Bibliographic Information:
Mulligan, Andy. Trash. New York: Random House, Inc, 2010.
Plot Description: Three boys in a third world country spend their days combing the trash heaps of their village, in search of any scraps to sell for survival. When one of them finds a mysterious bundle of cash with a map and key, they know they’ve found something extraordinary – and possibly dangerous. The story follows these young men as they elude the authorities on their quest to solve the mystery and “right a terrible wrong.”
Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile 850; GL 5.5
Qualitative Reading Analysis: The structure of Trash is unique in that although it unfolds chronologically, narration is passed from character to character with each chapter. Similarly, language is moderately complex; most words would be familiar to a middle school reader, but there are challenging words sprinkled throughout: monstrous, effluent, notoriety, etc. Sentence structure is a bit more complex, with transition words and other subordinate phrases are regularly employed. The themes of homelessness, poverty and survival are explicit, but perhaps emotionally complex for some readers. These personal experiences, and the global truths behind the disparity in third world countries are likely unfamiliar to the average American middle school student.
Content Area: English Language Arts, Reading Literature
Content Area Standard(s):
CCSS for Reading Literature, Grade 8: 2) Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text; 3) Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision; 6) Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor; 7) Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
Curriculum Suggestions: This is an excellent source for units that address global awareness and social justice – in ELA, Social Studies, Leadership, or any other course where students are asked to think critically about the world and their place in it. It also serves as an action-packed mystery for an independent reader.
Supporting Digital Content: Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po4kRYWzebQ; Preview for upcoming film (students can practice applying standard seven, reflecting on how the scenes from the upcoming movie compare to what they have read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPXyZD_QDC0
Subjects/Themes: homelessness, poverty, survival, friendship, dystopia
Reader’s Advisory: This is a gripping story, a page turner even if you haven’t read much suspense. From the very first paragraph the readers is hooked by the frankness (and horror) of the setting. Also, the characters of the three boys are so likable and honest that it’s easy to be drawn in.
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