A lot was said about environmental issues along the way, but not so much I couldn't stomach it. The ending was touching and happy, which is a big plus.

There was violence described, but not so much you couldn't make it through it. There was sex mentioned, but not described. Because of the constant cursing, I'd make that higher, more 18. For content alone, I would not let anyone under 16 read this book. I do feel authors need to be very careful what they want young kids to read. No, I don't think we should shield ourselves from the issues. Yes, kids do have lives as awful as Trevor. However, the content, though the ending was hopeful, was way too intense for young people. I think young people will be drawn to the cover and the storyline and want to read it. This would have been so much cleaner for young people without it.ģ) It is written as YA. I am aware people curse, but it is rarely ever needed in a YA story. Yes, it worked somewhat, but I still feel by focusing on Trevor, it would have been a better novel.Ģ) There was WAY too much cursing and frankly, it wasn't necessary. I asked myself through the entire novel why the author chose to include the POV of sub-characters. I never really did take to Bea nor miss her much when she left the story.ġ) There were too many points of view. I was also fond of the characters, Lorene, Mr. I wanted to know what happened to Trevor and the author did an excellent job of stringing me along. I have a number of issues with this story, but first let me say, the plot kept my attention. Hope for Garbage is a story about resilience-about overcoming adversity under the most extraordinary circumstances-about never, ever, giving up hope.īecause sooner or later, everybody gets a break. While he is desperate to save his relationship with Bea, he learns that nothing in his world can be saved unless he first saves himself. She sets off a chain of events so shocking and destructive, Trevor's crazy life soon becomes more than he can handle. She’s smart, cute, and a glimmer of light in his dark world.īut in the midst of their budding romance, Bea’s beautiful mother enters the picture with an agenda of her own. One early morning while scanning the streets in a posh suburb, he meets Bea, a rebellious rich girl with problems of her own. His days are filled with garbage-picking and hanging out with his seventy year-old neighbor, who also happens to be his best friend.

Through no fault of his own, he finds himself living with his alcoholic uncle on the outskirts of Cleveland. No matter how hard he tries, this seventeen year-old just can’t get a break. Welcome to the cruel world of Trevor McNulty.

Hope for Garbage by Alex Tully