The Garbage King
by Elizabeth Laird
When Mamo, a homeless orphan, meets wealthy runaway Dani on the streets of Addis Ababa, the boys’ mutual desperation leads to an unlikely friendship.
This pacy coming-of-age adventure concentrates on the private hopes, dreams and feelings that drive its characters along, but also keeps enough sense of the gritty realities of street life to give a thought-provoking humanitarian message.
Elizabeth Laird uses an absorbing plot and edgy portrayal of adolescent gang life to moving but unsentimental effect. This is another compelling book from a well-regarded novelist who tackles social injustice in a commendably reader-focused way.
Publisher: Macmillan Children's books
Extract
'There was no light in the shack, none at all, except when the moon was shining. Mamo could see chinks of it then, through the gaps in the corrugated-iron roof.
But the moon wasn't out tonight. Mamo shivered, pulled the ragged blanket over his head and huddled against his sister's warm body. Tiggist had been facing away from him, but she turned over to lie on her back, the bare straw mattress rustling as she moved. He knew she was awake. He knew her eyes were open, and that she was staring up into the pitch-darkness'
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Elizabeth Laird
Elizabeth Laird is the award-winning author of many highly acclaimed novels. She was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but is of Scottish descent and was educated at Croydon High School. She spent a year teaching in Malaysia, before studying languages at Bristol and Edinburgh universities. Elizabeth has spent much of her life living and working abroad, including long spells in Lebanon, Ethiopia and India. She now lives in Richmond and Edinburgh with her husband.
Elizabeth has written over 30 books for children on a broad range of subjects, from historical adventures to real life stories, picture books to retelling of folk tales. She has won many awards, including the Children's Book Award for Kiss the Dust, the Smarties Young Judges Award, and the Lancashire Book Award. Elizabeth has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal five times as well as every other major children’s book award.
http://www.elizabethlaird.co.uk/
Photo: Macmillan
