The Garbage King
by Elizabeth Laird
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+
Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2016
About this book
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.
About the author
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Lists of recommended reads
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Books featuring homelessness
We have curated a list of books for mixed ages which explore themes of homelessness, offering readers a window into the lives of those who confront poverty and uncertainty every day yet who are all too often overlooked. These stories sensitively explore the complex situations that may lead to homelessness and shine a light on the extraordinary resilience, empathy and sense of community shown by those who find themselves in such challenging circumstances.