Characters

The three main people have all different. Gardo can be mean to Raphael even though they are at the same age, while on the other hand, Raphael is more kind, caring and loving and Jun-Jun is quite and smart. But they all suffer through the same situation and are enforced to be brave and tough.

Empowerments

By the end of the novel, Rat says, “Jun- no longer Rat. My name is Jun-Jun”,(page 195). The story shows that Jun-Jun goes through so much He then moves around many places until he gets to Behala where he finds two new friends that change his life. When he and his friends knew that they could have so much money he knows his life would never be the same anymore. He is aware that the money could help him to restore himself. He wants to leave his poor life behind and start fresh with his new found family Raphael, Gardo and Pia.

Multiple Perspectives

Throughout the novel, Raphael, Gardo and Rat take turns telling about the disturbing details of their poverty and perspective. We can find out what things go through their emotions and feelings about situation they have to go through. When they tell the stories from their sides, it creates different sides. Reading the story sometimes can be very annoying since you don’t know what is happening or what is going to happen between the scenes of the different characters.

Story

The story is about three friends Raphael, Gardo and Rat living and working in a dumpsite. In Behala there was one incident, that changed their life. It is dangerous because they are working in trash which is full of glass and sharp sheets of metal which can hurt you. It is exciting because they finally find a reward for what they have been fighting for. It is sad because those boys work at such young age in a dumpsite.

Style

Andy Mulligan uses newspaper stories to show further information about Senator Zapanta. Star Extra told us about the money stolen from the Senator’s house. It was suggested that the thief was a member of the senator’s staff. The other newspaper told their stories from their point of view and other peoples perspective, but mostly they agreed on one thing which is Senator Zapanta is not as good as they expected from a Vice President. This is an effective way to reveal the story faster because a lot of people have a better chance of knowing the story and the mystery.