Elizabeth Laird: The Garbage King

The Garbage King, recently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, is set in Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa. It is the moving story of two boys from different backgrounds who are thrown together by circumstance.

Dani lives in a beautiful home full of servants, but he lives in fear of his tyrannical father. When he fails to live up to his father's expectations, Dani runs away rather than face the consequences. Mamo is an orphan, kidnapped by a child labour trafficker and sent to a life of slavery on a remote farm. On the run from his masters, Mamo meets Dani and together they return to the city where they join a street gang.

None of the gang knows the security of home and family. For them life is begging and stealing for food. Mamo and Dani learn that even in the harshest struggle for survival, friendship and loyalty are important.

Publisher: Macmillan

Price: $16.99

Age: 10-14 yrs

Recommended by: Jenni Keestra