Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful adventure about dumpsite kids a true treasure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say the book is a polarizing read, receiving both strong praise for its educational messages on poverty and corruption, while also facing harsh criticism for its graphic content and simplistic writing style. Many readers caution against the film adaptation due to its violent themes, suggesting that while the book can be impactful, it may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- mixed reviews
- graphic content
- educational themes
- simplistic writing
- caution for youth
- polarizing opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Set in the near future, this book follows three boys from a trash dump city who come together when one of them discovers a mysterious wallet. Clues lead them into a huge conspiracy involving a corrupt official at the near top of their government. But the police are already after them: Will they get caught before they can find the stolen money, rumored to be a whopping six million dollars? And what will they do with the money if they find it?
Is It Any Good?
Told through multiple narrators, each with a unique voice, this story will grip teens. Readers will find themselves racing through the adventure with the three boys as they try to sort through opaque clues (and even break a difficult code) before they are caught by the corrupt police. At the same time, they will be swept up in the details of their trash city, known as Behala, where trash "mountains go right from the docks to the marshes" and the boys support themselves and their families by "picking through the stuff this city throws away." Indeed, details about their lives in this futuristic, Third-World city -- and the atrocities experienced by the poor and others, including an elderly justice fighter -- may stick with readers longer than the actual adventure story at its heart.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about books set in the future. Even books that are set in the near future, like this one, often feature dark elements, like corrupt police and governments, and more disparity between rich and poor. Why do you think that is? Do books like this one do anything to prevent these ideas from becoming reality?
Why do you think the author decided to keep the exact year and location a mystery? It seems that the story is set not too far from now -- and that it is set somewhere in the Third World. Does it bother you to not know exactly when or where the story is taking place?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : October 12, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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