One Kid's Trash - by Jamie Sumner

About the Book

When his father moves them halfway across Colorado, eleven-year-old Hugo O'Donnell is surprised that his remarkable talent for garbology makes him popular for the first time in his life.

Book Synopsis

From the acclaimed author of Roll with It and Tune It Out comes a funny, moving, and "not to be missed" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel about a boy who uses his unusual talent for decoding people's trash to try to fit in at his new school.

Hugo is not happy about being dragged halfway across the state of Colorado just because his dad had a midlife crisis and decided to become a ski instructor. It'd be different if Hugo weren't so tiny, if girls didn't think he was adorable like a puppy in a purse and guys didn't call him "leprechaun" and rub his head for luck. But here he is, the tiny new kid on his first day of middle school.

When his fellow students discover his remarkable talent for garbology, the science of studying trash to tell you anything you could ever want to know about a person, Hugo becomes the cool kid for the first time in his life. But what happens when it all goes to his head?

Review Quotes

"Sumner renders Hugo's journey toward embracing his strengths and recognizing the power of kindness painfully believable, not shying from his own hurtful and immature behavior as he learns valuable lessons about friendship and family."--Publishers Weekly

* "Sumner perfectly captures the fickle nature of middle school social status and the gnawing pain of betrayal. . . This is a strong work about finding your people, learning to apologize, and the rewards of self-respect. The pitch-perfect voice and everyday bravery of this middle school survivor are not to be missed." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"As in Roll With It (2019), Sumner winningly explores themes of acceptance and physical and emotional vulnerabilities." --Booklist

About the Author

Jamie Sumner is the author of Roll with It, Time to Roll, Rolling On, Tune It Out, One Kid's Trash, The Summer of June, Maid for It, Deep Water, Please Pay Attention, and Schooled. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She is also the mother of a son with cerebral palsy and has written extensively about parenting a child with special needs. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her at Jamie-Sumner.com.