One Kid’s Trash by Jamie Sumner

In One Kid’s Trash, an unusual talent leads to sudden popularity and unfortunate consequences.

One Kid’s Trash by Jamie Sumner. Atheneum, 2021, 225 pages

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 8-12

Hugo’s father has decided to follow his bliss to the glistening slopes, giving up a white-collar job in Denver to be a ski instructor. His mom, a counselor, is not tied to location, so she’s willing to give it a try, but Hugo is not enthusiastic. He’s small for his age, and shy, and the fact that his cousin Vijay lives in the same town and goes to the same school is a mixed blessing. Vijay can help him adjust, but Hugo suffers by comparison with his cool cousin. It’s by accident that his secret superpower comes to light: garbology. That is, the science of interpreting individuals by what they throw away.

Garbology becomes Hugo’s ticket to cool, as other kids seek him out to get on the coach’s good side or attract the attention of a crush. Popular for the first time in his life, he lets celebrity go to his head. It doesn’t help that his dad’s new job is taking up too much time and his mom can’t get her own business off the ground. Hugo’s minor missteps lead to a major misjudgment that threatens to alienate his true friends, perhaps for good.

“Garbology” is a real science that readers will find fascinating. (You may catch them going through your private trash, so be warned!) Though he follows an unusual route to popularity, Hugo’s rise and fall follow a familiar path seen in too many public figures whose success brings out their worst qualities. Pride goes before a fall even in middle school, but the author’s lively writing style and engaging characters will help the lesson go down easy.

Overall Rating: 4

• Worldview/moral value: 4
• Artistic/literary value: 4

Read more about our ratings here.                 

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: See “Quiet Family Dramas” for a roundup of reviews about kids going through some of the same issues.
• Review: The protagonist of Sled Dog School (starred review) also has an unusual talent that teaches valuable lessons.

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