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Booklist

Booked Up 2008

The Garbage King

Description

The Garbage King
Elizabeth Laird

Runaways Mamo, a homeless orphan, and Dani, a wealthy boy from a rich family, meet on the streets of Addis Ababa. Despite their different lives, the boys form an unlikely friendship. This exciting adventure revolves around the friendship of these two boys and their private hopes, dreams and feelings. The story, which unfolds amid the gritty street life of Africa, is very thought-provoking and leaves you with a strong message of life and friendship.

About the author
no image available

Elizabeth Laird
The Garbage King

Elizabeth Laird 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 many years living and working abroad, including long spells in Lebanon, Ethiopia and India. She now lives in Richmond with her husband, David McDowall, a writer on Middle Eastern Affairs.

Elizabeth has published many books for all ages and has won and been shortlisted for many prestigious awards. In 2008 Crusade was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year; Jake’s Tower was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and in 2004 The Garbage King won the Scottish Arts Council Book Prize.

Read an extract

(Page1)

"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 n 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."

 

Extract taken from The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird published by Macmillan

Read your reviews

Average Rating

The Garbage King...not garbage at all!
Wow! I loved this book, because it got straight into exitement and didn't drag on. I wasn't bored of the characters at any point in the story. When I finished I was sad because I wanted the story to go on forever and for the characters to keep developing in my mind. A very, very good book. I'd recommend it for anyone 10+.
Eden
Sir Graham Balfour School
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 15:42:10 hrs
Review of the garbage king
I am really enjoying the garbage king and I think that the Booked Up Scheme is a really good idea as more people can read books. I also really like the colourful website and the little figures bouncing about everywhere.
Sian
Heathcote School
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 15:39:53 hrs
The Garbage King
This story is about an american boy whose mum has just died. Mamo is left to fend for himself and his sister. But then this man walks into Mamos house and tells Mamo that he is Mamos uncle and he takes Mamo away. One of the reasons i like this book is when Mamo finds his way home and his nextdoor neighbours and his sister were stood outside Mamos house waiting for him. My Favorite part of the book is when Mamo keeps getting flash backs of when he met this boy called Danny and then one day he mets Danny again and he is over joyed to have fpound his long lost friend, The book made me feel sad that the man came and took Mamo away but it also mad me feel really happy because he got back to his friends and family. I would recommend this book to my book loving friends it was brilliant.
Brogan
Retford Oaks High School
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 15:35:43 hrs
The Garbage King
This book is about a family that gets chucked out of their home and they end up meeting another family and becoming friends ! One of the resons i like this book is because its intresting but its rather chalanging but it is still a really good book .My Favorite Part Of The book is once they meet the other family because i think they are going to have a chance to survive now theyve met some one to survive with.This book made me feel quiet upset but excited at the same time i would reomend this book to children that are good readers !
Bryce
Retford Oaks High School
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 15:28:13 hrs
The Garbage King
I think that this book is very good because, it describes the real life story 5/5
Megan
Armthorpe Comp
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 14:05:20 hrs
the Garbage king
"I think this book was great,it makes you read along . It tells you and pepole around how to be friendly.Further more this was best book and makes your teeth catch to this book". THANK YOU!!!!
Margarita
RUSH CROFT SPORTS AND COLLEGE
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 13:43:20 hrs
the garbage king
THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD AND I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE ENDING. IT WAS A SLIGHTLY EMOTIONAL BOOK BUT I LIKED IT ALL THE SAME.
megan
sheldon School Chippenham
Nov 17th, 2008 at 15:01:43 hrs
funny
Great to read great for fun so read this book
shanti
werak vally
Nov 17th, 2008 at 13:57:21 hrs
wow
wow
lovely
gsis school hong kong
Nov 17th, 2008 at 12:02:35 hrs
The Garbage King
A brilliant book full of adventure and friendship
Morgan
Walthamstow Hall Senior School
Nov 12th, 2008 at 11:56:35 hrs
garbage king
It's indescribable I loved it
megan
swindon academy
Nov 12th, 2008 at 11:49:28 hrs
The Garbage King
The Garbage King was an engrossing adventure set in Ethiopia's great capital Addis Ababa. I thought this book was really adventurous, it pulled me into the story and made me feel like some of the characters, Mamo, Dani and Tiggist. I felt like I could follow their emotions through out the book. I love the way Elizabeth Laird finished the book; I turned over the page and found that the book had ended, that was really annoying as I wanted to carry on. This was a great book and I thought it was FANTASTIC!!!
Phoebe Hudson
n.a.
Jun 6th, 2008 at 16:45:18 hrs

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