Summary Part 1

TRASH SUMMARY: Part one

Trash is a book written by Andy Mulligan. It is a story about 3 boys named Raphael, Gardo and Rat.  The story is set in a dumpsite. The story begins when Raphael finds a bag while he working at the dumpsite. Inside the bag is a wallet, a key, a map and an id card for Jose Angelico . That night the police come asking if anyone had found a bag. Raphaels Aunt answers saying that that Raphael has found something but he says that he has only found an old shoe. Raphael and Gardo go to another boy called rat’s house to ask him if he will hide the bag. He tells them that he key is for a locker in the train station and decides that they will go and see what is in it. When they get to the station the boys open the locker and find a letter with a code on it sent to Gabriel Olondriz who is in jail.

The story is a mystery because in each chapter new clues are added to make people ask questions like :

What is the code?

Why is he in jail?

Why do the police need this bag?

One of the themes in Trash is Police Corruption and violence.  An example of this is when Raphael says “When the police get mean, you don’t want to be around” (page 29).  This means that the police can be violent if they become angry.  Another example is when Raphael says “But everyone knows not to trust to far. What if they just took it and drove off?”(page 12) This means that the police shouldn’t be trusted because the will most likely not give them the money. Another example is when Raphael’s aunt say “ If they are throwing money to get something back, you don't want to be caught messing with it." (page 16)

This is saying that the police want it so bad that if Raphael is caught wih it when he said he didn't then the police will get mad and he will get in big trouble.

The second theme of the book is the dangers of poverty.  An example of this is when Raphael said “We jumped early because you don’t ever want to be seen getting off the train.  If guards or even porters see you, you can get a real thrashing” (page 39).  By this he means that the boys are in danger of being beaten up by the guards if they are caught as people who work on the dumpsite are not welcome on the trains.  Another example is when Raphael says “People have built their houses right up to the line, because the ground is flat and clear.” (page36). This shows how desperate the people are for a house that they have to build the house right up to such a dangerous place. One last example is when Raphael says “You’re working under the trash as its raining down.” (page7) This shows how much the people need to get the good trash before everyone else does because that is their only source of money.