that they can pursue their goals is disconcerting, making it more difficult for readers to root for them. In addition, the storytelling device of having different characters narrate different chapters becomes more distracting than effective in giving the whole picture. Nevertheless, this dark, painful novel explores poverty and the extremes to which it drives individuals in an unflinching way, and these details will linger with readers even after the plot itself is forgotten.