The Garbage King [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Laird (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

This novel of unusual power for older boys and girls tells the gripping and dramatic story of homeless street children forced to do whatever they have to do in order to stay alive in the brutal slums of an Ethiopian city. The two main characters, Mamo and Dani, come from stable families but are hurled by circumstances beyond their control into the dangers and deprivations of street life. They find a makeshift way to survive when they are taken into a street gang led by a tough but likable boy named Million. The gang is composed of kids who have never known the security and happiness of family life. Children of our own culture, who take for granted the protections and comforts of home and family, will be shocked when they read this spellbinding story, but they will also learn about the deprivations, uncertainties, and sometimes the stark terror experienced today by too many Third World children. The story of Mamo and Dani, although alarming in its authenticity, is also an inspiring tale of courage and generosity in a world where danger and anxiety are the norm.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-The harsh reality that faces countless children in developing nations is confronted head-on in this powerful and moving novel, as is the gross disparity between the haves and have-nots. Set in Ethiopia, it brings together the stories of two very different boys whose lives converge and are changed forever. After his mother dies, Mamo, 13, is tricked by a slaver and sold to a farmer in the country miles away from the only home he has ever known. After months of brutal treatment, he escapes and makes it back to Addis Ababa where he meets Dani, a chubby boy who has spent his life cloistered in the world of privilege. He is a talented writer, but other areas of his studies elude him, leading his strict father to send him away to be disciplined. Dani runs away to avoid this fate and meets up with Mamo. They meet a gang of street children, led by a boy named Million. Street life with this group is difficult and dangerous, but the boys become a family and both their tragedies and triumphs are painted in vivid, authentic, and often horrific detail. Background for the story's inspiration is included in an introduction and an afterword. Readers are sure to become involved in this compelling story, and teachers will find a wealth of inspiration to lead their students in further research.
Genevieve Gallagher, Orange County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Laird has lived and worked in Ethiopia, and this contemporary survival story is rooted in the true-life stories of street children she knows in Addis Ababa. Dani is a rich, fat kid, failing at school, who runs away from his bullying dad. Orphan Mamo, kidnapped and sold as a slave to a cruel farmer, escapes and returns to the city. The runaways meet in the city cemetery, where they hide out until they join a gang of homeless kids. Under the direction of their stern leader, the gang members care for one another and share everything, including what they scavenge from the garbage and beg from passers-by. The cast is huge, but the characters are so strongly individualized that it is easy to keep them straight. The ending is a bit too happy, at least for Mamo and Dani, who go home and handle the powerful adults. It's the elemental friendship story of fear and hope that will draw in readers. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764156799
• ISBN-13: 978-0764156793
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,309,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have met Mamo, January 29, 2010

By 

Jason V. Fritz "The Music Man" (Kalamazoo, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garbage King (Paperback)

I recently returned from a six month stay in Ethiopia. During my time there, I made friends with a man who, I later learned, is the basis for much of the character Mamo. His story is very compelling, and Ms. Laird did a fantastic job of re-creating it in a way that portrayed many of the emotions and events in precisely the way they were described to me by Belete. I did not read the book until my return to the States, and spent the entire time lost in my memories of Addis Ababa. Ms. Laird does a wonderful job of describing life on the streets and life in Ethiopia from the eyes of those who are there. This portrayal is _very_ accurate and the writing is very accessible to readers of many levels. I highly recommend this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Garbage King, June 14, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Garbage King (Hardcover)

Elizabeth Laird writes realistic fiction books that focus on character development and a beautiful story line. She has traveled all over Addis Ababa (the setting of the book The Garbage King), therefore she knows about what happens there, and she incorporates it into her book. In The Garbage King, 13 year old Mamo gets tricked and sold into slave labor by a fake uncle. Meanwhile, Dani is being sent away to an army general because he got a bad test score, but he runs away first in fear of the general. Eventually, Mamo and Dani meet, and the only chance for either to survive is to trust each other with their lives. This book is a nice read for people who either want to find out about Addis Ababa, or people who simply want to read a wonderful book. I think that this is a book that hooks you in after a slow beginning. This book has taught me about the things that actually happen in Addis Ababa. I feel sorry for all the homeless people because the days are hot and the nights cold, and they don't have shelter to protect them form being beaten by the weather. This book has really opened my eyes to the rest of the world, and some of the issues in it. All in all, this is a wonderful book that will delight you until it's finished.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, February 5, 2010

By 

A. Gift For You "book woman" (Montana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garbage King (Paperback)

This book had many memorable scenes and showed such a variety of complex characters and situations; I never expected the ending. I couldn't put the book down and neither could my husband.