The Garbage King

Name: The Garbage King
Price: 19.99 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9781035034673

Elizabeth Laird

$19.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We will update you on expected arrival time to us. If this delay is too long, please let us know within 2 business days and we can give you options regarding cancelling or adjusting your order. More details on cancelling your order can be found in our Terms of Trade.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Macmillan Children's Books
28 October 2025

General fiction (Children's&YA); Personal & social issues: bullying, violence & abuse (Children's&YA)

From award-winning and beloved children's author Elizabeth Laird comes a stunning edition of The Garbage King, with a cover illustration by Zeamanuel Abera, an author letter and additional content from the author, including discussion notes. Inspired by the true story of an Ethiopian childhood lived on the edge of destitution, it takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey.

When Mamo's mother dies, he is abandoned in the shanties of Addis Ababa. Stolen by a child-trafficker and sold to a farmer, he is cruelly treated. Escaping back to the city, he meets another, very different runaway. Dani is rich, educated - and fleeing his tyrannical father. Together they join a gang of homeless street boys who survive only by mutual bonds of trust and total dependence on each other.

This edition includes brilliant extra material, such as: - An introduction by Elizabeth Laird - Extra content from the author, including reading group questions

By: Elizabeth Laird
Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 199mm, Width: 134mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 250g
ISBN: 9781035034673
ISBN 10: 1035034670
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 28 October 2025
Recommended Age: From 12 to 15 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Author Website: http://www.elizabethlaird.co.uk/

Elizabeth Laird is the multi-award-winning author of several much-loved children's books including The Garbage King, The Fastest Boy in the World and Dindy and the Elephant. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal six times. She lives in Britain now, but still likes to travel as much as she can.

Reviews for The Garbage King

This is an engrossing story of interweaving lives and the capacity of children to help each other when adults fail them * Books for Keeps * Laird's novel is extremely moving * Primary Times * This book is not just a compelling read but also an eye-opener, vividly describing the harsh reality of life on the streets * Mail on Sunday *